Past Nathan Clarke (2000-2002)

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Pick 64 in the 1999 Rookie Draft

 

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Pick 45 in the 2001 National Draft

 

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EXPERIENCE HELPS CLARKE, LIONS
Wednesday 23 March 2011

New Brisbane Lions Reserves coach Nathan Clarke is hoping his experiences as an AFL player, and in Canberra, will help his young charges in the NEAFL season.

A Sunshine Coast product, Clarke came off the rookie list to play six senior games for the Brisbane Lions at a time when the club was flush with talent in the early 2000s.

“I guess I’m unique in the sense that I’m probably the only coach at the club who has been delisted and didn’t go on to play a couple of hundred games,” Clarke said at yesterday’s NEAFL season launch.

“From that point of view I can symapthise and empathise with guys who are going through tough times, not getting a game or struggling to make it.”

 

[knaf]

Gee I like the way this guy speaks about the ressies. Seems to know a bit about the game and getting the best out of players. Could be another "find" for the club.

 

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NEAFL Round 13 vs Mt Gravatt

[FONT=&quot]Coach Nathan Clarke suited up for his first game in the 18 months since he left Eastlake as captain-coach and contributed four second half goals in a classy performance.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Clarke was adamant his appearance was a one-off[/FONT]

 

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Nathan Clarke

“We were hoping that Josh Green might fly back from Perth and be able to play, but there was still a bit of uncertainty,” Clarke said.

“So I called Dean Warren on the morning of the game to say that we were looking at playing one short. I suggested that I could occupy a position on the bench as a worst case scenario and he seemed fine with that idea.”

“I hadn’t played a fair dinkum game of footy since September of 2009. I ended up playing around 50% of game which was probably more than I would have liked.”

“I actually think it’s a huge advantage as a coach. But it was purely a one-off at this stage. I would only ever do it again if we were in desperate need and it wasn’t at the expense of any of the young kids.”