Raphael Clarke

Raphael Clarke (born 24 September 1985) is an Australian rules footballer for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is the brother of Brisbane utility Xavier Clarke, who was also a St Kilda player from 2002 until 2009.

AFL career

Clarke was recruited from St Marys with pick number 8 in the 2003 AFL Draft. He made his debut in Round 17, 2004 against Essendon. In 2005 he was an AFL Rising Star nominee.

2008 season

Clarke had a strong start to the year in his fifth season at the club, playing in St Kilda’s 2008 NAB Cup winning side.After playing just five of the first 20 rounds in 2008 because of health and personal issues, Clarke finished the year in outstanding fashion, starring at half-back in the semi-final win against Collingwood and being one of the Saints' few good players in the preliminary final loss to Hawthorn. These last few games saw him burst onto the AFL scene and he was named St Kilda's Most Promising Young Player.

2009 season

Clarke played in 12 of 22 matches in the 2009 season home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals, winning the club’s third minor premiership.

St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. Clarke played in the grand final when St Kilda was defeated by 12 points.

References

External links

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