Page 12 - AFL Queensland 2014 in Review

Dalby junior sensation, Tom Matthews, was a worthy winner of the inaugural Troy Clarke Scholarship.
Fourteen year-old Matthews, the youngest player to notch 200 games with the Swans, has been a prolific goal kicker for his club in recent years.
An AFL Queensland Hall of Fame member, Clarke, 44, played 68 games for the Brisbane Bears between 1991 and 1996 and was the only North Queenslander on the Queensland Team of the Century shortlist , but it was his impact on footy after his retirement that will be his true legacy to the game.
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TROY
CLARKE Matthews’ dedication to football, with the teen regularly travelling to
SCHOLARSHIP
Brisbane for representative sides, a 200km trip each way, made him a standout applicant for the scholarship.
Matthews said he was honoured to receive the first Troy Clarke Scholarship.
“I’m really excited to win this scholarship, I’ve read a lot about Troy and I hope I’m lucky enough to have someone like him help me with my career,’’ Matthews said.
Sydney Swans spearhead, Kurt Tippett, was discovered by Clarke on a Gold Coast basketball court as a teenager and jumped at the opportunity to be the scholarship ambassador.
Tippett was on hand to present Mitchell with the scholarship on the eve of the Swans’ match against the Gold Coast SUNS.
The former Southport Shark said he could see plenty of potential in Matthews.
“He has certainly got me covered, I know he kicked over 100 goals last season so he is obviously very talented,’’ Tippett said.
“And he’s played 200 for his Swans, I’d like to do that too ... but I’m size 14 [shoes], that’s the only thing I’ve got over him.’’
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To honour Troy’s memory, a scholarship was created in his honour that would assist a young footballer from regional Queensland to reach their potential, both in football and life, just as Troy himself had done.
Troy consistently displayed wonderful values such as dedication, passion and respect.
This scholarship aims to honour Troy Clarke by supporting a young person from regional Queensland who displays these same values to reach their potential both as a player and a person.