BY TREVOR BYERS

The rise of Collingwood’s young Irish rookie Marty Clarke was the feel good story of the year in 2007.

In just 12 matches, he went from relative unknown to being the talk of the football world, amazingly just 12 months after first picking up an aussie rules football.

There is no doubt that Clarke will continue his rise in 2008, but this year he will have a new weapon “knowledge”.

Clarke, currently on tour with the rest of the Collingwood squad in South Africa told afl.com.au that the game is still new to him.

“It’s still totally new” Clarke said when asked about his career.

“I’m getting a bit more confident now on the ball and where to run, so I hope to improve this year, big time”.

One thing is certain, Clarke is a fast learner.

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