The Carlton Football Club is pleased to welcome experienced coach Tim Clarke back to the Blues as midfield coach.

Clarke returns to IKON Park with 11 years of coaching experience, most recently as forwards coach with the Gold Coast Suns, having also implemented a new development program during his three seasons at the Queensland club.

The 39-year-old’s journey at the elite level began with Hawthorn, where he played 96 games between 2001 and 2008 before starting his coaching career at Richmond, initially as a development coach in 2010.

In 2013, Clarke was appointed Senior Coach of the Tigers’ VFL affiliate Coburg and a year later took the reins of the standalone side at Punt Road before commencing his first stint at the Blues at the end of 2015.

Clarke was midfield coach during his initial three seasons in the Navy Blue, working closely with a young group that included future co-captain Patrick Cripps, before moving north to join the Suns.

Now back at IKON Park, Clarke said he could not wait to get to work to take the Club to the next level.

Tim Clarke spent three seasons at IKON Park as an assistant coach. (Credit: AFL Photos)

“In my discussions with the Club about coming back, what was really clear was the direction this group wants to go and the total buy-in that is there to achieve it,” Clarke said.

“That is an incredibly exciting environment to be a part of. I know first-hand, having worked with some of these players during the early stages of their career, what this list is capable of and I cannot wait to get stuck in and begin the hard work with them.”

Blues Head of Football Brad Lloyd said Clarke’s ability to get the best out of players set him apart as an ideal addition to the Club’s AFL coaching staff under new Senior Coach Michael Voss.

“Tim has established himself as a quality coach at the elite level for over a decade now, we are delighted to add someone of his experience and quality to our coaching group,” Lloyd said.

“Tim has developed young talent, worked with established players and has overall experience coaching his own side – he ticks every box in regard to the specific skillsets we are looking to add to our coaching group.”