Matthew Clarke | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Matthew Clarke

Yeah we definitely weren't into Everitt after the draft camp. I remember they said he was kind of full of himself.
They asked him about his weaknesses, and he said kicking which was one of his strengths. The feeling was big brother had coached him to give answers which would improve his draft-ability. Think we ruled a line through him as a result.
Think we were into Frawley at PRE draft night. But obviously the Polak trade made the need for a defender less urgent.
I remember them saying too that Selwood would be a great get, but may not last to 8, and would need his training workload managed his whole career due to a degenerative (knee?) Condition. Geelong have done that bit well.
 
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Yeah we definitely weren't into Everitt after the draft camp. I remember they said he was kind of full of himself.
They asked him about his weaknesses, and he said kicking which was one of his strengths. The feeling was big brother had coached him to give answers which would improve his draft-ability. Think we ruled a line through him as a result.
Think we were into Frawley at PRE draft night. But obviously the Polak trade made the need for a defender less urgent.
I remember them saying too that Selwood would be a great get, but may not last to 8, and would need his training workload managed his whole career due to a degenerative (knee?) Condition. Geelong have done that bit well.
What l was getting at Miller was saying Frawley,everitt as a decoy .
Don't worry about Pre-draft night ,that was just a money making venture for the football dept.

The general consensus at the time ,was that Riewoldt was slow,and not tall enough for a Kp position o_O
 
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No, they were recruited by Frank. Frank was deeply concerned that Miller's plan to trade pick 8 for Polak would cost him Jack, until he went to the Tassie grand final and there wasn't another recruiter there.
At that 2006 draft preview, Miller wanted Renouf! Frank was adamant on picking Jack.
 
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List demographics - i.e. the age spread of your players. With the exception of the odd precocious youngster and evergreen veteran, the bulk of a successful team fall in the 23-29 range. For example, in 2017 we had the following (I'm using the ages they turned that calendar year):
29 - probably the best 29y/o in the game at that point, Jack, plus two more of the best in Sheds and Houli, and a fourth very good one in Grigg. (Hampson in the 2s)
28 - just one, but he was the best of them, and probably the second best player in the game at the time, Rance.
27 - just one, but again the best of them, Cotch. (Lloyd in the 2s)
26 - not just the best 26y/o but also the best player, Dusty, as well as Grimes, DTLD and Lambo. (Griffens in the 2s)
25 - Prestia and Caddy. (Conca and Batchelor in the 2s.)

No one over 30 apart from 31yo Maric (2s).

That is a brilliant senior core. 12 of our premiership 22 - at least seven of them champions, all in their prime. There wouldn't be a 25-29 group close to that in the game right now. And some pretty solid depth in the 2s. Then we had:
24 - Brando, Broad, Towner
23 - Nank, Vlastuin, KMac

with
21- George, Butler
20 - Rioli
19 - Graham
making up the remainder of the premiership side, and

21 - Short
19 - Bolton

on the fringe.

Now look at today:
33 - Jack, Houli, Sheds
31 - Cotch
30 - Dusty, Grimes, DTLD, Lambo

29 - Lynch, Prestia, Caddy, Pickett
28 - Broad
27 - Nank, Vlas, KMac, Aarts
26 - NO ONE
25 - George, Short, Soldo, Parker

24 - Rioli, Chol
23 - Bolton, Graham, Baker, Egg, Garth
22 - Balta, CJ, Naish, Miller, Mate
21 - RCD, Ross, Stack, Ryan
20 - Dow, Martyn, Cumberland, Ralphy, Biggie
19 - MoJu

The equalisation measures at least half work - they drag top teams down. If not for the salary cap we'd have Brando alongside Broad, and Markov and Butler in the 25yo group. Nonetheless, we'd still be a bit thin thanks to our poor 2013-15 haul at the draft.
 
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Yes that age breakdown is a major concern , very worried about what state our list will be in a few years when most of the oldies are gone or on their last legs…
Just reinforces why we need to be more proactive getting games into younger players NOW while they are still around
 
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I've just had a look at Melbourne, on the gut feel they have the best core 23-29 group right now.

33 - Jones (2s)
31 - Hibberd
30 - Gawn, Milksham (2s)
29 - May, McDonald, Brown
28 - Tomlinson (ACL)
27 - Viney
26 - Salem, Hunt, Harmes
25 - Petracca, Lever, Langdon, Brayshaw, Fritsch, Neal-Bullen

24 - Oliver, Weideman (2s)
23 - Baker (2s)

22 - Petty, Spargo
21 - Jordon, Sparrow (2s)
20 - Jackson, Pickett, Rivers

They have others but that's the bulk of those getting a game. Heavy on 25yos. A champion 24yo and 30yo, handy groups at 26yo and 29yo. Their 25-27 group is as deep as ours was in 2017, albeit not as good. But their 24yo is streets ahead of what ours were (or are now), and their 20yos lap ours then and now.
 
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Bears:
33 - Birchall
32 - Robinson, Zorko
31 - Rich

29 - Lyons, Lester
28 - Neale, McCarthy, Adams, Ellis-Yolmen (2s)
27 - Cameron, Daniher, McInerney
26 - McStay, Gardiner
25 - Harris, Cockatoo (mythical creature)

24 - Hipwood, Ah Chee, Mathieson (2s)
23 - McCluggage, Berry

22 - Bailey, Starcevich, Rayner (ACL) (Payne, Madden, Fullarton 2s)
 
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20 - Jackson, Pickett, rivers
You can argue that a triumverate of gun 20 yos

Pushes you from a contender to a premier.

i think its Dees point of difference.

