SA Footy

Sturt's champion ruckman from the golden era of the 1960s has sadly lost his fight for life. Vale.

Very sad news. Many Sturt people I know that were fortunate enough to see him play speak very, very highly of him as both a footballer and a gentleman, through one of the club's greatest eras. I never saw him play live, but many tell me about his ability to read the play, a fierce competitive spirit, yet a very fair player who had the admiration of both the club and opposition players and supporters. As Barto said, it had been a long battle for "Doc", so at least he is out of his pain, but a sad day for Sturt and the SANFL.

Deepest sympathies to the Clarkson family.

CK wrote:Very sad news. Many Sturt people I know that were fortunate enough to see him play speak very, very highly of him as both a footballer and a gentleman, through one of the club's greatest eras. I never saw him play live, but many tell me about his ability to read the play, a fierce competitive spirit, yet a very fair player who had the admiration of both the club and opposition players and supporters. As Barto said, it had been a long battle for "Doc", so at least he is out of his pain, but a sad day for Sturt and the SANFL.

Deepest sympathies to the Clarkson family.

i can't say it better than that, RIP DOC

Tony (Doc) Clarkson was the long standing patron of the SAAFL and will be missed by his many friends in the amateurs. RIP Doc,well played.

Great guy.
I worked with him on the Renal Unit at the QEH before he moved to the RAH.

Every time I think of Doc Clarkson, I think of the story Neil Kerley tells of Doc Clarkson making his interstate debut. He claims Fos Williams was looking to motivate his players and spied Tony Clarkson in the corner. He marched up to him and said, "I don't want any of that Sturt checkside crap, I want you to take it to them right up the front!!". The Victorian rucks that day were John Nicholls, Carl Ditterich, Polly Farmer, and John Schultz.

Tony looked down at Fos and said "Foster, there's one thing you ought to know. The application of physical force is not my particular forte". Kerley says Fos' eyes were spinning and it took everything the players had not to burst out laughing.

Doc was a classic ruckman. I shall always recall his contests with the great Bill Wedding. It's a pity ruckwork these days is nothing more than a sumo wrestling contest. Doc also played a little bit of district cricket and I hear when studying in England has reasonable success as a batsmen.

Clarkson played in an era I recall fondly, and it is sad to hear of his passing.

Heard the same story from Daffy Edwards years ago, but good to see that you read Studley's column ...

Vale Doc, a true gentleman of the game ...

The original "string bean" ruckman.
Good player in the Golden Era of Sturt. Worked hard socks down and rucked all day.
Very very sad to hear of his passing.

dedja wrote:Heard the same story from Daffy Edwards years ago, but good to see that you read Studley's column ...

Vale Doc, a true gentleman of the game ...

I don't read "Studley's Column". Sad to see you do. Even sadder that you seize a solemn moment such as this to take yet another childish shot at me. Grow up.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

dedja wrote:Heard the same story from Daffy Edwards years ago, but good to see that you read Studley's column ...

Vale Doc, a true gentleman of the game ...

I don't read "Studley's Column". Sad to see you do. Even sadder that you seize a solemn moment such as this to take yet another childish shot at me. Grow up.

Huh?? WTF??

CENTURION wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

dedja wrote:Heard the same story from Daffy Edwards years ago, but good to see that you read Studley's column ...

Vale Doc, a true gentleman of the game ...

I don't read "Studley's Column". Sad to see you do. Even sadder that you seize a solemn moment such as this to take yet another childish shot at me. Grow up.

Huh?? WTF??

Exactly. What an odd rant.

I must have missed it too !

dedja wrote:Heard the same story from Daffy Edwards years ago, but good to see that you read Studley's column ...

Vale Doc, a true gentleman of the game ...

I can guarantee he didn't read that column to tell you that story - I've read it before from a post of his somewhere.

spell_check wrote:

dedja wrote:Heard the same story from Daffy Edwards years ago, but good to see that you read Studley's column ...

Vale Doc, a true gentleman of the game ...

I can guarantee he didn't read that column to tell you that story - I've read it before from a post of his somewhere.

Agreed - AH has posted this story before on here.

Seagull wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

dedja wrote:Heard the same story from Daffy Edwards years ago, but good to see that you read Studley's column ...
Vale Doc, a true gentleman of the game ...

I don't read "Studley's Column". Sad to see you do. Even sadder that you seize a solemn moment such as this to take yet another childish shot at me. Grow up.

Not sure this is either the place nor the time for such talk.

True,
I don't think being grown up rates well in this Forum...