Retired Justin Clarke (2011-2016)

[Happy_Neale]

I think we forget how inexperienced he is at times since he has had to play such a major role for us.

 

[mpal6]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-02-...ut-of-football-indefinitely-due-to-concussion

Alright, come clean now. Who jinxed him ??????

 

[bato]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-02-...ut-of-football-indefinitely-due-to-concussion

Alright, come clean now. Who jinxed him ??????

My bad.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Yep, sounds like we should prepare for a premature end to a very promising football career.

Would be gutting from a fan perspective but obviously there is much more at stake for Justin.

Not beyond doubt that he bounces back but he seems pragmatic enough to walk away and not take unnecessary risks that he would regret for the rest of his life.

 

[BuntonRules]

SHE-IT

 

[jjami15]

Yep, sounds like we should prepare for a premature end to a very promising football career.

Would be gutting from a fan perspective but obviously there is much more at stake for Justin.

Not beyond doubt that he bounces back but he seems pragmatic enough to walk away and not take unnecessary risks that he would regret for the rest of his life.

Yep, my thoughts exactly. Selfishly, I would love to get him back and can remember some games where he is a pillar down back in a very young backline. However, for him as an individual, footballs just a game and the brain is something that you just don't risk. Get well young man, certain that you'll be able to give back in other ways.

 

[Panthera]

Yep, sounds like we should prepare for a premature end to a very promising football career.

Would be gutting from a fan perspective but obviously there is much more at stake for Justin.

Not beyond doubt that he bounces back but he seems pragmatic enough to walk away and not take unnecessary risks that he would regret for the rest of his life.

Think so? No damage uncovered, but lingering side-effects remain from being concussed. Obviously a very important next month ahead for Justin but it'd have to be super bad to see him retire at age 22

 

[Hollow Knight]

Obviously a very important next month ahead for Justin

You won't see him for at least half the season under the best case scenario at this point.

 

[Panthera]

You won't see him for at least half the season under the best case scenario at this point.

Yeah - agree...just hope he recovers 100% no matter how long it takes

 

[ZoBlitz]

Game over? Concussion threatens young Lion's career

The Brisbane Lions are braced for a concussion-related retirement from 22-year-old Justin Clarke, who is still suffering after-effects from a hit he sustained four weeks ago.

The popular and exceptionally studious 56-gamer has taken indefinite leave from the AFL club after his attempt to complete a simple cycling session about a fortnight ago triggered a three-day period of abnormal fatigue.

Clark has not been the same since being knocked out for 10-15 seconds on January 18 after he clashed heavily with a teammate in a marking contest, hitting the turf face down. He is now said to be weighing up the risk of resuming a promising athletic career, provided he is even cleared to do so.

Talks in recent days between the player and Brisbane are understood to have left the distinct impression Clarke may not play again this year and may never play football again.

Clarke was at Brisbane last week but is not expected to return any time soon, given his concentration is noticeably affected.

His symptoms include tiredness, headaches and what was put to Fairfax Media as a general sense of "fuzziness". Clarke is yet to pass the so-called SCAT3 test (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool - third edition) which is used globally as a method of evaluating cognitive function.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Concussed Lion Clarke should not risk his future, warns ex-teammate Matt Maguire

Maguire echoed the thoughts of others around the Lions, saying Clarke would consider his post-football life above anything else.

"I'm not worried if I lost a couple of brain cells, but I think that'd be more relevant to Jase (Clarke)," Maguire said.

"Jase has got a really bright academic future in front of him that requires a high level of intellectual application, and that's something I'm sure he'll consider during what I hope is a speedy recovery.

"I reckon if he had to choose between the two, just my read and I could be wrong, he'd say: 'I don't want to risk my head'."

Maguire has not exercised since retirement and said any more than one or two alcoholic drinks was also now off limits.

 

[lionshine]

Regardless of whether he returns to footy or not I just hope he can start to do the simple things struggle free again soon such as reading. Must be frustrating struggling to read for such a bright young man.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Regardless of whether he returns to footy or not I just hope he can start to do the simple things struggle free again soon such as reading. Must be frustrating struggling to read for such a bright young man.

Mel Lambert seemed to indicate that he is making good strides in the last few days which is very relieving to hear.

 

[lionshine]

Mel Lambert seemed to indicate that he is making good strides in the last few days which is very relieving to hear.

Great news.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I don't know what the outcome of this will be for Justin Clarke but I think if there is any doubt at all he should walk away. He is extremely smart and will excel away from footy when he gets the chance.

 

[Panthera]

I don't know what the outcome of this will be for Justin Clarke but I think if there is any doubt at all he should walk away. He is extremely smart and will excel away from footy when he gets the chance.

