BIO: Martin Clarke was born in Wynard (TAS) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Devonport basketball program. Clarke received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 1985. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Martin Clarke made his NBL debut with the Devonport Warriors at 16 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.

With Devonport finishing dead last the season prior, head coach Phil Thomas was replaced with the Warriors leading scorer Mark Leader in 1984. Leader assumed the role of player-coach and also boosted his numbers from 22.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists to 28.7 points, 14.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game.

With the coaching change and improved play from Leader the team avoided last place, finishing above Perth and Sydney thanks to a record of 4-19.

Clarke was added to the squad and averaged 2.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game. Making his debut at 16 years of age, Clarke remains one of the youngest players to have ever played in the NBL.

Devonport were unable to financially continue playing in the national league after 1984 and withdrew from the league.

1988
It took another four seasons until Clarke was able to get another NBL contract, joining the North Melbourne Giants in 1988. This year the team added bruising import Tim Dillon to play alongside Scott Fisher, a duo that quickly became known as the ‘Twin Boulders’ by media and fans. The team also acquired US born Mark Leader from Geelong, who had become a naturalised Australian during the off-season.

The Giant’s new frontcourt saw the team skyrocket to the top of the NBL ladder, causing regular sellouts at the team’s 7,000 seat home court. Clarke would contribute 2.6 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.6 assists for the season, alongside stars Fisher (27.5 points and 11.3 rebounds) and Dillon (33.2 points and 10.9 rebounds) who had statistically, two of the greatest individual seasons of all time. The Giants finished the regular season finish in second place (18-6) with Dillon being selected to the All-NBL First Team.

In the semi finals, the Giants made easy work of the Wildcat’s and reached the Grand Final for the first time in the club’s history. 5,200 Cannons fans turned up to the AIS arena to see Phil Smyth (25 points) and Jamie Kennedy (21 points) lead the Cannons to victory in game one (120-95). Clarke would contribute 6 points in the opening game.

In game two, Dillon (43 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assist) was unstoppable, helping the Giants even the series behind a home win (117-101). 7,200 Giants fans turned up for Game 3, keen to see the team win their first championship, North Melbourne’s Cinderella season wouldn’t come to pass, with Canberra winning the series clinching game (108-101). Willie Simmons (23 points and 10 rebounds) led the way for the Cannons with alongside Simon Cottrell and Phil Smyth (both 21 points). Smyth would be awarded the Grand Final MVP after averaging 21.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.6 steals across the three-game series.

1989
Since 1986, the Giants had slowly crept closer and closer to winning their first NBL championship, with it all culminating this season. After missing the playoffs in 1986, Bruce Palmer replaced Les Riddle as coach and turned things around, coming within one game of winning the championship and come 1989, it was all business. The team added naturalised import Cecil Exum from the state league and Ray Borner (via Illawarra) to strengthen the frontcourt alongside Scott Fisher (32.1 points and 12.7 rebounds) and Tim Dillon (29.4 points and 10.0 rebounds), who delivered two of the best statistical seasons in NBL history. Clarke would play in 28 games, averaging 4.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists as the Giants finished in first place (18-6), one game ahead of Canberra (17-7), who had defeated the Giants in the previous year’s grand final.

Fisher would be selected to the All-NBL First Team and win the league’s Most Valuable Player at seasons end.

Both North Melbourne and Canberra would receive a first round bye and automatic entry to the semi finals. Canberra would qualify for the semi finals after eliminating Sydney (2-1), while North Melbourne’s semi final with Perth culminated with the Giants winning by 55 points at home in game three. The final score line of 165-110 remains the highest score ever recorded in a NBL postseason game. Dillon (40 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists), Fisher (32 points and 14 rebounds) and David Graham (25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) all coming up big for the Giants. Wildcats captain Mike Ellis (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) top scoring for the visitors.

Canberra, who would reach their fourth time in seven years, would host game one, where the trio of Fisher (37 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 steals), Dillon (24 points and 12 rebounds), and Borner (18 points and 9 rebounds) walked into the AIS Arena and come away with a six point win (111-105).

The Giants returned to Melbourne for game two, and similar to the season prior, the Glasshouse was a sell-out, with 7,200 Giants fans keen to see the North Melbourne go one step further than last year. Fisher (33 points and 12 rebounds) was relentless at the offensive end and finished as the game’s high scorer. Teammates Dillon (21 points and 15 rebounds), Borner (16 points and 7 rebounds), David Graham (16 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals), Exum (10 points and 8 rebounds) and Mark Leader (10 points and 12 rebounds) delivered a balanced offensive attack, the Giants finishing the game with six players scoring in double figures.

North Melbourne ensured that Canberra had no chance of repeating last years result by destroying the Cannons on the glass, with the team having collected 60 rebounds, compared to Canberra’s 39 at the final siren (111-97).

The Giants 1989 title was the first Grand Final won by a Victorian team in the modern era. Not since the St Kilda Saints won in 1980 during the league’s semi-professional years had a Melbourne team become champions. Fisher, who averaged 35 points and 12 rebounds in the series, was a easy choice for Grand Final MVP honours.

1990
1990
The Giants lost a number of key players after winning the 1989 Grand Final, which resulted in head coach Bruce Palmer furiously recruiting new talent instead of devising ways to defend their championship. The biggest loss was Tim Dillon, the team’s second-leading scorer and rebounder, who chose to return to the USA. Naturalised import Cecil Exum (to Melbourne) and veteran guard Mark Wright’s retirement also left big holes to fill.

