Clarke could still return to Collingwood in 2012

THE good news for Down supporters and Gaelic football fans everywhere is that Martin Clarke will be wearing the famed red and black again next year. The bad news is that he may not do so again in 2012.

The An Riocht forward returned home from the AFL last year to pursue play for his native county but rumours of a switch back to Collingwood have persisted both here and in Australia.

The Melbourne club is known to be still keen on availing of the Irishman’s services for a second time and the player admits his future plans stretch no further than the end of the next footballing season.

“I have no idea,” Clarke, who is in Kuala Lumpur with the All Stars, said. “That’s why I haven’t said much about it or talked about it. 2011 I am playing GAA. 2012 I might be here or I might be in Australia.

“I’d like to leave my options open. I am fortunate to have a few opportunities. I don’t know if I will go back or not. Mentally, at this stage, it wouldn’t feel right to go back. I’m enjoying my time in Ireland, so I don’t want to leave at the minute.”

Though he may still return to the oval code one day, Clarke is by no means a cheerleader for everything AFL and his comments yesterday on the perceived differences in fitness between Gaelic and AFL players were interesting.

“I think people get carried away, particularly the Australians. They like putting out this picture that Australians are the biggest, strongest going around, but that’s just part of their nature as well.

“They really like themselves in that respect and they like talking about how strong they are but I have never seen anyone as quick, strong and fit as Danny Hughes or Ambrose Rogers over there.

“That’s only within Down too; when you come on trips, you see boys like Bernard Brogan and Graham Canty in the international teams. There is no difference in them boys and the Australians. The Australians aren’t robots; they are humans and their best is similar to the best here. There is a bit more focus on weight training, but sometimes maybe too much.

“I’d say a lot of the Irish boys are more nimble. There are weights in gaelic football, but it’s probably not as heavy - it’s specific to the game. I think gaelic players are as fit if not fitter and in better condition than the Australians.”

Chosen in the half-forward line for the 2010 ‘best of’ selection, Clarke’s form has actually divided opinion with some observers adamant that he had a superb season with others of the belief that his influence was more marginal.

The truth is probably somewhere in between, but the fact is that he is already an All Star after just one season playing senior football and what everyone does seem to agree on is that he has the potential to be truly great.

“After every game you don’t really need anybody to tell you how you played,” he said. “There are very few games in the league or championship where I was thinking, ‘that was a great game.’ Everyone can improve all the time.

“It was frustrating at times - not being able to do everything I wanted to do on the pitch. I am working on it and it’s great to have a manager like James (McCartan). He agrees that there is a lot more in me and it’s just trying to get that out.”