CARLTON assistant coaches Dale Amos and Tim Clarke will take the reins for Friday night’s new AFLX tournament, having tonight been named joint senior AFLX coaches for the Blues.

Amos and Clarke will coach a game each on Friday night, when the Blues face Melbourne and North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium respectively. 

In this round-robin format, each match will consist of two 10-minute halves. Fans will see six AFL clubs competing across two pool groups, which will culminate with the best teams competing in the grand final.

Head of Football Andrew McKay said Brendon Bolton offered Amos and Clarke the opportunity to lead the AFLX program in senior coaching roles.

“The AFLX tournament presents a great opportunity for both Dale and Tim to lead their own sides and as a club we continually encourage development pathways – be it coaches, players or staff,” McKay said.

“Both Dale and Tim have previously coached teams in their own right at other clubs in the VFL program and they’re looking forward to the challenge with a new and exciting concept from the AFL.

“Brendon will continue to oversee the AFL program and prepare the players in the lead-up to the JLT Series and Round 1.”

Amos is currently the Blues’ stoppages coach, having led the Club’s impressive backline for the past two seasons since arriving at Ikon Park in late 2015. He spent seven seasons at Geelong Football Club, and previously led South Barwon to a hat-trick of Geelong Football League premierships between 2005 – 2007. He was also named GFL coach of the year in 2006.


Stoppages coach Dale Amos. (Photo: AFL Media)

Clarke continues to lead Carlton’s midfield brigade after arriving at the Club in late 2015. The former Hawthorn midfielder played 96 AFL games between 2001 to 2008 before taking up a development coaching role with Richmond in 2010 and 2011. Clarke was appointed Richmond’s inaugural VFL coach in 2014 before arriving at Ikon Park when Brendon Bolton took charge at the end of 2015.


Midfield coach Tim Clarke. (Photo: AFL Media)

10 QUICK FACTS ABOUT AFLX:

  • Two field umpires, two boundary umpires and one goal umpire at each end of the ground.
  • Ten players per team, seven on field at all times and three on the interchange bench. No restrictions on player rotations.
  • 10-minute quarters or halves depending on the tournament format.
  • Free kick against for last touch out of bounds.
  • Kick-ins from behind the goal line after all scores.
  • No marks paid for backwards kicks (except in forward 40m area).
  • Quarters commence with a ‘ball up’ in the centre and at least two players from each team starting inside the 40m arc.
  • Free shot from forward 40m arc – directly in front for deliberate rushed behinds.
  • 10-point super goals when goals kicked on the full from outside the 40m arc.