Matthew Clarke (Australian footballer)
| Matthew Clarke | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Matthew Clarke | ||
| Nickname(s) | Doc | ||
| Original team(s) | West Gambier, South Australia | ||
| Draft |
1990: #56 (Richmond) 1993 Pre-Season Draft: #43 (Brisbane Bears) 2006 Pre-Season Draft: #7 (St Kilda) | ||
| Height | 200 cm (6 ft 7 in) | ||
| Weight | 100 kg (15 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Ruckman | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| Richmond | |||
| Brisbane Bears | |||
| Brisbane Lions | |||
| Adelaide | |||
| St Kilda | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Matthew Clarke (born 18 September 1973) was a professional Australian rules footballer whose career in the Australian Football League spanned four clubs and a total of 258 games between 1993 and 2007. He was known as one of the most effective "tap ruckmen" in the modern era.
Brisbane Bears/Lions career
Clarke was drafted by the Richmond Football Club from Mount Gambier in 1991 but did not play a senior game, spending the year playing for the Richmond Under 19s'. He was delisted at the end of 1992, but was picked up by the Brisbane Bears at pick 43 in the 1993 pre-season draft.
Debuting in 1993 with the Bears, "Doc" Clarke was a promising young Ruckman under coach Robert Walls and was particularly decisive with his tap work.
After being runner up in the Brisbane Bears Club Champion award in 1994 and 1996, he took out the Merrett-Murray Best & Fairest award in 1997 for the Brisbane Lions and consolidated his position as one of the league's best ruckmen.
Adelaide career
Clarke moved to the Crows in 2000.
In 2005 in the absence of suddenly emerged number one ruckman Ben Hudson, Clarke was surprisingly recalled from the South Adelaide side in the SANFL to play a part in the Crows' run to the finals. He showed he was still an effective player, being labelled as one of the most effective "tap ruckmen" by commentator Robert Walls.
He played on during 2006, with 18 games, and after ruckman Rhett Biglands had an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Crows' last game of 2006 (sidelining him for most if not all of the 2007 season), there was talk that Clarke may continue for another season. However, he soon quit the Crows after an AFL Career of 248 games over 13 seasons. [1]
Return To football – St Kilda
There had been some speculation in December 2006 that Clarke may be drafted by St Kilda Football Club for the 2007 season, and although this was initially denied, on December 12 – 2006, he was taken by the Saints with their selection in the 2007 Pre Season Draft. Clarke signed on with the club for one season only, but trained strongly over the pre season and was selected for the first game.
He performed strongly as the side's primary ruckman, displaying his usual ruckwork dexterity.
On the 1st September 2007, Clarke, along with fellow veteran teammates announced their retirement.
Other
Clarke is a qualified Veterinarian (like his father) and is currently studying for an MBA.
He was previously engaged to Adelaide radio personality Alison Carle, who also appeared on Fox Footy's "Living With Footballers". The pair separated, before getting back together again and they have a daughter, Eloise Harper, born January 10th 2010.
Clarke now works with his former football club (Adelaide Crows) as a ruck coach.
Career highlights
External links
- Matthew Clarke's profile on the official website of the Adelaide Football Club
- Matthew Clarke's playing statistics from AFL Tables
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (February 2008) |