Born Goomaling, W.A.
26 June, 1931 – 23 March, 1997
Jack Clarke, known affectionately as “Stork” because of his lean, lanky frame, burst on the W.A. football stage in 1952 and went on to become an East Fremantle legend.
His first-up performance at centre-half-forward against West Perth’s brilliant Fred Buttsworth at Leederville Oval on 26 April, 1952, stamped him as a future champion.
That is the way it worked out, only Clarke went on to establish an Australian-wide reputation not as a centre-half-forward but as a ruckman of the highest quality.
He made his interstate debut at the Adelaide carnival in 1953 and was selected in the all-Australian team of that year – a feat he was to repeat in 1956 (Perth), 1958 (Melbourne) and 1961 (Brisbane).
Clarke remains the only player to have earned all-Australian selection four times. It was fitting that Clarke set the record in Brisbane when W.A. won the carnival for the first time for 40 years. He was runner-up to Victorian Brian Dixon for the Tassie Medal as the fairest and best player at the carnival.
In 11 seasons with East Fremantle, Clarke played 206 league matches. He won the 1957 Sandover Medal and ended his career as the best ruckman produced by East Fremantle. He also made 26 appearances for W.A.
Clarke will be remembered not only as an outstanding player but also as a great club man who played the game for the game’s sake.
He had some stirring battles in the ruck against Merv McIntosh early in his career and then Graham Farmer became his No. 1 rival until the end of 1961.
Clarke had a vice-like grip and was one of the strongest overhead marks in Australian football. His work in a back pocket when resting from the ruck was in a class of its own.