St Mary’s superstar defender Raphael Clarke to play 2021 CAFL finals with the Pioneer Eagles

Exclusive: St Mary’s star defender Raphael Clarke has declared he will play for Pioneer in the upcoming CAFL finals series.

Star St Mary’s defender Raphael Clarke has declared his allegiance to Pioneer Eagles for the 2021 CAFL finals series. Picture: Che Chorley

A STRONG family connection was what drew Chaney Medal winner Raph Clarke to Pioneer in what was his first CAFL game on Saturday.

And he did not disappoint, helping the Eagles to a 15.11 (101) to 8.4 (52) win over West at Albrecht Oval on Saturday.

The victory should ensure Pioneer will play finals football in a fortnight’s time.

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“It was my first run with the boys and I’m glad it was a successful day for the club,” the inspirational St Mary’s veteran said. “Archie (Donohoe) was impressive, and so were Luke Foster and Thomas Swan on the wings.”

In a massive coup for Pioneer, Clarke – a former star St Kilda defender – will play against South Alice Springs in round 15 action on Saturday.

This will qualify him for the finals series.

“There’s a family history with Pioneer – my (late) old man Xavier Sr played for this club when he worked around the Territory as a surveyor,” Clarke said. “He won a premiership with them in 1976.

“It’s a club with a lot of families involved, which is similar to St Mary’s, and that’s what has made St Mary’s so successful. “(Club legend) Will Foster played a big part in getting me down here, and I’ve known him since my basketball days.

“(Former Melbourne Demons star) Liam Jurrah played for Wests and he can still take a hanger. He almost got one on me and left me with a nice bruise on my shoulder.”

Among plenty of other things in an outstanding career, Clarke will be forever remembered for his 2020-21 NTFL Grand Final performance, coming so close to getting Saints over the line in a 16.14 (110) to 16.7 (103) extra-time defeat to Nightcliff – widely talked about as the great Territory grand final of all time.

“About a month before the game I was playing up forward and in the middle. Then I went back to half-back and started playing really well,” Clarke said. “So I said to (Saints coach) Anthony (Vallejo) ‘leave me there’. Not lining up against a big forward against Wanderers the week before probably meant I was fresh for the grand final.”

Clarke said this NTFL season could be his last one.

“I’m about to play my 150th game, which has been motivation to keep playing,” he said.