C'mon, what's with the next level negativity re. Clarke

Yes, he's a smart bloke who studied well and smashed his ATAR to perfection; but he's not the only footy player who needs his brain post footy. Most will.

People seem to think that a good score automatically means he's bound for great things at whatever he tries...things don't always pan out - no matter how smart you are.

I don't see his case to be any different to the many others in AFL of recent times and there is no reason I see the need for him to quit footy unless he himself is told to b/c of his injury or that he decides that he doesn't want to play anymore at the risk of future injuries to the brain.

 

[BuntonRules]

C'mon, what's with the next level negativity re. Clarke

Yes, he's a smart bloke who studied well and smashed his ATAR to perfection; but he's not the only footy player who needs his brain post footy. Most will.

People seem to think that a good score automatically means he's bound for great things at whatever he tries...things don't always pan out - no matter how smart you are.

I don't see his case to be any different to the many others in AFL of recent times and there is no reason I see the need for him to quit footy unless he himself is told to b/c of his injury or that he decides that he doesn't want to play anymore at the risk of future injuries to the brain.

I do. To me 99% of draftees a footy career is everything, then we will worry about what we do after. For Justin, it is apparent that his footy career is just one thing he wants to do in life, with the rest as just as high priority. If he decides to forgo the footy phase, so be it - with my total support.

I say this as a huge fan of his. IMHO Justin Clarke will be a bigger loss to the club - both on and off the field - than any 2 of the "go home 5".

 

[ZoBlitz]

Josh Green To Return To Training

“Justin’s slowly improving from the concussion he had in January,” Lemcke said.

“He’s going through a number of neuro-psych tests so we can establish exactly where he is at.

“He’s progressing on those but there is still no time frame on his return at this stage.”

 

[Happy_Neale]

"no time frame on his return", sounds like he will be returning then at some stage?

 

[Kevvo]

"no time frame on his return", sounds like he will be returning then at some stage?

I think that's more likely just to be the club's optimistic line. He probably hasn't said that he isn't coming back, but the symptoms, if they're ongoing, have now lasted for a long time. I'd be pretty surprised if he came back.

 

[Happy_Neale]

I think that's more likely just to be the club's optimistic line. He probably hasn't said that he isn't coming back, but the symptoms, if they're ongoing, have now lasted for a long time. I'd be pretty surprised if he came back.

Why would it be a surprise if he came back though? Concussions can last weeks at a time regularly and then clear up. Sounds like he has made some progress so there would be a chance he could return in the back half of the year perhaps.

 

[Kevvo]

Why would it be a surprise if he came back though? Concussions can last weeks at a time regularly and then clear up. Sounds like he has made some progress so there would be a chance he could return in the back half of the year perhaps.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember many players recently that have missed training for a month over a concussion. From what I can tell, this seems to be a relatively severe incident. Maybe it's not shocking medically, but I also wouldn't assume that the potential for long term damage is a risk that Clarke would treat lightly. This is a guy who joined us after his first preference (the airforce) didn't work out because he was too tall. He's clearly been committed and worked hard while he's been with us, but I don't think his football career would be the single most important thing to him.

Anyway, it's all speculation at this stage. From my perspective though, it seems unlikely that he'll return.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember many players recently that have missed training for a month over a concussion. From what I can tell, this seems to be a relatively severe incident. Maybe it's not shocking medically, but I also wouldn't assume that the potential for long term damage is a risk that Clarke would treat lightly. This is a guy who joined us after his first preference (the airforce) didn't work out because he was too tall. He's clearly been committed and worked hard while he's been with us, but I don't think his football career would be the single most important thing to him.

Anyway, it's all speculation at this stage. From my perspective though, it seems unlikely that he'll return.

There has been players miss multiple games with concussion in recent memory but yes it does seem pretty severe. I wouldn't be surprised if he came back at some stage although clearly it is not a given at this point.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Concussion looks set to end AFL career of Lion Justin Clarke

Concussion looks to have terminated the career of another AFL player, with young Brisbane defender Justin Clarke set to make a decision about his future, potentially within days.

The 22-year-old is in Melbourne on Thursday, where he will see two more specialists before deciding on his next move – but a return to football is seen as very remote.

Clarke was knocked out at training in Brisbane on January 18 when he hit the ground after a marking contest.

Although scans cleared him of any damage to his spine, he was unable to return to training after repeatedly failing concussion tests.

If he does retire, Clarke would become the third Lion to have his career cut short by concussion, following the retirements of Jonathan Brown and Matt Maguire.

 

[Schache It Off]

**** me