Not only did he realise a dream, he accumulated 24 disposals and was one of Melbourne’s better performers. The fact that he had to get 35 match tickets for family and friends, mostly from his hometown of Broken Hill, only added to the occasion. Clisby’s long time mate from back home – Adelaide’s Taylor Walker – also made good on his promise to watch him in his first AFL match, and made the trek east.
“I had half of the population from Broken Hill come over, because about 90 per cent of my family lives in Broken Hill. I’ve got a little bit of family in Adelaide,” Clisby told melbournefc.com.au.
“A lot of family came and a lot of mates also came from high school, so they all made the journey over. [Adelaide’s] Taylor [Walker] ended up coming over, which was good, and he had a bit of advice for me last night, so your mates are always there.
“The support has been unreal and it has been throughout my footy career so far, so hopefully they keep backing me. Hopefully it’s the first of many playing for this footy club.”
One of his family members - cousin Trevor Clisby, a two-time premiership player who shone for North Adelaide in South Australia during the 1980s/early 1990s - spoke to him in the lead-up to the match. Trevor was also an inaugural member of Adelaide’s list in 1991 and is now involved in GWS’corporate division.
“He didn’t play for Adelaide, but he was a pretty good player for North Adelaide in the SANFL, so I’ve heard, and that’s where I played my footy,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“He actually rang me the night before the game and congratulated me.
“He tried not to give me too much information. He said ‘go out and enjoy it’. I took it on board and tried to go out there and have fun.”
Post-match, Clisby celebrated his achievement quietly with his family and friends, who had given him much support over his football journey.
Some of those people he hadn’t seen since last Christmas, so it was an important moment for him.
Hopefully, for Clisby and the red and blue faithful, there will be plenty more of those football moments to come.
