The Brisbane Lions mourn the tragic passing of Troy Clarke, who played 68 senior matches with the Brisbane Bears from 1991-96.

Clarke passed away prematurely on Monday aged just 44 years.

He leaves an incredible legacy on the game in Queensland and will be missed by everyone who had the privilege to know him.  

The Club extends its heartfelt sympathies to the entire Clarke family at this incredibly difficult time.

Originally from South Cairns, Clarke had an outstanding junior football career, but ultimately missed selection in the Bears’ foundation squad in 1987.

He decided to join West Torrens in the strong South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and went on to play 64 games in four seasons with the Eagles – winning selection in the South Australian Team of the Year in 1989.

Clarke’s terrific form eventually saw him win a contract with the Bears and return ‘home’ in 1991.

He was part of the Bear’s Reserves premiership in his first year at the Club, and went on to become a regular senior player. However, he suffered a second knee reconstruction in 1995 and would play just two further matches after the injury.

Clarke announced his retirement in 1996 to pursue a coaching career in Tasmania, but would later return to Queensland to work in junior development and become a key figure for the code in the fast-developing Gold Coast region.

His impact on the region was formally recognised in 2006, with Clarke the recipient of a National High Achievers Award at the AFL National Development Conference.

Since 2011, Clarke has led the growth of Australian football across Queensland as State Development Manager, having played a key role in grassroots and community activities.

Such was his impact on the code in the region, that he was inducted into the Queensland Hall of Fame.