Marty Clarke hopes to return to the Down colours next year.

It's less than a year since the former Aussie Rules star was diagnosed with Addison's disease - a rare, chronic condition brought about by the failure of the adrenal glands - but he isn't about to let it hold him back.

"That's what's in my head. 2016. Red and black," the new Newstalk Radio pundit is quoted in the Irish Independent.

The 2010 All Star was still playing in the AFL when he was struck by the condition.

"Before I got diagnosed I didn't know what it was," he explained.

"I was still playing professionally in Australia so I was trying to conserve all my energies for training and games. It was really strange for a young, fit fella in the space of two months to suddenly be struggling to get up the stairs some days."

He added: "There were a couple of other clubs interested in me at the time because my performances for Collingwood reserves dropped off so dramatically it almost looked like 'this guy isn't trying anymore'.

"In that respect the interest went out the window very soon.

"My wife and I had talked about moving interstate to a new adventure within Australia and be playing there. But I don't blame them for not picking me.

"I could tell them this is the condition I have and next year when I'm on medication it'll be fine but it's too complicated for them. I have to understand where they are coming from too."

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