Joel Clements’ Bridgenorth career started young and ran deep. By the time he stepped away, he’d put together one of the most consistent records Parrot Park has seen.
He debuted in seniors at 16 in 2000, straight into Round 2 against Rocherlea, a fierce rival then. Joel remembers being nervous, but also remembers the older blokes backing him in from day one. Paul Beechey took him under his wing, and that early support set the tone for the next two decades.
Joel went on to play 296 senior games (over 306 total for the club), kick 318 goals, and win four Best & Fairests, with another three top-five finishes. He was named in the NTFA Team of the Decade (2010–2021) and made Bridgenorth’s Teams of the Decade for 2000–09 and 2010–19, captaining the latter at centre half forward, honours that only come from doing it year after year.
His biggest team moment was captaining the 2010 senior premiership side, the club’s last senior flag. He speaks about that group as one that earned its success through depth, work ethic, and trust, and being captain meant carrying the standard when it mattered most.
Joel stayed loyal to Bridgenorth because of the people. He says Parrot Park attracts good players, but also good committee members and volunteers, the kind of environment that’s steady, grounded, and focused. Even after retiring, he misses the training nights and the friendships, still comes back to watch, and now coaches the under-16s to stay part of the next generation coming through.
He’s honest about what keeps a club alive: good people attract good people, and volunteers make the difference. Many clubs fall over when nobody helps. Bridgenorth keeps standing because people keep giving something back.
That’s Joel’s story in short. Start early, stay consistent, lead when asked, and keep the club moving forward long after your last game.
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