Rivers is my rising star. I dont really give a *smile* who the AFLs is.

has anyone got matt clarkes email address? Ive got a couple of players for him :cool:
 
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Yes that age breakdown is a major concern , very worried about what state our list will be in a few years when most of the oldies are gone or on their last legs…
Just reinforces why we need to be more proactive getting games into younger players NOW while they are still around
I think it's also why we'd be seeking to add a free agent in the next year or two, to fill out that 26-28 group and hopefully snag another flag.

You can argue that a triumverate of gun 20 yos

Pushes you from a contender to a premier.

i think its Dees point of difference.

Rivers is my rising star. I dont really give a *smile* who the AFLs is.

has anyone got matt clarkes email address? Ive got a couple of players for him :cool:
My main bet for the RS is Tom Green at 17s but I also have a little on Rivers at 51 and Jackson at 26 amongst a few other specs.

Also quite happy with my bets on Melbourne to make top-4 at $5.50, win the flag at $21, and Oliver for the Brownlow at $26.
 
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My main bet for the RS is Tom Green at 17s but I also have a little on Rivers at 51 and Jackson at 26 amongst a few other specs.

Also quite happy with my bets on Melbourne to make top-4 at $5.50, win the flag at $21, and Oliver for the Brownlow at $26.

Im pretty happy with my Dusty/stackman/Matt Parker norm smith trifecta at 100,000,000,000/1
 
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I've just had a look at Melbourne, on the gut feel they have the best core 23-29 group right now.

33 - Jones (2s)
31 - Hibberd
30 - Gawn, Milksham (2s)
29 - May, McDonald, Brown
28 - Tomlinson (ACL)
27 - Viney
26 - Salem, Hunt, Harmes
25 - Petracca, Lever, Langdon, Brayshaw, Fritsch, Neal-Bullen

24 - Oliver, Weideman (2s)
23 - Baker (2s)

22 - Petty, Spargo
21 - Jordon, Sparrow (2s)
20 - Jackson, Pickett, Rivers

They have others but that's the bulk of those getting a game. Heavy on 25yos. A champion 24yo and 30yo, handy groups at 26yo and 29yo. Their 25-27 group is as deep as ours was in 2017, albeit not as good. But their 24yo is streets ahead of what ours were (or are now), and their 20yos lap ours then and now.
Melbourne’s youngsters are a result of them yo-yo’ing up and down the ladder in recent years. Easier to find more talented 20 and 24yo’s relative to ours when you finish every other season in the bottom 4.
 
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Our current 23-29 group is still pretty good, but short on champions: three or four depending if you count Nank. But if the veterans can maintain (i.e. improve on what they've shown so far this year) and a couple of 21/22yos kick on, we could still win a flag. (We need Balta. And a focused Stack.)

Melbourne’s youngsters are a result of them yo-yo’ing up and down the ladder in recent years. Easier to find more talented 20 and 24yo’s relative to ours when you finish every other season in the bottom 4.
No doubt, TF. I'm not judging how who got where, just stating who is where.
 
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I've just had a look at Melbourne, on the gut feel they have the best core 23-29 group right now.

33 - Jones (2s)
31 - Hibberd
30 - Gawn, Milksham (2s)
29 - May, McDonald, Brown
28 - Tomlinson (ACL)
27 - Viney
26 - Salem, Hunt, Harmes
25 - Petracca, Lever, Langdon, Brayshaw, Fritsch, Neal-Bullen

24 - Oliver, Weideman (2s)
23 - Baker (2s)

22 - Petty, Spargo
21 - Jordon, Sparrow (2s)
20 - Jackson, Pickett, Rivers

They have others but that's the bulk of those getting a game. Heavy on 25yos. A champion 24yo and 30yo, handy groups at 26yo and 29yo. Their 25-27 group is as deep as ours was in 2017, albeit not as good. But their 24yo is streets ahead of what ours were (or are now), and their 20yos lap ours then and now.
Yeh, the rabblebourne calls are way off. They’ve got a very well balanced list. Best formline of 2021. If they can get their best side on the park for finals (they are well placed now) they are my favourites.
 
No one should be surprised about the dees they have been getting great picks for years and years.
 
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I've just had a look at Melbourne, on the gut feel they have the best core 23-29 group right now.

.....

24 - Oliver, Weideman (2s)
23 - Baker (2s)

.....

They have others but that's the bulk of those getting a game. Heavy on 25yos. A champion 24yo and 30yo, handy groups at 26yo and 29yo. Their 25-27 group is as deep as ours was in 2017, albeit not as good. But their 24yo is streets ahead of what ours were (or are now), and their 20yos lap ours then and now.
I would argue our 23/24 yos are better than Melbournes, and our 22-24yos are better than Melbournes.

But yes our age demographic has hit the spot where decline could have hit very quickly- 10 of our best 12/13 players are 29+. The question is how many years of top football those 10 have got. some will be gone at the end of this year, others can play for another 3 or 4.
 
others can play for another 3 or 4.
How many of those 12-13 can play another at an elite level for that long?

Retaining the likes of Bolton is critical unless we decide to go back to rebuild mode.

What can we learn from the Hawks experience? And how have the Cats managed to stay competitive? (Assume HG adv has a big part in cats position)