Bays sign Matthew Clarke as new Senior Coach

Glenelg Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Clarke as Head Coach of the Bays for the 2026 season.

Clarke brings a wealth of experience and respected leadership to the Club, having spent the last eight years at the helm of the Adelaide AFLW program, where he guided the Crows to two premierships (2019 and 2022) and helped shape one of the most successful programs in the league’s history.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential coaches in Adelaide’s AFLW era, Clarke will continue the Bays culture-driven legacy, bringing a relationship-centric style to the Bays united front. The Club is thrilled to welcome his expertise, character, and football intellect to the Bays.

Glenelg Football Club President David Whelan said:

“Matthew brings outstanding football knowledge and leadership, developed through a long and respected career in the AFL both as a player and as a coach, and more recently through coaching in the AFLW. We are thrilled to welcome someone of his calibre who understands and values the strong culture that defines our club. Just as important is Matthew’s alignment with what makes Glenelg unique, our traditions, passionate people, and genuine commitment to success both on and off the field. We believe he will be an outstanding fit for our football club as we look to the future.”

Clarke will work closely with the Club’s senior coaching panel and leadership group as preparations begin for an influential 2026 SANFL campaign. Glenelg Captain Liam McBean is confident Clarke’s signing will encourage the chase in the upcoming season,

“We’re incredibly excited about the new appointment. It’s a great sign for our Club to be able to attract somebody of Matt’s calibre. We can’t wait to begin the climb of chasing another premiership in 2026,” Liam said.

Clarke is excited to kick start season 2026,

“‘It’s going to be a lot of fun, I reckon. Glenelg is obviously a Club that’s got really rich history and has had a period of really good success over the last couple of years. I’m looking forward to playing a role within that,” Clarke said.

Glenelg Football Club looks forward to the next chapter under Clarke’s guidance, confident he will play a key role in continuing to elevate the Bays in 2026 and beyond.

The announcement of Clarke as senior coach comes just days after the Club has released their 2026 membership campaign: Driven by Passion, Powered by Culture, Defined by Us. Be part of the passionate community that are helping defined the Bays most successful era in history by signing up for your 2026 Glenelg Football Club membership!