Fred Clarke (Australian footballer)

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 Fred 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

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

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

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

References
  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: National Library of Australia. 20 April 1951. p. 11. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  4. "Recruit big task". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 27 April 1951. p. 13. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  5. ""Tiger" Gets a Call-Up". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 25 July 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  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: National Library of Australia. 20 March 1953. p. 10. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  8. "S.A. star trains with Tigers: Deane Looks Ready". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 10 March 1954. p. 23. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  9. "Tigers Re-Allot Famous Guernsey". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 17 June 1954. p. 16. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  10. "Richmond". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 30 June 1954. p. 22. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  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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