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Fred Clarke (Australian footballer)

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Fred Clarke (1 December 1932 – 17 August 2020) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Fred Clarke
Personal information
Full name Fredrick Clarke
Date of birth (1932-12-01)1 December 1932
Date of death 17 August 2020(2020-08-17) (aged 87)
Original team(s) Heidelberg
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1951–1953 Richmond 21 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1953.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

During his career he wore the number 17 guernsey made famous by Jack Dyer, the first player to do so after the retirement of Dyer.[1]

Career

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Clarke came to Richmond as an 18-year-old in the 1951 VFL season, from Heidelberg.[2] He was 19th man in the opening round, then was moved from his natural half-back flank position to full-back for the second round against South Melbourne, after an injury to Bob Wiggins.[3][4] Described as a fast moving and robust player, Clarke appeared again in round three, then spent a brief period of time in the seconds.[4] In July he learnt he would have to leave Richmond for military training, compulsory for 18-year-olds during the Korean War, which ended his season.[5]

He put together 14 appearances for Richmond in the 1952 season, 12 of them in succession, playing in a variety of positions including full-back.[6][7]

In the 1953 season, Clarke played four early games before suffering a thigh injury from which he was unable to recover well enough to make any more appearances.[8] He was unlucky with injuries again in 1954, unable to get a game he was granted a clearance to Maryborough in late June.[9][10]

A member of five Heidelberg premiership teams, he is a back pocket in the club's Team of the Century.[11][12]

Personal life

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Fred had four brothers, Robert (Bob), Ronald, Colin Thomas and Ralph Gordon Clarke.

He eventually met Fay, his wife. Fred and Fay had four children, three sons and a daughter.[13]

His eldest son, Neil Clarke, played 135 games for Essendon and featured in two premiership sides.[14]

References

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  1. ^ McClure, Geoff (13 November 2003). "Date aside, Tigers get Jack's number". The Age. realfooty.com.au. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  2. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  3. ^ "Rookies Given Big Job". The Argus. Melbourne. 20 April 1951. p. 11. Retrieved 13 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ a b "Recruit big task". The Argus. Melbourne. 27 April 1951. p. 13. Retrieved 13 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ ""Tiger" Gets a Call-Up". The Argus. Melbourne. 25 July 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 13 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "AFL Tables – Fred Clarke – Games Played". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Full back, fall forward posts in doubt: Four Tigers Battle for Key Positions". The Argus. Melbourne. 20 March 1953. p. 10. Retrieved 13 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "S.A. star trains with Tigers: Deane Looks Ready". The Argus. Melbourne. 10 March 1954. p. 23. Retrieved 13 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Tigers Re-Allot Famous Guernsey". The Argus. Melbourne. 17 June 1954. p. 16. Retrieved 13 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Richmond". The Argus. Melbourne. 30 June 1954. p. 22. Retrieved 13 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ Daffey, Paul (1 May 2009). "The hardest loss". Herald Sun. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Team of the Century". Heidelberg Football Club. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  13. ^ "A loss far bigger than the game". The Age. realfooty.com.au. 5 April 2003. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  14. ^ Hillier, K. (2004). Like Father Like Son. Pennon Publishing, Melbourne. ISBN 1-877029-73-4.
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