Born in Melbourne and raised in North Coburg, Clapton was recruited to the club from neighbouring Merri juniors. His first senior appearance for the Blues coincided with their ninth round match of ’46 against Geelong at Princes Park in June of that year.
Also making his senior debut that day was Carlton’s Tom Eldridge, while the uncompromising captain Bob Chitty - recalled to the team having completed an eight-match suspension for his hand in the 1945 Bloodbath - was once again reported.
Carlton won the match by 39 points and Clapton - wearing the No.17 guernsey made famous by Charlie Davey, Gordon Collis and Brent Crosswell - booted three goals to be named by The Argus in his team’s best, together with Jack Howell, Jack Conley, Ken Baxter, Ollie Grieve, Ken Hands and the late Ray Garby.
Five days later Clapton was there again at Princes Park, this time playing his part in the team’s narrow four-point win over Footscray. He would then turn out for the 12th round match against South Melbourne at Princes Park (the Grand Final replay in which the home team took the honours by a solitary point) and front up for what was his last appearance - the 13th round match against Melbourne at Punt Road.
The Blues went down by 17 points that day . . . and the irrepressible Chitty copped another four matches for striking Fred Fanning.
Clapton’s son-in-law, the 303-game League field umpire Kevin Smith, said “Tubby”, who inherited his nickname for his portly frame, maintained an interest in the Blues well beyond his playing days.
“He certainly barracked for Carlton, and when I was an umpire I used to take him along each week to the game I was umpiring,” Smith said. “That included the ’79 Grand Final and I think he, like all Carlton supporters, was delighted with the outcome of that one.”
A knee injury incurred in his later on-field career at Coburg posed problems for Clapton in retirement, together with a hip injury suffered when the former foundry worker was hit by car whilst working on the roads for the local Broadmeadows council.
Clapton, who lived in Fawkner for more than 50 years, is survived by his wife Evelyn, daughter Jean, son-in-law Kevin and three grandchildren Lisa, Luke and Adam - the latter the former Victorian batsman and Northern Knights footballer. Jim is also survived by his great grandchildren Bree, Kye and Sage.