North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson is fully aware of the talent Jordan Clark possesses, even if the "Melbourne media" don't.
The Fremantle speedster is putting together a career-best season in 2025, averaging 23.6 disposals, 5.4 marks, three tackles, 2.9 inside 50s, 6.1 intercept possessions and 3.5 score involvements.
Clarkson believes that Clark doesn't receive the recognition he deserves, given that he isn't based in Victoria.
The 24-year-old is the eighth-highest ranked general defender in the competition, according toย WheeloRatings,ย following an impressive previous month that has yielded three wins and a narrow loss to Collingwood.
"Yeah, geez, he's been a good player," Clarkson said.
"He is sort of a little bit underrated and unheralded, perhaps because he plays over here and the Melbourne media don't see him every week like they would some of the players that are based in Melbourne.
"He's been a really, really good player at Geelong, but he's really taken his game, it seems, to another level here.
"He's a guy that defends really well, but uses the ball and helps set it up."
Shai Bolton's past month is also reflective of the Dockers' rise to top-four contention, while unicorn Luke Jackson is putting the competition on notice for his dominance across the entire ground.
"We'll have to keep an eye on that ... but we can't sit and negate every talented player that they've got, otherwise you're just chasing your tail," Clarkson added.
"There's a part of us where we just need to go out and play the game, and if some of these guys get off the chain, that's where we need to try and stamp and negate their influence."
North Melbourne will enter Saturday's clash at Optus Stadium as the home side as part of their Western Australia venture.
The lucrative deal sees the Kangaroos host two games in WA, with the first one against West Coast in Bunbury in the books.
Clarkson lauded the conditions at Hands Oval as 12,715 witnessed North Melbourne's narrow 10-point victory, which potentially opens the doors to a third club in the western state.
"It's such a fertile state in terms of their passion for AFL footy. It just seems like for the state, two teams isn't enough, so we've provided them with the third team and we're happy to do so," Clarkson said.
"With Tassie coming in, we had to find another base that could provide us with the opportunity to have a nice, happy marriage โ we get paid some money to come and play some games here, but we love coming here to play and foster relationships with the people of the South West.
"There's a lot of locals here and a lot came down from Perth, obviously, Eagles fans, and then there's a stack that've jumped on planes, which I'm sure has pleased Tourism WA, who made the significant investment in terms of getting North to come over here and play games of footy."