Former Indiana Hoosier Joe Hillman was signed as a replacement for Dillon, naturalised import Dwayne Nelson (via Adelaide) replaced Exum and 19-year-old Pat Reidy was signed out of the Australian Institute of Sport.

Despite the roster overhaul, the Giants seemed just a strong as last season, tearing through opponents and winning their first eight games in a row. Scott Fisher (31.4 points, 12 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 steals) delivered one of the greatest statistical seasons in NBL history. He shot 55% from the field and led the team in points and rebounds while being second in assists and steals and was selected to the All-NBL First Team.

Hillman (22.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 2.3 steals) while Borner (15.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) and David Graham (15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals) rounded out the team’s offence. Clarke would appear in all 29 games and averaged 6.2 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steals.

North Melbourne (20-6) and Eastside Melbourne (18-8), would finish first and second, earning a bye in the first round of the playoffs and facing the eventual winners of the elimination finals. There, Perth would advance after defeating Melbourne (2-0) and Brisbane, after losing the opening game, would eliminate Sydney (2-1).

Perth would play close to a perfect game to upset the defending champs in game one (121-111). Perth shot 54% from the field (45/84) and 53% from the three-point line (9/17), getting incredible games from Ricky Grace (39 points, 5 assists, and 2 blocks), Mike Ellis (26 points, 12 assists, and 2 steals), Kendal Pinder (20 points and 14 rebounds), and James Crawford (20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks), all four players scoring 20+ points. Fisher (27 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists) would top score for the Giants.

North Melbourne came back with a vengeance in the next game, defeating the Wildcats by 21 points at home (131-110). Fisher (35 points and 14 rebounds) would top score again, but this time got plenty of support from Hillman (25 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists), Leader (25 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Borner (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals). Grace (25 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals), again top scoring for the Wildcats.

North Melbourne, who had only lost three home games for the season, began game three as clear favourites, but in a nail-biting finale that was decided by a single basket, Perth came out victorious (112-110) and moved on to the Grand Final. Fisher (32 points, 21 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals) did everything he could, filling the box score, while Pinder (28 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 assists) was the leading scorer for the Wildcats.

Perth would go on to become eventual champions, defeating Brisbane in three games.

1991
Although the addition of Joe Hillman did contribute to North Melbourne’s success the last season, he was no Tim Dillon (who had left the team after their 1989 championship). With the Giants hoping to find another Dillon, they signed Yale University grad Paul Maley (via South Melbourne) and looked to make a run at the championship again. Cecil Exum, who had been a integral part of the championship season, returned after a season with rival club Melbourne.

Scott Fisher (30.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.0 steals) led the team offensively once again, and Maley (27.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals) benefitted from playing alongside Fisher, improving his scoring from 25.8 points per game the season prior. Other standouts this season included veteran Ray Borner (14.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists) and second year talent Pat Reidy (14.7 points, 4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals) would play his way into the Giants’ regular rotation.

North Melbourne (16-10) squeezed into the playoffs as the sixth seed and faced third seed Geelong (17-9) in the Elimination Finals. Game one saw Fisher (44 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks) do everything he could, but the Supercats easily accounted for the Fiants, winning by 20 points (139-119). North Melbourne would regroup and win both games two (136-116) and three (125-113), with Fisher averaging 37 points and 12 rebounds for the series.

Their semi final opponent would be Eastside Melbourne, who featured a impressive frontcourt of Bruce Bolden, Dean Uthoff, and Kent Lockhart. They were able to ‘put the handcuffs’ on Fisher, who managed only 14 points in North Melbourne’s game one loss (93-99) and 16 points in game two (104-115), ending the Giants’ season.

Clarke would appear in all 31 games and average 8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals.

1992
1992
North Melbourne would return with the core of its roster intact, the only major change being Cecil Exum, who struggled to regain his previous form with the Giants last season, being replaced by Rod Johnson (via Illawarra). The offence would be built around Scott Fisher (27.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 steals), Paul Maley (21.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals), Pat Reidy (14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals) and David Graham (13.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals).

The Giants finished the season in fourth place (14-10), with Fisher being selected to the All-NBL First Team and taking home the league’s Most Valuable Player award (alongside co-winner Andrew Gaze). Once into the playoffs, North Melbourne would eliminate fifth-seed Illawarra (13-11) in the Quarterfinals in two straight games. Scott Fisher (25 points, 15 rebounds and 2 assists) top scoring in game one (118-98), and Paul Maley (32 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) came up big in game two (123-104).

North Melbourne would see their season end, being outclassed by South East Melbourne (previously Eastside Melbourne), who ended their season for the second year in a row. While Robert Rose (37 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 steals) came close to a triple-double, the trio of Bruce Bolden, John Dorge and Tony Ronaldson held Fisher (17 points and 3 rebounds) and Maley (14 points and 11 rebounds) to 28 points combined in game one (86-112). Paul Maley (32 points and 11 rebounds) was able to get on a roll in game two (106-127), but again Fisher (12 points and 6 rebounds) struggled to make a impact, and South East Melbourne moved on to the Grand Final. Scott Ninnis (23 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists) and Darren Perry (22 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists) top scoring for the Magic.

In what would be his final season in the NBL, Clarke played in 25 games and averaged 1.9 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists.

Martin Clarke played six seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Devonport Warriors and the North Melbourne Giants. He averaged 5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 137 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (795 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.