Troy Clarke

A trailblazer for North Queensland football, Clarke originally hailed from South Cairns but was forced to take the long road to the AFL after being overlooked for the Brisbane Bears' inaugural squad. He headed south to prove his worth in the SANFL with West Torrens, where his form as a wingman was strong enough to earn South Australian Team of the Year honours and finally prompt the Bears to draft him in 1990. A pocket-sized utility who was equally capable as a rover, small forward, or defensive tagger, Clarke became a key fixture in the Brisbane side of the early 90s, balancing his 68 senior games with a premiership in the reserves and a famous State of Origin appearance for Queensland. His playing days were effectively ended by a second knee reconstruction sustained against Carlton in 1995, but his contribution to the game continued long after his retirement. Clarke became a giant of grassroots football development in Queensland, credited with discovering talents like Kurt Tippett, before his tragic passing at age 44 saw him immortalised in the state's Hall of Fame.