And as soon as David Clarke took on Sydney giant Tony Lockett on Saturday night at the SCG, he wished he hadn't.

``As soon as I realised it was him I thought `Oh no, I'm in trouble here','' the hot-headed Geelong winger revealed yesterday.

``He grabbed me and it was all too late - he was angry. It was then I knew I was in some big trouble.''

The meeting of muscle came just before half time after Clarke made incidental contact with Lockett.

Clarke was tossed around like a rag doll - finding Lockett's burly 108kg frame wrestling his petite 83kg body and the giant's hands wringing his neck.

``I can't really remember what happened,'' Clarke said. ``All I can sort of remember was him choking me and on top of me.

``Originally I didn't have a clue who it was, because it was a reflex just to grab him. But then as he turned around and first grabbed me, I realised it was him.''

One teammate tried to lend support, but found the going very, very tough.

``Jarad Rooke was first in, but he said he couldn't move him though,'' Clarke said. ``He said he was too big . . . . but I was able to roll out from underneath him.''

What followed could have been a scene from the cartoon Road Runner.

The Road Runner used his pace to escape the nemesis, Wile E. Coyote.

``I got away,'' Clarke said.

``Bennie (Graham) came up to me straight away and said `Don't get him (Lockett) fired up; the least thing we want is him angry.

``(But) I didn't intentionally do it, because he would be the last person I would pick on the footy field.

``Plugger was a bit stupid (to have a go), but I didn't intentionally do it. Once it started, I tried to get out as quick as I possibly could.''

But was it a case of white line fever for Clarke?

``I don't think so, but I do get a little fiery sometimes.

``You have to give as good as you get. I don't think you can take any crap out on the footy field.

``You have to stand up for yourself, otherwise you will just get pushed over.''

Tony Lockett excluded.