Eagles poach Tigers' recruiting guru to boost rebuild

Clarke is a key appointment in West Coast's rebuilding process as they seek to bounce back from a horror two years which have produced just five wins.

"While there was a strong field of candidates, Matt stood out as the best fit for our club and we are thrilled to have him on board," Eagles football manager Gavin Bell said.

"He has a broad skill set and has demonstrated his ability to lead a team of recruiters at Richmond, and he possesses the strategic insights we need as we continue to build our list."

Clarke spent more than a decade as Melbourne's recruiting officer and forward scout before joining Richmond, where he became national recruiting manager in 2016.

He was a crucial figure in building the Tigers list that delivered premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

"I am excited by the opportunity to help shape the squad that can see the Eagles climb up the ladder," Clarke said.

"I have good relationships with a number of the West Coast recruiting staff and I look forward to working closely with them.

"I can't wait to get started, but at the same time I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and the memories that Richmond provided."

Confirmation of Clarke's departure on Wednesday came as Richmond revealed midfielder Jack Graham will miss up to five weeks with a "moderate" quadriceps strain.

Graham sustained the injury during the final minute of the Tigers' loss to Collingwood in a practice match on Tuesday night.