Matthew Clarke

[tora]

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 nota

so much.

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.

We've been in flag mode for 3 years so not high draft picks. RCD was always a project which, frankly, looks like a failure. Ross had a great 2019 and could've had a flag under his belt. Famously hasn't been developed well. Trying to reinvent him.. still getting played on the wing. Dow, I didn't rate last year but has gotten games. Obvious failings. So the only clear success is the senior Pickett.
Lambert still out is testing our depth as is out of form Edwards.
Sonsie and MRJ get their chances soon you'd think

 

[jb03]

We've been in flag mode for 3 years so not high draft picks. RCD was always a project which, frankly, looks like a failure. Ross had a great 2019 and could've had a flag under his belt. Famously hasn't been developed well. Trying to reinvent him.. still getting played on the wing. Dow, I didn't rate last year but has gotten games. Obvious failings. So the only clear success is the senior Pickett.
Lambert still out is testing our depth as is out of form Edwards.
Sonsie and MRJ get their chances soon you'd think

MRJ had about 2 touches when i was watching. Not sure he will get the call up but at least their would be some forward line pressure.

 

[Dyer'ere]

MRJ is a father/son. Club choice.

My view is that there is a clear RFC recruiting period from 2017-2020 inclusive. I'm thinking that period is over. From the moment the names were called in the 2021 ND there was a change in type.

Recruiting managers don't just start out nailing it. And it's not like we had awesome choices.

2021 saw a welcome change in Clarke/RFC's drafting style. In what may prove to have just been a better draft. But looks atm like a crop of smart clean athletic footballers.

In time we can look at some of the smart strategic decisions that Clarke has made. But for now we can be grateful that we have some ND youth with class.

 

[TigerFurious]

MRJ is a father/son. Club choice.

My view is that there is a clear RFC recruiting period from 2017-2020 inclusive. I'm thinking that period is over. From the moment the names were called in the 2021 ND there was a change in type.

Recruiting managers don't just start out nailing it. And it's not like we had awesome choices.

2021 saw a welcome change in Clarke/RFC's drafting style. In what may prove to have just been a better draft. But looks atm like a crop of smart clean athletic footballers.

In time we can look at some of the smart strategic decisions that Clarke has made. But for now we can be grateful that we have some ND youth with class.

Funny how that change in ‘type’ occurred in the first national draft AFTER the stand rule was brought in.

 

[Dyer'ere]

Funny how that change in ‘type’ occurred in the first national draft AFTER the stand rule was brought in.

A good thing too, TF. Whether we should have targeted smart athletic footballers in the previous years is no longer a matter at hand IMO.

 

[momentai]

A good thing too, TF. Whether we should have targeted smart athletic footballers in the previous years is no longer a matter at hand IMO.

Absolutely right to adjust following the introduction of the stand rule.
However that same need also should be reflected in regard to players who were selected on the basis of speed and tackling ability, and who are now found out because of failures in regard to disposal.

At the root is a related obstacle.
If we could trade Dimma for McRae I wouldn’t hesitate.

 

[Dont Argue]

A good thing too, TF. Whether we should have targeted smart athletic footballers in the previous years is no longer a matter at hand IMO.

I asked Dimma at a recent Club 80 function whether we had placed a particular emphasis on foot skills in the recent draft.
He said no but that we had chased “athletic “ types because of the emphasis on running these days.
So spot on with your assumptions

 

[Dyer'ere]

I asked Dimma at a recent Club 80 function whether we had placed a particular emphasis on foot skills in the recent draft.
He said no but that we had chased “athletic “ types because of the emphasis on running these days.
So spot on with your assumptions

We all saw the shift, DA. Looks pretty good atm.

 

[Bill Haverchuck]

deleted

why doesnt this forum have a *smile* delete button
unless there is one and i am too clueless to find it

 

[caesar]

deleted

why doesnt this forum have a *smile* delete button
unless there is one and i am too clueless to find it

 

[Mr Brightside]

Regardless of if we win another flag this year or not , we have midfield issues going forward , I couldn’t say we have a definite A Grade mid under the age of 24 on the list and the fact is you don’t win flags without them. Wether we pay overs and fix the problem by trading for a Green type or we go to the draft or free agency it’s certainly an area we have to fix . A bit contradicting however 2 players I’d try an ad that wouldn’t be overly pricey is Dow and Thomas , Dow may not be the answer , however for the price I think he’s worth a punt and playing with his brother at a new club maybe what he needs

 

[bob]

Regardless of if we win another flag this year or not , we have midfield issues going forward , I couldn’t say we have a definite A Grade mid under the age of 24 on the list and the fact is you don’t win flags without them. Wether we pay overs and fix the problem by trading for a Green type or we go to the draft or free agency it’s certainly an area we have to fix . A bit contradicting however 2 players I’d try an ad that wouldn’t be overly pricey is Dow and Thomas , Dow may not be the answer , however for the price I think he’s worth a punt and playing with his brother at a new club maybe what he needs

Mr B, I agree with you on the problem. But not so much on the solution.

