For almost half-a-century Donald Clarke has been the silent orchestrator behind Rushworth Football Club.
Between the crowd’s murmurs from when players waltz into their set shot routine to the crash-bang cacophony of a goal celebration, Clarke secretly conducts from his podium, scoring football’s staccato and legato from the first bounce until the final siren.
Unlike most conductors, though, you won’t catch Rushworth’s maestro in a tux or tie.
Clarke isn’t about the gaudy garb — he’s a no-frills kind of man.
But when it comes to operating the scoreboard at Tigerland, no-one holds as much intricacy and attention to detail as Don does.
Clarke’s love affair with Rushworth Football Club began as a youngster, watching his brothers throw on the black and yellow during the club’s Heathcote District Football League era.
In 1978, he took over scoring duties for the first time.
He began as the protege of long-time scoreboard operator Noel Merryfull and soon became renowned for his prowess in tracking the points from countless goals and behinds.
Now, 46 years later, he’s the master.
On any given Saturday during the colder months, you’ll catch Clarke perched in the box with his name proudly plastered along the front, manning the scoreboard with the muffled blare of AFL radio in the background.
When half-time arrives, off he trots to the canteen.
After stocking up with a cup of coffee and a pie, Donald’s back at his post in a flash.
He’s reliable — predictable in the best way — and is as synonymous to Rushworth as the yellow sash on the club jersey according to vice-president Katrina Ogden.
“He’s a very true gentleman to the club,” she said.
“He’s been around for a long time; I’ve been around the club for a bit of time myself, but he’s always there, he always helps out.
“As long as he knows the time he needs to be there, he’s ever reliable. Unless there’s an Essendon game that he wants to go and watch because he’s a very one-eyed Essendon supporter, he’ll definitely be there.”
Anyone who truly knows Clarke is aware of one thing.
Essendon comes first and everything else follows.
When Clarke’s mighty Dons are playing, he’s off to Melbourne to watch the Bombers and back the next day to chew the fat about his beloved club for the week.
Peter Raglus, a family friend of Clarke, is often on the other side of those conversations.
“He’s a true blue Essendon man and I’m Essendon, so he's always ringing me about something to do with Essendon,” Raglus said.
“But he’s more than that, he’s just a good friend. I’m a good friend of their family, so we all go back a long way.
“His older brothers used to shear for Dad many years ago; they started off when they were 16 and they’re all in their 70s now.
“He had a heap of brothers who all played footy and that probably got him into it, watching those boys play. They were all pretty handy footballers.
“You give him any (equation), 17.16 or whatever and he would just go bang what the tally is, no worries at all. He’s so good, you can’t trick him.”
While his brothers were handy with the Sherrin in their grip, Clarke’s true talent lay in moving the tiles around when a ball slotted through the sticks.
He’s rightly been awarded life membership to Rushworth Football Club for his service of 46 years and counting.
But what are Clarke’s most memorable moments in the box?
“In 2010 there was a game where 386 points were kicked against Ardmona,” he said.
“Fifty-nine goals, 32 points to three goals four points. It was a busy game on the scoreboard.
“The biggest game I remember was when we won the 2004 grand final.
“That’s the last time David Perry seen all his four sons play in grand finals on the same day and the seniors won. Pluto was a great man.”
The 2004 premiership is Rushworth’s only senior football flag in Clarke’s near 50-year tenure in the box and the fourth during his lifetime.
However, those dizzying highs have been balanced with a fair share of lows.
The Tigers failed to field a senior side in 2023, meaning Clarke’s service was scaled back to strictly scoring the reserve’s matches.
But with Rushworth’s resurgence in 2024, Ogden reckons Clarke is right back at home in the 2.15pm timeslot when asked whether the skilled scoreboard operator was glad to see the senior boys back.
“Yeah, absolutely he is,” she said.
“Hopefully the club will be a bit more successful this year.
“Obviously we’ve won two senior games this year, so I would say he would just be happy to see the club be successful.”
Regardless of Rushworth’s on-field success, the club has an insurance policy that Clarke will be there, manning his box and giving out a few cheeky digs for good measure.
Raglus, who is also a life member at the Tigers, shares a similar love for the club and knows anyone who passes through its gates knows what Clarke means to Rushworth.
“He loves Rushworth, he does,” Raglus said.
“Everyone talks to him, they’d be lost without him.
“I think everyone enjoys his company; he’s a bit of stirrer to some Collingwood and Geelong supporters, but everyone gets on well with him.”
Clarke’s unwavering loyalty to Essendon and Rushworth is matched by his astounding memory and humility.
A time will come when he’ll score his last game, closing the final chapter on a lifetime based on the points that matter.
But for now, Clarke is happy right where he’s supposed to be: in his box.
“When I started, I was 23 and I’m 68 now and 70 next year,” he said.
“I started doing it in 1978, so it’s been 46 years and I’ve enjoyed doing it every season while helping out the club.
“The supporters have been great, not always the umpires, but it’s all part of the game.
“It’s been great, but I don’t know how long I’ve got left, but I’ll keep going and see how I go because it’s been great doing this for the club.
“Go the Tigers and Essendon, although I think Lancaster might win this year.”