Matthew Clarke

For other people named Matthew Clarke, please see Matthew Clarke (disambiguation)

Matthew Clarke (born 18 September, 1973) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.

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 and 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 a AFL Career of 248 games over 13 seasons. 

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 has since performed strongly as the side's primary ruckman, displaying his usual ruckwork dexterity.

On the 1st September Clarke, along with fellow veteran teammates announced his 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 have now separated but remain friends.