Former St Kilda defender Raphael Clarke has revealed why he hated the Saints for “so long” post finishing his AFL career in 2012.
After nine years and 85 games with the club, the former no.8 draft pick says he was disappointingly delisted by a text message.
Clarke said the way he was “shown the door” angered him and that he’s “only just starting” to get his passion back for the club he gave so much to.
“I actually hated AFL footy, it took me a while to actually get back and watch it,” Clarke said on SEN’s Fridays in the Top End.
“I was shown the door. If I didn’t come back and play for St Mary’s straight away with (brother) Xavier it would have taken me a long time to enjoy football again.
“A lot of people probably wouldn’t believe this, for somebody to give nine years of everything you’ve got, to be delisted by text message, that’s probably the icing on the cake, which made me hate St Kilda for so long.
“I’m only just starting to get my passion back for St Kilda.”
Clarke says he reignited his passion for the Saints until years after his departure through St Kilda welfare officer Tony Brown as he developed connections with the likes of Ben Long, Brad Hill and Paddy Ryder.
“I didn’t watch a lot of AFL footy for a good three or four years,” he said.
“I’m just starting to watch it again and really enjoying the game now.”
Clarke averaged 13.7 disposals from his 85 games at the top level, winning 54 of those as part of a dominant St Kilda outfit.
Following his AFL career, Clarke would go on to win four NTFL flags with St Mary’s, the club he was drafted from in 2003.
