Clarkson becomes a Zeb for 2027

09/10/2026

Sandringham Football Club is pleased to announce the signing of Matthew Clarkson ahead of the 2027 VFL season.

Clarkson, a crafty small defender with elite skills and pace, has spent the past two years on North Melbourne’s VFL list.

While missing the entirety of the 2026 season with an ACL injury, Clarkson appeared for the Kangaroos three times in 2025, including a career-best outing that saw him rack up 23 touches, 11 marks and a goal against Southport in Round 21 to be included in North Melbourne’s best.

Having also played nine games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Richmond’s VFL side, Clarkson joins the Zebras with plenty of experience in the system, and has shown promise at local level.

Turning out for Caulfield Grammarians in 2025, Clarkson was named in his side’s best in eight of his 17 appearances, helping the Fields to a Grand Final berth, while also proving to be one of the best competition-wide, earning a spot in the VAFA Premier B Team of the Year.

More representative honours flowed, with Clarkson also pulling on the Big V to represent the VAFA’s Premier B-Division 3 side in the interleague clash against Bendigo Football Netball League.

A member of the Sandringham Dragons Talent League premiership side in 2022, Clarkson will return to Bayside next season – this time in the yellow, black and blue as he looks to make his mark at the Zebras.

Written by Alexander Dabb - Sandringham FC Media