Clarke comes from illustrious company, being selected by St Kilda at pick 5 in the 2001 AFL national draft – the ‘super draft’ which included the likes of Chris Judd, Luke Hodge, Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett and Dane Swan.
Now, two years after his AFL career was cut short due to injuries, Clarke is excited to be at West Preston-Lakeside Football Club and both parties couldn’t be happier.
Clarke said that many factors drew him to West Preston-Lakeside, including the tight-knit and multicultural feel of the club, which he realised after just one visit.
Another large reason for Clarke joining the club was good friend Ali Fahour. After back and forth jokes between the two about Clarke coming to play at West Preston-Lakeside, the 29-year-old thought he would look further into the club and after checking things out, decided to play for the Roosters.
A skilful and poised midfielder, Clarke is looking forward to having a good season whilst enjoying his footy at West. He is also excited about teaming up with the young midfield group which he has heard great things about.
With 106 AFL games under his belt Clarke hopes he can bring some experience and leadership to West Preston-Lakeside and “hopefully touch the footy a few times” as well.
Last season Clarke played every game for Avondale Heights in the Essendon District Football League (EDFL) and has also occasionally played in Darwin throughout this summer.
Since retiring from league footy, Clarke has kept his body in much better shape and is hoping to play every game for the Roosters, including, hopefully, “some finals footy”.
Outside of football, Clarke is very passionate and committed to his work with indigenous youth, co-founding the Unity Foundation.
The Unity Foundation worked with disadvantaged indigenous youth, often conducting school-based activities focused on healthy living and also choices and consequences. Unfortunately due to the financial crisis they couldn’t sustain the program and handed their work over to the Lighthouse Foundation who Clarke said “continue to do good work”.
Clarke is now the AFL Indigenous Co-ordinator, working under friend and West Preston teammate, Fahour.
Clarke has co-ordinated a trip to South Africa for the Flying Boomerang squad, a team made of young indigenous players, during late January and early February. The team has also travelled to Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Fiji in recent years.
Whilst Clarke is passionate about football and community work, his family comes first. He is often in Darwin catching up with family and friends and taking his dogs pig hunting.
His brother Raphael, who played 85 AFL games also with St Kilda, recently signed for St Albans in the Geelong Football League, and whilst Xavier is happy for his brother he also looks forward to one day being able to put on the same jumper as him.
Xavier is very much looking forward to getting down to pre-season training with new coach Frank Raso and helping to kick-start what West Preston-Lakeside expects to be a very successful season.
In Xavier’s encounters with coaches, players and members of the club, he has left a very good impression and everyone involved in the club is looking forward to the season ahead.
