Retired Justin Clarke (2011-2016)

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Its weird. Some players retire young through lack of heart and desire. But when one retires from this so young you feel like somethings been taken away from you. And as a fan that sounds so selfish. But so true. These kids health will always come first for me. But geez what I would give to see him back out there. Best of luck J.C.
 
Milux said:
Its weird. Some players retire young through lack of heart and desire. But when one retires from this so young you feel like somethings been taken away from you. And as a fan that sounds so selfish. But so true. These kids health will always come first for me. But geez what I would give to see him back out there. Best of luck J.C.
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Yep. Stark contrast to how he goes out compared to someone like Patty Karnezis. Heartbreaking for someone with so much passion and work ethic to have to give it away from a shitty condition like this. All the best JC.
 

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Clarke a reminder of career fragility
Alistair Lynch

THE sad sight of Justin Clarke announcing his vastly premature retirement this week was a harsh reminder of the fragility of a football career.

The opportunity to play AFL is limited to a privileged few and it can be taken away so quickly. For Justin, who in just 56 games at elite level had shown enough to suggest he had a long and potentially distinguished career ahead, this is about so much more than just football.

A knee injury is a massive blow to a player but in reality just affects a bloke’s ability to play football on the weekend possibly for up to a year, but even so you’ll be back in training quickly. A head knock takes in so much more regarding life, not just sport and is the reason the AFL is dedicating so much in to research of head knocks and concussion as are many other codes around the world.

Alarmingly, Justin becomes the third Lion in a couple of years, following Jonathan Brown and Matt Maguire, forced to walk away through head knocks. I had my own well publicised health issues as a player, with my chronic fatigue battle becoming about far more than my ability to play football. Trying to get my life back and health back on track became the only focus. Once my health was back on track, football became a focus again.

Justin, at just 22, will have no such luck and we can all only desperately hope this highly intelligent young man can get his health back so that he can fulfil his other goals in life. It is a concern moving forward that he had no choice to step away from all contact sport. We can only imagine what this young man is going through mentally. Intelligent enough to study aeronautical engineering yet unable to remember recently how to reach the university he is studying at.

Rightly so, the AFL does plenty to protect the head, and the players are all on board with rule changes to limit the risk of nasty head knocks. But sadly, this was just a freakish training accident that you could not possibly legislate against. The Lions as a club, the league, the players’ association and teammates will do all they can to support Justin. But realistically, his Lions teammates sooner or later will have to move on.

As the well-spoken but hurting young defender pointed out at his retirement press conference, he must wave goodbye to the camaraderie of the sporting environment. When you leave a club there is always the fear of leaving behind 40 or so friends, people who have been such an influence in your life. In Justin’s case, they have been a second family after moving north from South Australia four years ago.

He has always had long-term focus on a career post-football. One career has come to an end far earlier than he and we all would have expected, and I’m sure there are plenty of hurdles still to climb. Everyone involved with football no doubt wishes him well and looks forward to seeing him back in full health and kicking plenty more goals in life, as we’re sure he was destined to do in our game.
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Former AFL Brisbane Lions player Justin Clarke still suffering effects of career-ending concussion

THREE months after concussion ended the career of AFL star Justin Clarke, the former Brisbane defender has admitted he still struggles with headaches, tires easily and can’t retain information.

The 22-year-old has used the launch of a concussion awareness campaign to reveal the staggering ongoing impact of a major knock that ended his career prematurely in February.

‘’I still wouldn’t say I am back to normal,’’ Clarke said.

‘’Emotionally it’s a battle too but I’m lucky because I have a strong supportive family.

‘’It’s been a roller coaster and the physical effects of it have changed my life dramatically.’’

But the former star said he was still saddened that he had to walk away.

‘’I miss the game so much,’’ he said. ‘’The most frustrating part about it is that you see the boys struggling and I just wish I could be out there with them.’’

The former footballer is now studying aeronautical engineering but said long periods of concentration often led to debilitating headaches.

‘’I have to manage my study time so I don’t overwhelm myself and go backwards.’’

Clarke will today join former Sydney Swan’s captain Jude Bolton, former NRL great Steve Renouf and Wallaby Tatafu Polota-Nau at the launch of a major concussion initiative backed by the peak body for elite athletes, the Australian Athletes’ Alliance and the Queensland Brain Institute.

