Coaches - AFC.com.au

Matthew Clarke, Women’s Senior Coach

Recognised as one of the best tap ruckmen of his time, Clarke’s playing career spanned 258 games across three Clubs – Brisbane, Adelaide and St Kilda.

A journeyman as a player, Clarke was first drafted and delisted by Richmond without playing a senior game, before making his AFL debut with Brisbane as a lanky 19-year-old in 1993.

After 130 games, a Best and Fairest and two runners-up placings, Clarke was picked up by Adelaide ahead of the 2000 season where he played 118 games before winding up his career at St Kilda in 2007.

Coaching came as a natural evolution for Clarke and he has served as the Crows’ AFL Assistant Coach – Ruck since 2008.

Fast facts
Nickname: Doc, Clarkey
DOB: 18/9/73
Playing career: 258 games (Brisbane 130, Adelaide 118, St Kilda 10)
Playing awards: Merrett-Murray Medal for Brisbane's Best and Fairest 1997, AFL Rising Star nominee 1994, Led AFL for total hit-outs in 1996 & 2003
Coaching career: AFL Assistant Coach at Adelaide 2008 – current

Andrew Hodges, Women’s Senior Assistant Coach

Born in Adelaide, the Hodges family moved to Alice Springs when Andrew was five. While completing his schooling, Hodges took up baseball until he was old enough to play in the local football competition. At 17, Hodges moved to Darwin to pursue greater opportunities in the sport and was invited to represent the Northern Territory at the Under 18 Division Two Nationals. Hodges continued playing in the NTFL for several years until he discovered his passion for coaching at the Southern Districts Football Club in the 2007/08 season. Since then, Hodges has won two NTFL titles as head coach and two as an assistant, and served as an assistant in NT Thunder’s 2015 NEAFL Premiership. He is well-recognised for his work with the NT State Academy and for developing and nurturing underage talent in the Northern Territory.

Fast facts
Nickname: Hodgy, Hodgo
DOB: 3/7/1978
Playing career: West Football Club (CAFL) 1994-95, Southern Districts Football Club (NTFL) 1996-99, St Mary’s Football Club (NTFL) 2000-2004, Southern Districts Football Club (NTFL) 2005-2007
Playing awards: CAFL Premiership player at West Football Club 1996
Coaching career: U18 Head Coach Southern Districts 2007-2008, U16 Head Coach NT Thunder 2013, Assistant Coach at St Marys Football Club 2012-2014, Assistant Coach at NT Thunder 2014, Senior Coach at Wanderers Football Club 2014, Senior Women’s Coach NT v South Australia 2015, U16 and U18 NT Thunder coach 2015-2016, Coaching Mentor Senior Women 2016, 2016 NAB AFL U18 National Championships Allies Assistant Coach 2016, Development Coach AFLNT State Academy 2015-2016, AFC Women’s Senior Assistant Coach 2016-current

Did you know …? In 2014 Andrew donated bone marrow to a stranger who was suffering from cancer and required a very rare type of marrow

Mark Moody, Women's Assistant Coach

Moody is a passionate coach with strong credentials having held senior roles at the Ethelton, Goodwood, Woodville South and Portland football clubs in the SAAFL as well as with Peel Thunder in the WAFL. He has 22 years of coaching experience and has previously worked with the SA Women’s State Team so has a strong understanding of the women’s game.

Fast facts
Nickname:Moods
DOB: 23/05/1963
Playing career: Port Adelaide Magpies 1976 – 1983, Ethelton FC, Pooraka FC, Greek FC, Portland FC
Playing awards: B&F Port Adelaide magpies U17, Premiership player at Pooraka & Greek FC, B&F at Ethelton, SA State representative as a Junior
Coaching career: 1988 - 1996 Ethelton Football Club coaching roles as follows: Under 16s Coach, Under 9s Coach, Reserves Coach, A Grade Assistant Coach, Senior Coach, 1997-2001 Portland Football Club Reserves and A Grade Assistant Coach, 2001-2003 Goodwood Saints Football Club Reserves and A Grade Assistant Coach, 2004-2005 Woodville South Football Club Senior Coach, 2006-2011 Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club Under 17s Assistant Coach, Under 19s Assistant Coach, COE Mentor Coach, 2012 Peel Thunder (WAFL) League Assistant Coach and Caretaker League Coach, 2013-2014 Centrals Football Club Peel Football League Senior Coach, 2016 SA Women’s State Team Assistant Coach, 2016 Portland Football Club A Grade Senior Coach

Did you know…? Moody was the Caretaker Senior Coach for Peel Thunder in the WAFL in 2012

Andrew McLeod, Assistant Coach (Midfield)

McLeod moved from Darwin to South Australia to play with Port Adelaide in the SANFL, winning a premiership with the club in 1994. McLeod made his AFL debut for the Crows in 1995, winning a Rising Star nomination while quickly announcing himself to the football world. Renowned for his pace and creativity, McLeod began to dominate through the midfield and off half-back, and in 1997 and 1998 won consecutive Norm Smith medals as best afield in the Crows’ back-to-back premierships. McLeod won his first of his three Club best and fairest awards in 1997, and was named in the first of five All-Australian teams in 1998, the year in which he booted seven goals in the winning preliminary final.
McLeod played a Club record 340 games for the Crows and retired with a host of medals and awards to his name. Widely regarded as one of the best players of the modern era, McLeod retired in 2010 following persistent knee troubles, before going on to play in the Northern Territory’s inaugural NEAFL flag in 2011.

Fast facts
Nickname: Bunji
DOB: 4/8/1976
Playing career: 340 games for Adelaide (Club games record)
Playing awards: Premiership player at Adelaide in 1997 & 1998, Norm Smith Medal in 1997 & 1998, All-Australian in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006 & 2007 (Captain), Malcom Blight Medal for Adelaide’s best and fairest in 1997, 2001 & 2007, Adelaide Team of the Decade 1991-2000, Adelaide Football Club Life Member, Indigenous Team of the Century, Indigenous All-Stars representative 2003 (Captain), 2005, 2007(C) & 2007 (C), Leigh Matthews Trophy 2001, Michael Tuck Medal 2003, International Rules Series captain 2007, Adelaide pre-season premiership 2003, Jim Stynes Medal 2005, Showdown Medal 2007, Polly Farmer Medal 2007, Dream Team captain 2008, Rising Star Nominee 1995, SANFL premiership player at Port Adelaide 1994, NEAFL premiership player at Northern Territory 2011, Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee.
Coaching career: Assistant Coach at Norwood (SANFL), Senior Coach at St. Michaels College in 2017.

Did you know …? Ten years after becoming Adelaide’s youngest Club Champion in 1997 at the age of 21, McLeod became its oldest winner with his third award in 2007.

Peter Caven, Assistant Coach (Defence)

Caven played a combined 57 games for Fitzroy and Sydney as a defensive shutdown specialist, before moving to Adelaide ahead of the 1996 season. Caven established himself on the half-back flank after being trialled as a forward in his first season at the Club, going on to play in the Crows’ back-to-back premierships in 1997 and 1998.

Fast facts
Nickname: Cavo
DOB: 16/5/1970
Playing career: 139 games (Fitzroy 39, Sydney 18, Adelaide 82)
Playing awards: Premiership player at Adelaide in 1997 & 1998, Adelaide Team of the Decade 1991-2000.
Coaching career: Senior Coach at Sacred Heart Old Collegians, Assistant Coach at Glenelg (SANFL), Assistant Coach South Australian Under-18’s.

Did you know …? In his first game for Adelaide, Caven kicked a career-high four goals against his former club Sydney.