Delisted #37: Dylan Clarke - End of the road, will not be offered a list spot in 2022

[Lore]

Contract Status: Not offered a contract for 2021
Last Game Played: Round 23, 2021 (omitted)
Injury Status: n/a

 

[BrunoV]

I think this is a good point worth considering.

Also, how many touches was it that Jobe got on debut? One or two handballs?

How many games did Jobe play in his first three years?

And what was he doing that enable everyone else to go about their work?

 

[Loonerty]

How many games did Jobe play in his first three years?

No clue.
Was he performing in the VFL like Clarke has been?

 

[JDavey]

Some of you need to pay much more attention to what you see on the ground and also to stop applying blanket rules to players.

The only reason you could possibly make the observation that Clarke 'has nothing more to learn in the VFL' is because you're taking the piss and/or just assuming that he's in the same boat as Langford or Laverde and/or you're not really watching him play.

I'll forgive him some fumbles and the few occasions on which he was found out by the intensity of AFL. Take that as a given, Ridley was shaky at the start of the game when he was losing his opponent and was well behind the play for the first 10 minutes or so.

Clarke is a very one dimensional play at this point in time. That's one dimensional because he's really just an inside midfielder and also because as an inside midfielder he has no real outside game. Do you really think that we're going to take the guy and turn him into Clayton Oliver over night? He's certainly no where near as big and powerful as Oliver is and Oliver handballs by choice not because he avoids putting the ball on his suspect boot.

Whether the lack of outside game is rolled up into an apprehension about kicking or whether it's simply a feature of his game that he hasn't worked on enough I can't say. Contrast his debut with Guelfi and Mutch who both had sustain impacts over four quarters. Clarke has to evolve the ability to play a second position and to play a more complete game as a midfielder - that's what the VFL is for.

There is no reason for us to further change our midfield set-up just to accommodate a one-dimensional 19 year old who is still very much a work in progress, particularly give his performance. Langford and Laverde, aside from having completed two more pre-seasons, both play dual positions and both dominate VFL matches when they play. Laverde's field kicking has always been a strength and last night Langford showed the quality of his vision and his potential class by foot.

Clarke is racking up very impressive numbers in the VFL but he's not influencing the game in the same way and I've certainly not seem him play a game in which he has been clearly a class above. Laverde, Langford, Redman, Ridley and Francis are the guys who basically just have to turn up to be the better players on the ground this year. Clarke is playing well and is genuinely VFL standard and that's completing step 1.

If Redman is fit enough (he had a problem in the last quarter and was noticeably struggling) he has to come in for someone and Clarke is absolutely at the bottom of the list. He's dominating matches and playing three different positions as a defender, as a wingman and now in the middle.

Redman is now at the point that he just need to be given the time in the AFL to adapt his game and to become an AFL player. That's the same story with Laverde and Langford. Francis is now peeling off high teens-low 20s in disposal, controlling the air and using the ball beautifully by foot. Post-bye he's definitely someone who will just need game time and who can play multiple roles in an AFL match (as a key defender, third tall and even forward). I think that Begley was doing nice things but that he was also one dimensional and that he would have ended up back in the VFL for midfield time to work on other parts of his game if he wasn't injured.


Edit: I don't want this all to be negative. I'm of the view that if it clicks for him he'll come good very quickly because he's a great runner, very strong, handles the ball well under pressure and he lives for the inside scrap. He has qualities that will translate to AFL and I'm confident about that.

He definitely deserved an opportunity but having done next to nothing, and comparing that with debut performances of other midfielders, he should be sent back to the VFL to work on his game.

The difference is that Clarke's playing a position of need. And given our midfield looked the best it has this year - why change it when Myers definitely wasn't doing much more? Clarke did a lot of great blocking and space creation for the team on the weekend. Seems to have good game IQ for someone playing their first AFL game.

 

[srobbo]

Good to see he got a taste & stuck to the task after a quiet start. For now he’ll make way for Parish/McGrath i’d imagine.

He’ll get a crack at it again before long though.

 

[jsd09]

Irrespective of how he played, the kid deserves and will get another crack at it. If he doesn't perform against GWS, well he will have to make way for a few coming back.

 

[CBombers17]

We aren't winning the Grand final this year so he get's another game. Simple.

 

[boncer34]

We aren't winning the Grand final this year so he get's another game. Simple.

I bought a grand final package Saturday night.

 

[BrunoV]

The difference is that Clarke's playing a position of need. And given our midfield looked the best it has this year - why change it when Myers definitely wasn't doing much more? Clarke did a lot of great blocking and space creation for the team on the weekend. Seems to have good game IQ for someone playing their first AFL game.

I'm not sure what Clarke did that we need to much of.

 

[Doss]

I'm not sure what Clarke did that we need to much of.

He's a big body around the ball, which is something we need. And I do believe he will ultimately be a good player at this level but I broadly agree that he didn't really do enough overall in that particular game.

 

[VelvetSledge]

Showed a few good signs but didn't get it enough.

