Community is a big part of AFL draft prospect Charlie Clarke’s life.
He grew up in Port Melbourne community housing, is the son of the local footy team’s “cult figure” and at his matches, as many as 40 locals come along just to cheer him on.
“Whether it’s down the street or in passing, they’re always asking about Charlie,” his dad Jason said. “The whole community is behind him, from the local footy club to the older generation at the local bowls club. That’s pretty special.”
For AFL draft prospect Charlie Clarke, the Port Melbourne community is woven into his career. Credit:Eddie Jim
Clarke spent the early years of his childhood living in community housing estate Barak Beacon at Port Melbourne with his mum Emma-Lee and sister Matilda. The 40-year-old estate, which is slated for demolition and redevelopment, is something he considers a pivotal part of his development as a footy player.
“Growing up, there were always people playing sport at the front of my house. Just made me a very sporty person,” he said. “There are a lot of memories and history in there. It’s very sad to see it get knocked down. Me and my friends are not happy with it.”
Clarke and only a “couple” of the Port Melbourne locals who came out to cheer him on after the Dragons won the NAB premiership.
The skilled mid-forward, known for his flamboyant celebrations on the field, played for the premiership-winning Sandringham Dragons in the NAB League this season, the top-tier under-18s competition. He had a strong finals series, kicking 10 goals in four games, and kicked 29 goals in 15 home-and-away season games.
The footy fever started young. He outgrew AusKick when he was just six, joining the Port Melbourne Colts’ under-9s.
“My dad was sort of a cult figure around the area,” he said. “That’s where I got my love for footy from.”
His dad has played more than 300 games at the Colts, with three senior premierships. He’s also coached the senior teams. It’s no surprise that his favourite topic is his son’s game.
A Port Melbourne Colts fanatic from the beginning: A young Charlie Clarke with dad Jason.
“[Charlie’s] got great goal sense. And he’s also a great teammate. He shares the ball around and enjoys other people’s success, not just his own,” Jason said.
Both Clarke and his dad agree that he’s always had a natural talent for the game, taking home the best and fairest award in the under-12s for the whole competition when he was 10.
“I’ve always been pretty good at footy. I was a good goal sneak and that when I was younger,” he said.
But despite his talent, Clarke was cut from the St Kilda academy at 15. After that, something clicked: Seeing his dad and cousin, Mitch Clarke, come close to getting drafted, he realised that talent alone would not be enough to reach his AFL dreams.
“They’ve been close without putting in the hard work. I guess that sort of motivated me to work hard and dedicate myself,” he said.
His dad also said that leaving school at the end of year nine to attend Harvester Technical College, a trade school in Sunshine, made Clarke a “much happier kid”.
He was also enjoying footy more – Clarke made the most of COVID-19 cancellations, using the time to increase his fitness, and as the months went by, he became entirely footy-focused. In February, he put his carpentry apprenticeship, which he started in August 2020, on hold to work part-time. That same summer, he brought his two-kilometre run time down nearly a minute, from a time of seven minutes 47 seconds to 6.17, with help from his boss’ son, 5000-metre Olympian Sam McEntee.
“I would have done anything to be in the position I am now 12 months ago, so I’d give it my all whereever I went.” he said.Credit:Eddie Jim
“He’s not obsessive about [footy]” Jason said. “He doesn’t manically watch other games or obsess over thinking about it too much. He’s quite well-balanced in that regard.”
As for the draft itself, Clarke is trying not to think about it too much.
“I would have done anything to be in the position I am now 12 months ago, so I’d give it my all wherever I went,” he said.
Both he and his dad, who are “one-eyed” Collingwood supporters, “wouldn’t mind” if he donned a black and white guernsey – but would be chuffed to join any of the 16 clubs the young gun interviewed with this year.
