Xavier Clarke Biography

Following Richmond's premiership victory, Jacob Townsend spotted Richmond development coach Xavier Clarke in the jam-packed Tiger rooms on Saturday night and made a beeline for him.

They embraced, and Townsend had two words for him: "Thank you." Clarke had prophetically told him, during his frustrating run stuck in the VFL, that he could play in an AFL Grand Final.

"I wasn't sure what I'd be doing (next year) in round 21 in the AFL – I was looking for jobs, looking for a carpentry job – and now I'm a premiership player," Townsend said.

"The feeling's amazing. I can't really put it into words. The change of fortunes in about a month or so has been amazing."

Xavier Clarke has emerged as a coach in demand, with three clubs chasing the former St Kilda player's services going into next season.

As the coaching merry-go-round slows after a frantic off-season, Clarke remains highly sought after following three seasons coaching the Northern Territory Thunder in the NEAFL.

It is understood Fremantle and Collingwood have joined Richmond in inquiring about Clarke, who has ambitions to re-enter the AFL system as an assistant coach.

Xavier Clarke returns to Darwin after being appointed coach of Northern Territory Thunder – which competes in the North East Australian Football League – for the next two seasons.

"To come home in such an exciting role, I couldn't have scripted it much better myself," Clarke said.

"We've got a lot of hard work in front of us, but I'm loving it."

Raphael and Xavier Clarke prepare for a new relationship as the Flying Boomerangs head to South Africa with Xavier as the AFL's indigenous programs coordinator and Raphael coaching the side.

The Flying Boomerangs is a program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 14-15. The 25 players on the trip will play two matches against South African teams in Potchefstroom and Durban.

Former Saint and Lion Xavier Clarke accepts a role with the AFL and will help prepare indigenous players for life after football.

Brisbane Lion Xavier Clarke has had revolutionary LARS surgery on his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in a last-ditch bid to save his career.

"Compared to the surgery and long rehab on my left knee (ACL ligament) two years ago, it's chalk and cheese. I was able to walk out of hospital in a knee brace two days after my operation and the swelling has gone down," Clarke said.

"I'm back in the gym five days post op and in three or four weeks, hopefully, I can start running again."

A second knee reconstruction for injury-plagued Lion Xavier Clarke threatens to derail his career.

Clarke suffered the injury to his right knee while training for the Lions.

Xavier Clarke prepares for a career with his new club Brisbane after being traded from St Kilda.

''Maybe the warm weather up in Brisbane will help me out. Who knows, it's a theory,'' Clarke smiled.

''I just felt that the time was right to go somewhere new. Sometimes in your life you just have feelings , and I thought I should go with it this time.''

The Brisbane Lions continue to wheel and deal at trade week securing Xavier Clarke from St Kilda after giving up pick 60.

"I've been offered a terrific opportunity at Brisbane and I'm really looking forward to further developing my career with the Lions," Clarke said.

"It was a decision I didn't take lightly. I had to sit down and see what was best for my footy and my personal development as a player."

When Xavier Clarke was worried after learning his season was over, comfort came in the form of a visit from his coach, Ross Lyon.

"Rossy pretty much said to me he would like to have me at the club next year, and as long as he's there he would do pretty much anything he can to keep me at the club," Clarke told Superfooty program Front and Square.

"I think I still have a lot to offer. I'm 25 and I would like to think I have three or four really good years in senior footy."

St Kilda hopes defender Xavier Clarke will be ready for the opening round of 2010 after his season-ending knee injury.

Clarke ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while playing in the VFL.

"His form had been good and he's played a fair bit of senior footy for us. It is very disappointing for it to happen and it limits our depth," St Kilda football manager Greg Hutchison said.

"He's coped pretty well actually. He has been as well as can be expected."

Xavier Clarke is pushing hard to play his first game of the season, but there might not be room for him in an unbeaten St Kilda line-up.