What does the cryptic crossword clue "Clubs brawl — it could be afters (7)" mean?

The definition is "afters". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). C (synonym="symbol for the suit, clubs, in a deck of playing cards") + RUMBLE (synonym="a brawl/a street fight between gangs, as between the Jets and the Sharks in West Side Story") = CRUMBLE; definition: "it could be afters" The answer is CRUMBLE.

Clubs brawl — it could be afters (7)

Guardian Cryptic #28960 | 1 Across | 2023-01-06 flower

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