The initiative is aimed at raising funds and awareness.

Clarke said he hoped the campaign would make elite athletes more aware of the dangers.

‘’All players are concerned about effects long term concussion injury so any research would benefit not only the AFL but all codes.’’

Clarke was forced to retire in February due to a knock he received during training a month earlier.

A series of specialists warned he faced permanent brain damage if he copped another head knock.

The campaign, Concussion: If in doubt, sit it out, will be launched at the University of Queensland today.

SMS BRAIN to 0437 371 371 to donate to concussion research qbi.uq.edu.au/concussion
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2016 Club Champion Wrap

Departing Lions Daniel Merrett, Trent West and Justin Clarke were recognised by the Club through Recognition of Service awards, while trainer Sam Mounajed was the recipient of the Murray Johnson Volunteer of the Year Award.
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Justin Clarke will row for Australia. You heard it here first.
 
Player Reviews: No. 41 - 47

The talented 56 game defender tragically had to call time on his promising young career after suffering continued concussion symptoms following a head knock at training in January. After an arduous decision making process with Lions medical staff and concussion specialists, Clarke made the decision to retire at the age of 22. Speaking at the 2016 Club Champion night, Clarke said that while the decision was a difficult one, he had no regrets of his time playing for the Brisbane Lions.

“I’d just like to say that I’m extremely proud of the time I spent at the Lions, extremely proud that I got to wear number 42 for the team and I’d do anything to be out there again.”

Coach’s notes

Clarkey unfortunately suffered a concussion in the pre-season after copping a heavy knock at training, but was set for a big 2016 after a solid 2015 as a key defender. Unfortunately he had to retire due to ongoing concussion symptoms, and will be sorely missed not only as a player but as a person around the Club. We wish him well as he endeavours to move into life outside of football.
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Justin was just on Insight discussing how retirement affects athletes. It is obviously a very raw issue for him and he was very emotional, it was clear he really misses the boys, the game, and clearly what he had missed out on. I was always a big fan and hope he does well in his life after footy, we do miss him all the same.

TT
 
Would be nice of the club to invite him in to the club rooms before and after every now and then. I reckon he would also be a big influence on some of the boys that may not be putting in as much effort as they should be, hopefully he can tell them to give it all they got as it can be taken away from them so quickly.

I still remember he pushing back better offers to play in other teams just to play with us. That is a bloke you want having near your team.
 
T Factor said:
Justin was just on Insight discussing how retirement affects athletes. It is obviously a very raw issue for him and he was very emotional, it was clear he really misses the boys, the game, and clearly what he had missed out on. I was always a big fan and hope he does well in his life after footy, we do miss him all the same.

TT
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http://wwos.nine.com.au/2017/04/12/...uggles-with-life-after-football/?ocid=aflfsfb

There is a video of a snippet of what he said embedded in this article. Tough to watch :(.
 
Honestly one of the worst things to happen to the club in a very long time.

Time hasn't made it feel any better. Poor bloke lost so much. How he has fought back from that is commendable and its indicative of the kind of person he is. Sad he's not a part of the club and devastated it still hurts him a lot that he isn't, so glad he's got that identity as he's said. Very strong person
 
BRAB said:
Honestly one of the worst things to happen to the club in a very long time.

Time hasn't made it feel any better. Poor bloke lost so much. How he has fought back from that is commendable and its indicative of the kind of person he is. Sad he's not a part of the club and devastated it still hurts him a lot that he isn't, so glad he's got that identity as he's said. Very strong person
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Really well said and probably sums up what we all feel.
 
Decade from hell: 11 moments that defined Lions' meteoric rise
7. Justin Clarke's early retirement
One of the more heartbreaking stories of the decade came in early 2016 from 22-year-old Justin Clarke. After transforming himself from the rookie list into a reliable defender, the South Australian copped a head knock at training in January that year, and after losing some of his memory and barely being able to exercise, he saw three independent specialists – who all advised him to retire. Clarke did just that, bringing an all-to-premature end to his 56-game career. His farewell press conference was as emotional as it was gut-wrenching.
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Retired Justin Clarke (2011-2016)

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