Clarke returned to Ireland at the end of the season after 46 games with the Pies while compatriot Kevin Dyas quit the club after two seasons and no senior games.
Despite their departures, Hine said the Magpies were still eager to add Irish players to their list.
"We've had a program in place now in Ireland for four years and that was in place 12 months before we even took Marty," Hine told afl.com.au.
"We won't be taking an Irish player this year, but we're very close to an agreement with one boy already, who will come on board in 2010. We've got staff in place and we've budgeted for that, so we won't be winding back [our Irish recruiting plans] at all.
"We've got some Australians who know the game and we've been really selective in how we've gone about it. We've haven't brought in players en masse – it's been a two-year process before we look at the player to test him."
Hine was full of praise for Dyas, who badly injured his hamstring in his first of two seasons with the club, and Clarke, who achieved much in a short space of time with Collingwood.
"Everyone saw what Marty was able to achieve in such a short period of time and when you really look at it, Marty has gone home when other Irish boys are just starting to play [AFL football] in their third year," he said.
"We're certainly not closing the door on Marty potentially coming back. There is a possibility we may [keep him on the list] and that'll be decided in the next week or so."
On a personal note, Hine, along with chief of football Geoff Walsh, were sorry to see them leave.
"Both Kevin and Marty lived at both of our houses, so we were a little bit close to them, so that in itself made it a little bit difficult," Hine said.
"In Kev's case, he didn't get a good run at it, because of his hamstring injury, so it's really unfortunate, because we really believed he could've played AFL footy."
