Matthew Clarke

[DavidSSS]

I'm not convinced Higgins was the right pick just because we weren't really crying out for small forwards at the time, also not convinced he was the best on offer. I do slightly (ok, very slightly) resent that we supported him through the health issues and then he left. But, he wasn't getting games so fair cop. I do think we should have got more for the trade, whether that was actually possible at the time is another issue, He wanted to leave and I do agree with the idea that if a player really wants out you don't stand in their way (ok, with some exceptions) because you do need commitment from all players.

So, today we see him playing well for StKilda. Well, he may well have got back to better form with us and would have been really useful, but back when he did shift to StKilda it was unknown how well he would recover.

Good luck to Higgo, a lot of things going on when he played for us and when he moved clubs. These things happen, and who knows if he would have hit this form for Richmond, no-one really.

Drafting players is not an exact science and sometimes it just doesn't work so well and later they shine for another club. Water under the bridge, just hope Higgo has a good footy career and has recovered from the brain trauma.

DS

 

[artball]

I don’t think we fought to keep him as he fell out of favour with the playing group.

they let him know about it when they first played the Aints with Higgins in the team
I recall Cotch giving him a bit of 'what are ya'

 

[spook]

It's a shame we don't play the Saints again this year. It'd be interesting to see if Higgo could keep Rioli to under 25 disposals.

 

[The_General]

That's a lot of words, General. Whose mouth are you trying to wedge them into?

No one in particular Spook. Just a parody/amalgam of opinions on this site.

 

[jb03]

Harry might have been right in the first post of this thread.

 

[King Kong]

I'm surprised more people aren't questioning this appointment.

It's like sacking Hardwick and appointing Lade for 3 years.

Recruiting manager along with head coach is probably the most important role at the club.

Did we head hunt the best? Did we look at the 2IC's of the best in the recruiting business such as Geelong Hawthorn Adelaide and even the bulldogs? Most senior coach apppintments come from the best 2IC's of the successful clubs. Why not recruiting?

Were we bold and ruthless enough to get the best? With all the criticism Frank and our recruiting has copped I was hoping for a thorough process and no expense spared to appoint the best candidate out there.

Clarke could turn out to be good but did we give ourselves the best chance to land the best?

Not sure who is going better Clarke or Greg Miller when he picked JON at 8

 

[eddazol]

Most of early rounders have been complete busts.

 

[Dev Tiger]

The midfield next year if Cotch retires and Prestia goes down will be ugly. We will be in the Kangaroos type territory.

 

[toothless]

The midfield next year if Cotch retires and Prestia goes down will be ugly. We will be in the Kangaroos type territory.

It already has been for 2 years

 

[Little Ziggyadee]

It's a shame we don't play the Saints again this year. It'd be interesting to see if Higgo could keep Rioli to under 25 disposals.

Would Melbourne allow Huggins to play that loose?
Let's see when stkilda play real teams how they play Higgins.
No loss for us, he wouldve made no difference. He hasn't got a defensive bone in his game.

 

[Little Ziggyadee]

Liam Ryan or Sam Taylor shouldve been our first pick

 

[Little Ziggyadee]

Can't blame Clarke this year Gibcus is a gun

 

[King Kong]

Can't blame Clarke this year Gibcus is a gun

I could have got a 16yold off Bigfruity and they would have picked Gibcus based on all the mock drafts. Recruiters earn their coin and reputation with their ability to pick gems from the 2nd round onwards. On that front Clarke has been a dismal failure to date.

 

[Redford]

Whatever happened to Richard Taylor ? Seems strange that he left an assistants role at Richmond for an assistants role at Adelaide.

Did he not see eye to eye with Clarke ?

 

[King Kong]

Whatever happened to Richard Taylor ? Seems strange that he left an assistants role at Richmond for an assistants role at Adelaide.

Did he not see eye to eye with Clarke ?

The reason he was given was we needed to cut costs due to the reduced soft cap. In effect though Blair and Matty gave him the ass. They could have fitted him in if they really wanted to.

Pretty sure Richard started the same year as Clarke so their probably was some competition amongst them.

Also I may be mistaken but I think Richard was the guy Greg Miller hired off the back of a long email to him on recruiting? Hence they probably looked down on him from the start.

I sat next to him on a plane once with a bunch of other recruiters (inc Blair) when he worked for us. Nice bloke and very knowledgeable

 

[Redford]

The reason he was given was we needed to cut costs due to the reduced soft cap. In effect though Blair and Matty gave him the ass. They could have fitted him in if they really wanted to.

Pretty sure Richard started the same year as Clarke so their probably was some competition amongst them.

Also I may be mistaken but I think Richard was the guy Greg Miller hired off the back of a long email to him on recruiting? Hence they probably looked down on him from the start.

I sat next to him on a plane once with a bunch of other recruiters (inc Blair) when he worked for us. Nice bloke and very knowledgeable

Interesting. I thought he joined after the Miller years though.

 

[King Kong]

Interesting. I thought he joined after the Miller years though.

Nah pretty sure he was the first offsider (along with Clarke) that Miller hired to help Frank, after the JON fiasco. Miller had to convince Clinton Casey and the Board the money was needed in recruiting first.

It was around the same time Miller had a major heath scare and both he and Frank realized they needed extra help

Frank valued confidentiality higher than other opinions though so our team was always one of the smallest. Interestingly Clarke and Blair carry the same view. Hence our team is still one of the smallest of all the AFL clubs.

I had some experience with the team in those days.

 

[Dont Argue]

I could have got a 16yold off Bigfruity and they would have picked Gibcus based on all the mock drafts. Recruiters earn their coin and reputation with their ability to pick gems from the 2nd round onwards. On that front Clarke has been a dismal failure to date.

Winning hides many cracks.
It’s only when you start losing that the wallpaper looks like shyte

 

[Redford]

Nah pretty sure he was the first offsider (along with Clarke) that Miller hired to help Frank, after the JON fiasco.

Frank was very much a believer in a small recruiting team though so took some time to warm to the idea.

He valued confidentiality higher than other opinions. Interestingly Clarke carries the same view. Our team is still one of the smallest of al AFL clubs.

I had some experience with the team in those days.

Fair enough.

I always thought Richard was reasonably switched on. Seemed a decent chap too.

 

[Dev Tiger]

I think he has been in charge since 2017. His midfield picks in that time are RCD, Ross, Dow, Pickett and Sonsie. A lot depends on Sonsie making it. Pickett has been a great pick. The others not so much.