CARLTON assistant coach Tim Clarke has been awarded the 2023 Phil Walsh Memorial Scholarship.

The eighth recipient of the scholarship since its inception, Clarke was recognised for a journey in football which has spanned over 20 years.

Now in his second stint at IKON Park, Clarke has also held roles at Richmond and Gold Coast, while working closely with a deep pool of Carlton midfielders throughout his time with the football club.

It was in 2016 when Clarke arrived at the Blues, striking a strong relationship with Patrick Cripps before returning to join the coaching panel under AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss.

Both captain and coach spoke glowingly of Clarke, who was award a scholarship which was created following the tragic passing of its namesake in 2015. The winner receives a $10,000 to aid coaches in their personal and professional development.

“We’ve had a relationship now for eight years: I kept in touch with him even when he went to coach at the Suns. What stands out is his coaching, his work ethic and his creative approach,” Cripps said.

“Early days, we did a lot around my stoppage work — he cut vision of five of the best stoppage players in the game and tried to create a version of what I wanted to look like as a stoppage player.

“I can speak well and truly to going on a bit of a journey as a coach . . . he’s had a great journey so far,” Voss added.

“His attention to detail is first-class and the time he spends with his players is exceptionally positive. One of the discussions I really enjoyed early days was sitting down and having an understanding of what he believes in and what’s important to him.”

After starting out his career as a player at Hawthorn, Clarke’s progression through the coaching ranks has spanned over 15 years, including assistant, development and VFL senior coaching roles.

Clarke has constantly been committed to his development and progression away from the coaching box, completing a Master of Sports Management while also undergoing research projects, visiting international sporting clubs and drawing on experiences of other coaches around the competition.

Speaking after being awarded the Phil Walsh Memorial Scholarship, Clarke said it “means a lot to me”.

“It is, one, good recognition for the investment I have made in coaching and the AFL, and two, it will allow me to invest further in growing my leadership and management skills to have a greater impact on both players and staff at the Blues,” Clarke said.

“I would also like to acknowledge both the AFLCA staff over the last 12 years for supporting my development and the AFLCA for providing initiatives like the Phil Walsh Memorial Scholarship to support coaches in the industry.

“With the scholarship, I will invest in a course to grow my leadership and management skills. I have looked into this over the past six months and the scholarship will open up more opportunities in this space.”