Former Saint and Lion Xavier Clarke has reportedly thrown his hat for Richmond's vacant head coaching job, acting as the 39-year-old's first show of intent to become a senior coach.
Clarke, a Tigers employee for the past seven years, has been shortlisted to go through the hiring process at Punt Road.
As reported by AFL Media, the former first-round selection from the vaunted 2001 'Super Draft' will join ex-Tiger captain Chris Newman, as well as former teammate and current caretaker coach Andrew McQualter on the shortlist.
Since taking the reigns from triple premiership coach Damien Hardwick after the 51-year-old called time on his days at Tigerland in late May, McQualter has racked up a 6-5 win-loss record.
McQualter, 37, and Clarke both learned the trade under the watch of head coaches Grant Thomas and Ross Lyon, with the pair both calling Moorabbin home between 2005 and 2008.
Since hanging up the boots after a single game for Brisbane in 2010, Clarke has gone on to build an impressive resume as a development coach, steering NT Thunder and the Tigers since 2014.
The Darwin native was also named as the league's Indigenous co-ordinator in 2011.
Should Clarke's application prove successful, he would become just the third Indigenous head coach in AFL/VFL history, following in the footsteps of Australian Football Legend Graham 'Polly' Farmer and disgraced ex-Roo Barry Cable.
Richmond will officially commence their search for Hardwick's full-time replacement within the next fortnight, with a six-person panel to provide the verdict.
Both Clarke and McQualter will be in the Tigers' box when they do battle against the Kangaroos at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
