Australian Football - Noel Clarke (original) (raw)
Key Facts
Full name
Noel Clarke
Known as
Noel Clarke
Born
26 December 1930
Died
7 August 2022 (aged 91)
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 20y 158d
Last game: 24y 265d
Height and weight
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 81 kg
Senior clubs
North Launceston; Melbourne; North Hobart; New Norfolk
Jumper numbers
Melbourne: 26
Recruited from
North Launceston (1951); Melbourne (1956); North Hobart (1958)
Noel Clarke
| Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Launceston | NTFA | 1949-1950 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Melbourne | V/AFL | 1951-1955 | 77 | 155 | 2.01 | 44% | 10.33 | — | 4.67 | 5 |
| North Hobart | TANFL | 1956-1957 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New Norfolk | TANFL | 1958-1961 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| NTFA | 1949-1950 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| V/AFL | 1951-1955 | 77 | 155 | 2.01 | 44% | 10.33 | — | 4.67 | 5 | |
| TANFL | 1956-1961 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Total | 1949-1961 | 77 | 155 | 2.01 | — | — | — | — | — |
Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only
AFL: 6,117th player to appear, 3,155th most games played, 630th most goals kickedMelbourne: 718th player to appear, 227th most games played, 43rd most goals kicked
Without doubt one of the finest ever Tasmanian forwards, Noel Clarke gave distinguished service to four clubs, as well as to Tasmania in interstate matches. He commenced his senior career with North Launceston in 1949 and played in two consecutive NTFA premiership wins as well the 1950 state flag victory over Hobart. After a somewhat acrimonious clearance wrangle, Clarke was released to play with Melbourne in the VFL in 1951, and he went on to play 77 games and boot 155 goals for the Demons over the ensuing five seasons. He was a member of Melbourne's 1955 premiership team, booting 3 of the side's 8 goals in the Grand Final defeat of Collingwood. Returning to Tasmania in 1956, Clarke joined North Hobart, and promptly topped the TANFL's goal kicking list with 81 goals for the year. He also represented his state with distinction at the Perth carnival, with his 15 goals for the series being bettered only by Jock Spencer of the VFL, who amassed 17.
The final phase of Clarke's career was spent as playing coach of New Norfolk between 1958 and 1961. A serious knee injury sustained early in his debut season limited his appearances, but in 1961 he managed to top the TANFL's goalkicking list, for the second time, with 66 goals.
Noel Clarke was selected at full forward in North Launceston's official 'Best Team 1945-1999' at centre half forward in New Norfolk's official 'Best Team 1947-2001' and in North Hobart's unplaced official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.
Author - John Devaney