A highly talented player and experienced coach, Xavier Clarke understands what it takes to achieve the ultimate success, having coached his own team, the NT Thunder, to a premiership and played a part in three premierships at Richmond.

Clarke played 106 games for St Kilda and Brisbane from 2002-2010 before two knee reconstructions in the space of two-and-a-half years forced him into an early retirement in 2011.

Following his playing career, Clarke worked at both the AFL and AFLPA in various roles within Indigenous engagement and programs.

Appointed senior coach of the NT Thunder for the 2014 NEAFL season, Clarke was named NEAFL coach of the year in his first season and coached his side to a premiership in 2015.

Clarke joined Richmond as a development coach at the end of 2016, before being appointed VFL coach ahead of the 2020 season. Despite the VFL season not going ahead in 2020, Clarke moved into a key development role throughout that year which saw Richmond win the 2020 AFL Premiership.

He joined North Melbourne as an assistant coach in September 2023.