To me, getting Dow is like throwing good money towards a bad investment in business. Better to cut your losses I think and admit an error.
Thomson and Paddy just dont seem to be that good. Unless the Club knows for sure whether TT has just simply checked out to make a transfer to another club easier, I wouldnt touch him either. True, he hasnt had an easy time at North (who has?), but he seems immature and sooky to me. Judgements from afar I know...

Hopefully our first 3 picks are for pure mids and we get a Taranto (my choice) or Dunkley (the choice of many on here).

 

[Mr Brightside]

Mr B, I agree with you on the problem. But not so much on the solution.

To me, getting Dow is like throwing good money towards a bad investment in business. Better to cut your losses I think and admit an error.
Thomson and Paddy just dont seem to be that good. Unless the Club knows for sure whether TT has just simply checked out to make a transfer to another club easier, I wouldnt touch him either. True, he hasnt had an easy time at North (who has?), but he seems immature and sooky to me. Judgements from afar I know...

Hopefully our first 3 picks are for pure mids and we get a Taranto (my choice) or Dunkley (the choice of many on here).

I do agree , however they are 2 I see that could be bargain picks ( Thomas won’t be as cheap as Dow though) and both will be coming into there best footy , obviously there’s a million others we could look at , there just 2 I’d take a punt on

 

[Dyer'ere]

Clarke traded out of the 2020 draft. And into the 2021 draft. That was strategic. In 2020 Covid stopped players from developing and stopped drafters from seeing the form before selecting them. Clarke put his balls on 2021 being better than 2020. BTW we did still take Rioli and Samson.

Have a look at the 2020 *smile* fight -

 

[TigerFlag2017]

Clarke traded out of the 2020 draft. And into the 2021 draft. That was strategic. In 2020 Covid stopped players from developing and stopped drafters from being the form before selecting them. Clarke put his balls on 2021 being better than 2020. BTW we did still take Rioli and Samson.

Have a look at the 2020 *smile* fight -

View attachment 18545

That tells me I should have zero expectations on Samson Ryan!

 

[richards42]

Clarke traded out of the 2020 draft. And into the 2021 draft. That was strategic. In 2020 Covid stopped players from developing and stopped drafters from being the form before selecting them. Clarke put his balls on 2021 being better than 2020. BTW we did still take Rioli and Samson.

Have a look at the 2020 *smile* fight -

View attachment 18545

Looking like one of the worst drafts ever. Except for 2004

 

[Scoop]

Clarke traded out of the 2020 draft. And into the 2021 draft. That was strategic. In 2020 Covid stopped players from developing and stopped drafters from being the form before selecting them. Clarke put his balls on 2021 being better than 2020. BTW we did still take Rioli and Samson.

Have a look at the 2020 *smile* fight -

View attachment 18545

Yikes, no clear best player. MRJ is already top 10 as a father-son. I'd have Erro Gulden as the best player and he was out of their academy.

 

[Dyer'ere]

Yikes, no clear best player. MRJ is already top 10 as a father-son. I'd have Erro Gulden as the best player and he was out of their academy.

Clarke's decision to trade out of it looks solid gold right now, scoop. And I'm with you on Goulden. He's a ripper. JUH will furnish into something, I reckon, and The Thilth may get a sense of urgency one day.

Logan McDonald is interesting. Has elite groundball winning and use. Against smalls. Does amazing things at ground level. Lawn height contested stuff in heavy traffic. His overhead work is mediocre at best but he's improving. It's possible he's an elite CHB.

Campbell can finally get a kick. Treats rucks with contempt in aerial contests. (Rightly.) Aerialist learning ground game.

Grainger-Barras stands out even in that draft. Can't attack. Can't defend. Has no aerial game. Has no ground game. Short. Can't jump. Slow. Can't think.

 

[Dyer'ere]

Here's 2021 for comparison -

 

[mrposhman]

Clarke's decision to trade out of it looks solid gold right now, scoop. And I'm with you on Goulden. He's a ripper. JUH will furnish into something, I reckon, and The Thilth may get a sense of urgency one day.

Logan McDonald is interesting. Has elite groundball winning and use. Against smalls. Does amazing things at ground level. Lawn height contested stuff in heavy traffic. His overhead work is mediocre at best but he's improving. It's possible he's an elite CHB.

Campbell can finally get a kick. Treats rucks with contempt in aerial contests. (Rightly.) Aerialist learning ground game.

Grainger-Barras stands out even in that draft. Can't attack. Can't defend. Has no aerial game. Has no ground game. Short. Can't jump. Slow. Can't think.

Agree on Grainger-Barras, he was on Lynch intially when we played the Hawks last year. Got an absolute bath. They ended up moving him off Lynch, he ended the game manning up smalls. Didn't like he was anywhere near ready for AFL, if ever. Gibcus was far more comfortable at the level.