Would be fine to leave him in this week just to see if he builds on the occassion.

 

[BrunoV]

He's a big body around the ball, which is something we need. And I do believe he will ultimately be a good player at this level but I broadly agree that he didn't really do enough overall in that particular game.

I understand the theory though I doubt that he's the battering ram that he should end up being.

What did he do that we need? Not what could he do in two years time.

 

[Jacques_]

I understand the theory though I doubt that he's the battering ram that he should end up being.

What did he do that we need? Not what could he do in two years time.

I know it’s not a huge thing, but he did a lot of selfless blocking around stoppages that our midfielders generally neglect doing.

I think he should get another game or two before deciding wether he needs another run in the vfl or not

 

[JDavey]

Some of you need to pay much more attention to what you see on the ground and also to stop applying blanket rules to players.

I understand the theory though I doubt that he's the battering ram that he should end up being.

What did he do that we need? Not what could he do in two years time.

Maybe time to take your own advice and watch his tape 'on the ground'

I know it’s not a huge thing, but he did a lot of selfless blocking around stoppages that our midfielders generally neglect doing.

I think he should get another game or two before deciding wether he needs another run in the vfl or not

Absolutely no reason to drop him. None. To do so would be a massive step backwards.

His contested work yesterday was solid and of AFL standard.

Was probably given a defensive focus vs see ball get ball focus for his first game. As was Kyle.
With the limited impact Gaz, Selwood and Danger had id say tbe mid group of which he is a part played their roles well.

Next week another great opportunity to learn off ward, coniglio and Shiel and then the week after a real in the trenches baptism of fire against Tigers on the G in front of big crowd. Those are the two games i want him in for and then reassess on form after that.

He clearly came in not wanting to be beaten and he wasn't.

Loved watching him put a body on Selwood/Danger every ballup.

i watched him closely in the third quarter and was impressed with his blocking and sheparding for teammates.

Gets another game for sure.

watched the replay and had to double check if it was Guelf or Clarke who wore 37
what i noticed was a body blocking, battering ram mid. Does the things needed to let the rest of our midfield go about their business.

Lots of others picked up on the defensive work he was doing around the contests. Putting bodies on their best midfielders and letting our midfield win first possession. These aren't hard stats but this is the first game where our midfield actually looked on top of it, and it was against the holy trinity too.

 

[mad_monkey_j]

Hopefully he gets another game. Seems pretty pointless bringing him in and then dropping him instantly, even if he wasn't the greatest.

 

[fairbump_playon]

I reckon he'll get there in time but at this stage everyone who is saying "keep him in" is also saying keep Parish out.

 

[eth-dog]

I reckon he'll get there in time but at this stage everyone who is saying "keep him in" is also saying keep Parish out.

Parish needs another couple of weeks in the magoos.

 

[Vindicater]

I reckon he'll get there in time but at this stage everyone who is saying "keep him in" is also saying keep Parish out.

I am fine with giving them both another game where they are now.

 

[BrunoV]

Maybe time to take your own advice and watch his tape 'on the ground'

You know that kids can actually be good, not just players who are new and/or reduce the average of a side?

A few bumps and blocks is not enough.

 

[ghostdog]

Sounds like he did alright in terms of positioning and attack on the ball. 22% DE though. Did it hurt?

 

[JDavey]

You know that kids can actually be good, not just players who are new and/or reduce the average of a side?

A few bumps and blocks is not enough.

"What did he do that we need?"

"answer"

"well that's not enough"

ahhh okay?

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Only had 9 disposals but was around the stoppages applying pressure and putting his body in there stays in.

 

[mad_monkey_j]

Simply he didn't get enough of the ball, but did a few nice things. There's no point giving him a taste, showing him what he has to work on and then going back to the VFL to gather another 30 with 10 tackles. We know he's above VFL standard, so might as well see if he can improve at AFL level before dropping him back.

 

[JayJ20]

I understand the theory though I doubt that he's the battering ram that he should end up being.

What did he do that we need? Not what could he do in two years time.

What he could do in two years time depends on how much he learns at AFL level.

Development is as much about learning what you can't yet do as it is about crafting what you can do.

We're not winning the flag this year so we might as well give him a run so that he can convert what he does in the VFL at AFL level.
Sure it doesn't mean that he'll stay there all year if he isn't performing, but give him at least 2-3 games so that we know what he can work on at VFL level. He'll know exactly what he struggles with at AFL level. First couple of games are always affected by nerves.

 

[citizen-erased]

I reckon he'll get there in time but at this stage everyone who is saying "keep him in" is also saying keep Parish out.

Clarke and parish play different roles
For parish to come in he needs to be targetting the spot zaka, smith and merrett play.
Hes a ripper kid and my boy, but I think he has a road to travel before he is back

 

[GUMBLETRON]

Sounds like he did alright in terms of positioning and attack on the ball. 22% DE though. Did it hurt?

There was one terrible turnover that led directly to a goal, but otherwise nothing glaring that I noticed - just scrappy.