BOOM recruit Mitch Clark says he sought approval from Jim Stynes before accepting the No.11 guernsey.
Clark, who received Stynes’ former number at Gosch’s Paddock on Monday, said once the 1991 Brownlow Medallist gave him the go ahead to wear No.11, he was “sold straight away”.
“I was really excited about the opportunity to wear the jumper from the start. I wanted to tick that box with Jim, after meeting with him and speaking with him first. After that, it was a pretty easy decision,” he said.
“I spoke to Jim about it a couple of weeks ago and he said that he was happy for me to wear the jumper.
“When the club came to me with it - I was really excited about the opportunity. I’m just looking forward to getting out there and playing games now.”
Clark said it was a thrill to meet Stynes when he arrived at the club.
“He’s such an amazing man,” he said.
“He’s held in such high regard at the footy club and I’m just getting to know Jim.
“I’ll continue to build that relationship with Jim and I’m just really excited about the opportunity to wear the jumper.”
Clark conceded he couldn’t remember watching Stynes play, as the former Lion was 10 years old when the now president retired in 1998.
“I was a bit young and I definitely wasn’t a Melbourne supporter [at the time],” the Western Australian said.
“But the way that people talk about him around the club and a couple of times I’ve spoken to him myself - he’s such a generous, amazing guy.
“It’s a massive honour to be wearing his number.”
Clark said the players were inspired to have Stynes watch training on Monday.
“It gives the boys a big buzz and he came down to training a couple of weeks ago and spoke to us before training and he gives us an extra lift,” he said.
“A few boys sat down with him at the Eminem concert [last week] and had a bit of a chuckle. It’s just great to see him, whenever he can get around the boys and the footy club.”
Clark, who received Stynes’ former number at Gosch’s Paddock on Monday, said once the 1991 Brownlow Medallist gave him the go ahead to wear No.11, he was “sold straight away”.
“I was really excited about the opportunity to wear the jumper from the start. I wanted to tick that box with Jim, after meeting with him and speaking with him first. After that, it was a pretty easy decision,” he said.
“I spoke to Jim about it a couple of weeks ago and he said that he was happy for me to wear the jumper.
“When the club came to me with it - I was really excited about the opportunity. I’m just looking forward to getting out there and playing games now.”
Clark said it was a thrill to meet Stynes when he arrived at the club.
“He’s such an amazing man,” he said.
“He’s held in such high regard at the footy club and I’m just getting to know Jim.
“I’ll continue to build that relationship with Jim and I’m just really excited about the opportunity to wear the jumper.”
Clark conceded he couldn’t remember watching Stynes play, as the former Lion was 10 years old when the now president retired in 1998.
“I was a bit young and I definitely wasn’t a Melbourne supporter [at the time],” the Western Australian said.
“But the way that people talk about him around the club and a couple of times I’ve spoken to him myself - he’s such a generous, amazing guy.
“It’s a massive honour to be wearing his number.”
Clark said the players were inspired to have Stynes watch training on Monday.
“It gives the boys a big buzz and he came down to training a couple of weeks ago and spoke to us before training and he gives us an extra lift,” he said.
“A few boys sat down with him at the Eminem concert [last week] and had a bit of a chuckle. It’s just great to see him, whenever he can get around the boys and the footy club.”
