Jack E. Clarke
Encyclopedia
Jack E. Clarke was an Australian rules football
er and coach in the VFL. An Essendon and Victorian champion, Clarke was one of the premier midfielders of the VFL for well over a decade, leading the mighty Dons to the flag in 1962 when captain and also playing in the victorious 1965 side. Inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, Clarke's place in Essendon Football Club history was set in stone when in 1997 he was named the centreman of the Essendon Team of the Century. Along with his brother, Ron Clarke
, the Clarkes form perhaps the most impressive one-two sibling combination in different sports that Australia has ever seen.
Clarke was a talented centreman who debuted on his eighteenth birthday in 1951 and played 263 games for the Essendon Football Club
from 1951 to 1967, kicking 180 goals. At the time of his retirement he was third in the all-time ranks of both games played (263) and games captained (121) at Essendon, on both occasions being bested by his mid-field predecessors, Bill Hutchison and Dick Reynolds
, under whose guidance, and in whose immense shadows, he had played his entire career.
Clarke played in strong Essendon teams that featured legends such as Bill Hutchison, John Coleman, John Birt
, Barry Davis
, Hugh Mitchell
and Ken Fraser
, but Clarke was never overlooked by opposition coaches and proved a regular near the head of the Essendon Best and Fairest award, winning the award in 1958 and 1962.
Clarke was not as successful in the Brownlow Medal
, with best finishes of equal 6th in 1958, and equal 7th in 1953 at the age of 20. In comparison, in the Premiershp year of 1962, when Clarke was captain and club Best and Fairest, teammate Ken Fraser polled 19 Brownlow votes, finishing equal second.
Clarke captained the Dons from 1958 to 1964, one of only four men to lead the club in a thirty season period (1939–1968) that yielded six Premierships from fourteen Grand Finals.
Clarke was also a noted architect who had studied during the early stages of his VFL career. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 1996, and was the brother of former Olympian Ron Clarke
.
He took over from John Coleman as Essendon coach in 1968, taking the team to the Grand Final
, which they narrowly lost. He was replaced as coach at the end of the 1970 season when Essendon finished 11th (of 12).
Clarke, whose legend has perhaps unduly faded with time, will be forever remembered by long time Essendon supporters as one of their finest leaders, continuing in the line of great Essendon and Victorian midfield generals Reynolds and Hutchison. Between them these three men would lead the Dons in almost 500 VFL matches over 25 seasons, winning 6 Flags, 5 Brownlows and 16 Best and Fairest awards between them.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and coach in the VFL. An Essendon and Victorian champion, Clarke was one of the premier midfielders of the VFL for well over a decade, leading the mighty Dons to the flag in 1962 when captain and also playing in the victorious 1965 side. Inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, Clarke's place in Essendon Football Club history was set in stone when in 1997 he was named the centreman of the Essendon Team of the Century. Along with his brother, Ron Clarke
Ron Clarke
Ronald William "Ron" Clarke, MBE is a former Australian athlete, writer, and current Mayor of the Gold Coast. He is one of the best known middle and long distance runners in the 1960s, notable for setting seventeen world records.- Early life and family :He attended Melbourne High School...
, the Clarkes form perhaps the most impressive one-two sibling combination in different sports that Australia has ever seen.
Clarke was a talented centreman who debuted on his eighteenth birthday in 1951 and played 263 games for the Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
from 1951 to 1967, kicking 180 goals. At the time of his retirement he was third in the all-time ranks of both games played (263) and games captained (121) at Essendon, on both occasions being bested by his mid-field predecessors, Bill Hutchison and Dick Reynolds
Dick Reynolds
Richard Sylvannus 'Dick' Reynolds was an Australian rules footballer and coach who represented Essendon and Victoria with great distinction....
, under whose guidance, and in whose immense shadows, he had played his entire career.
Clarke played in strong Essendon teams that featured legends such as Bill Hutchison, John Coleman, John Birt
John Birt (footballer)
John Birt is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL. Birt had an unusual physical characteristic that sometimes reduced his capacity to impose authority in one-on-one situations; whenever he spoke, the tip of his nose would move.Birt was a rover and after being...
, Barry Davis
Barry Davis
Barry Davis is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League with Essendon and North Melbourne, before coaching his original team between 1978–1980.- Essendon career :...
, Hugh Mitchell
Hugh Mitchell (footballer)
Hugh Mitchell is a former Australian rules footballer and coach who played for Essendon in the VFL and Dandenong Football Club during the 1950s and 60s.-Early career at Essendon:...
and Ken Fraser
Ken Fraser
Ken Fraser is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .Ken Fraser was an outstanding centre half-forward, Essendon Football Club captain, premiership captain and player, and Victorian representative.In 2001 Fraser was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of...
, but Clarke was never overlooked by opposition coaches and proved a regular near the head of the Essendon Best and Fairest award, winning the award in 1958 and 1962.
Clarke was not as successful in the Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
, with best finishes of equal 6th in 1958, and equal 7th in 1953 at the age of 20. In comparison, in the Premiershp year of 1962, when Clarke was captain and club Best and Fairest, teammate Ken Fraser polled 19 Brownlow votes, finishing equal second.
Clarke captained the Dons from 1958 to 1964, one of only four men to lead the club in a thirty season period (1939–1968) that yielded six Premierships from fourteen Grand Finals.
Clarke was also a noted architect who had studied during the early stages of his VFL career. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 1996, and was the brother of former Olympian Ron Clarke
Ron Clarke
Ronald William "Ron" Clarke, MBE is a former Australian athlete, writer, and current Mayor of the Gold Coast. He is one of the best known middle and long distance runners in the 1960s, notable for setting seventeen world records.- Early life and family :He attended Melbourne High School...
.
He took over from John Coleman as Essendon coach in 1968, taking the team to the Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
, which they narrowly lost. He was replaced as coach at the end of the 1970 season when Essendon finished 11th (of 12).
Clarke, whose legend has perhaps unduly faded with time, will be forever remembered by long time Essendon supporters as one of their finest leaders, continuing in the line of great Essendon and Victorian midfield generals Reynolds and Hutchison. Between them these three men would lead the Dons in almost 500 VFL matches over 25 seasons, winning 6 Flags, 5 Brownlows and 16 Best and Fairest awards between them.