BIO
Nigel Wark was educated at Kings College, and was only available to play occasionally for Norwood's junior sides, while at school. However, in 1972 he was vice-captain of Norwood's under 19 premiership team. Norwood defeated North Adelaide in the Grand Final : 19.16 to 10.13.
Wark made his league debut in round 10, 1973 against Sturt. He played 11 games for the year predominantly in the back-pocket. He was involved in that year's nail-biting first semi-final loss to North Adelaide on the Norwood Oval.
In 1974 he played three senior games and 16 for the reserves. Late in the season, Wark was sprigged in the left calf muscle against Sturt while playing league and was forced to miss several games after fluid drained into the muscle. He recovered in time to be named on the extended bench for the reserves in their Grand Final victory over Glenelg at Football Park.
The reserves again won the premiership in 1975. Wark played 19 games, and was runner-up to David Baverstock in the best and fairest award - he also played four league games during the season.
Early in 1976, after two more league games, and four for the reserves, Wark made the difficult decision to move clubs in the hope of playing regular league football. He was free to transfer under a SANFL permit regulation at the time. The rule allowed a player over the age of 22, who had not played more than five games in the previous 21 minor round games for which he was available, to ask for a clearance to another SANFL club. He was cleared to Sturt in mid-May, 1976 (David Wark, a second cousin, was Sturt chairman at the time) His move to the neighbouring club paid off immediately as he was named in the back-pocket in Sturt's 1976 Grand Final win over hot favourites Port Adelaide.
He added 90 games for his new club between 1976 and 1982. In 1978 he played in the classic Grand Final against Norwood which resulted in a one point victory to the Redlegs.
Outside football, Wark has held senior executive positions for Ford, the giant international motor company.
R Cialini May 2017