Former Saint and current North Melbourne assistant coach Xavier Clarke will coach the AFL Indigenous All Stars team in its pre-season fixture against Fremantle in February.
Clarke played 105 games for St Kilda after being taken at Pick 5 in the 2001 National Draft, before being traded to Brisbane in 2009. Recurring hamstring injuries and an ACL tear meant the Larrakia and Amrreamo/Marritjavi man played just one game as a Lion.
Following his playing days, Clarke joined the coaching ranks, initially in the NEAFL for the NT Thunder. Since then, the 41-year-old progressed to head coach Richmond's VFL side as well as become the AFL team's development coach, and is now an assistant coach at the Kangaroos.
Clarke will be the off-field leader of what is anticipated to be a star-studded team of Indigenous football talent. The Indigenous All Stars are likely to feature football guns such as Izak Rankine, Shai Bolton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Steven May.
Additionally, Sydney legend Michael O'Loughlin will lead the tough decision-making of the selection panel, with the 303-game Swan named Chair of Selectors.
The Kaurna/Ngarrindjeri/Narungga man has had experience with Indigenous All-Star teams in the past, having coached the team that toured Ireland in 2013. One of football's greatest First Nations talents, O'Loughlin was named in the AFL's Indigenous Team of the Century following his 15-year career that featured 521 goals.
Other members of the selection panel include AFL Indigenous and Multicultural Player Engagement Manager Pauly Vandenbergh, as well as former Hawthorn and Port Adelaide player Chad Wingard.
AFL executives Laura Kane, Tanya Hosch and Josh Mahoney will also oversee the selection process.
Hosch said the AFL were thrilled to have Indigenous greats Clarke and O'Loughlin on board in major roles.
“Xavier is a highly regarded Assistant Coach in the Toyota AFL Premiership competition and has been a part of three premierships when he was with the Richmond football club," Hosch said.
“I know Xavier has future ambitions to be an AFL Senior Coach and we are thrilled to provide him with this opportunity to be the Head Coach of the Indigenous All Stars in February as he continues in the coaching pathway.
“To have a former player of the calibre of Micky lead the selection of this side is fantastic.
“His football record speaks for itself but he has also been an immense leader amongst the Indigenous community and continues to give back through his work on numerous foundations and through his business.
“He epitomises the on and off-field excellence and community spirit that characterises the Indigenous All Stars side and we are thrilled to have him on board leading the selection next year."
The Indigenous All Stars will play the Dockers at Optus Stadium on February 15 next year in a pre-season clash occurring for the first time since 2015.
