Past #13: Ryan Clarke - officially traded to Sydney in exchange for #61 in 2018 ND - thanks Clarkey

[The Other Dean]

What Clarke has not proven (yet) that he can do:
- run out quarters

Yeah nah.

Nah.

Ryan has a number of deficiencies as a footballer (or things he 'has not proven (yet) that he can do'), but anyone who has watched his/our games would know that an inability to run out Quarters is not an issue that plagues him.

You wouldn't be the first new poster to get a little over-zealous in their first few posts but I'd suggest that the extra dollop of mayo you've added here is so far off the mark that it only serves to detract from whatever validity your point may have had. To the extent that it kinda comes off as your version of...."and I saw one of the babies and then the baby looked at me".

 

[Jindrrk]

*have

Maybe I need to pause and read before clicking send on each post then.

 

[tales129]

Clarke is an interesting one.

You could see his running capacity was great at creating extra outlets from the back half by sheer work rate.

I wonder if we felt we had him covered for midfield spots at the start of the period - based on who we potentially were targeting.

Let’s be honest either of Newman, Finlayson and Pittard are upgrades based on a sole positional reference as defenders. If hall, Polec and gaff came along he falls down the order further.

We’ve probably made the call that he was expendable early and have allowed him to get where he wants to.

Can imagine he will thrive on a wing in a side that spreads hard

 

[North Viking]

Clark is a product of our changing game plan. I thought the kid showed some promise but unfortunately as a midfielder he fell behind a few in the pecking order. He was tried in other roles however these exposes his weaknesses further.
Given the new incoming recruits I just can’t see Clarke anywhere near our best 22.
I think the club did the best by Ryan here and I hope he can make something up in Sydney.
Good luck to him and thanks for the service.

 

[shintemaster]

Clarke is an interesting one.

You could see his running capacity was great at creating extra outlets from the back half by sheer work rate.

I wonder if we felt we had him covered for midfield spots at the start of the period - based on who we potentially were targeting.

Let’s be honest either of Newman, Finlayson and Pittard are upgrades based on a sole positional reference as defenders. If hall, Polec and gaff came along he falls down the order further.

We’ve probably made the call that he was expendable early and have allowed him to get where he wants to.

Can imagine he will thrive on a wing in a side that spreads hard

He would not have got games with us next year barring catastrophic injury. Much fairer on all parties to cut the cord now. He's not a (physically) developing player, if he doesn't get games in the next 12-24 months of his career he won't have one.

 

[GarnerSmash]

So he's very lowly regarded league-wide but we felt it critical to play him in our senior side for 19 games this year?

Thats a reflection on how poor the likes of Hibberd, Josh Williams et al were rated. He was the best of a shite lot beneath him who could not force him out. And I guarantee you if Jacobs, EVW and Wright had been fit all year he would not have cracked 10 games.

And yet despite playing 19 games there is no bidding war for his services. Why is that?

 

[Caracas]

Yeah nah.

Nah.

Ryan has a number of deficiencies as a footballer (or things he 'has not proven (yet) that he can do'), but anyone who has watched his/our games would know that an inability to run out Quarters is not an issue that plagues him.

You wouldn't be the first new poster to get a little over-zealous in their first few posts but I'd suggest that the extra dollop of mayo you've added here is so far off the mark that it only serves to detract from whatever validity your point may have had. To the extent that it kinda comes off as your version of...."and I saw one of the babies and then the baby looked at me".

Lol. Yes, that piqued my interest when I saw it too. I, particularly, remember the Hawks game this year when we were down two players and were on our last legs, with Hawthorn coming hard. The only two players on our team that seemed to be able to cart their rapidly tiring bodies around Etihad were Clarke and Hartung. I vividly remember posting about it after we won. No arguments on the “disposal butchery” side of things, unfortunately. If Ryan could have sorted that out, he’d definitely still be on our list.


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[Caracas]

Thats a reflection on how poor the likes of Hibberd, Josh Williams et al were rated. He was the best of a shite lot beneath him who could not force him out. And I guarantee you if Jacobs, EVW and Wright had been fit all year he would not have cracked 10 games.

And yet despite playing 19 games there is no bidding war for his services. Why is that?

It’s swings and roundabouts. Effectively, it’s Clarke = Rohan, isn’t it? I well remember Paul Roos dissing us for having players like Jack & Cunnington, when we could have picked Rohan!! I do accept that LT may have altered the course of Rohan’s trajectory, though...


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[Firestarter]

We encouraged him to look for opportunities. Bit of goodwill getting him where he wants to go does no harm.

And when does that goodwill ever get returned?

 

[Mav]

And when does that goodwill ever get returned?

Prelim final next year, when we are 3 points down with 30 seconds to go and Clarke with the ball in Sydney's back pocket fluffs his kick straight to Pittard 45 meters out directly in front.

What happens next, who knows!

 

[shinboner spiggs]

And yet despite playing 19 games there is no bidding war for his services. Why is that?

Because our outside players have no hurt factor. Not since Wells/boomer, which is no wonder we looked glacial when one of those guys (wells usually) didnt play and the other got tagged.

Billy looked like the second coming of christ when he run down the wing because he had pace. Polec and hall will look similar. The rest of the blokes we've had run through the arcs over the last few years simply havent had the pace/kicking skills/dare/x factor to take us to the next level. Clarke was firmly in that bracket.

 

[koshari]

So he's very lowly regarded league-wide but we felt it critical to play him in our senior side for 19 games this year?

i was it more as having little depth to cover outs.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Lol. Yes, that piqued my interest when I saw it too. I, particularly, remember the Hawks game this year when we were down two players and were on our last legs, with Hawthorn coming hard. The only two players on our team that seemed to be able to cart their rapidly tiring bodies around Etihad were Clarke and Hartung. I vividly remember posting about it after we won. No arguments on the “disposal butchery” side of things, unfortunately. If Ryan could have sorted that out, he’d definitely still be on our list.

No doubt he has some elite AFL traits in terms of fitness, work rate etc, but it's very clear we're placing a premium on ball use from our outside types, and he just doesn't have that. Does he have the scope? Maybe, but I tend to sit on the side that if you're 21 and still struggle in this area after playing footy for a decade, it's probably not going to magically turn. You can get away with being a poor kick if you make good decisions by hand, but he doesn't do that either.

He's not a disciplined defensive runner like Gibson, so in effect he is a guy who can run all day and find the footy, but doesn't really have any hurt factor and is prone to turnovers. Those types are a dime a dozen and generally don't have long careers in contending sides.

 

[kool kangas]

l liked Clarke from the outset but the others that are coming in are better so someone has to go. Just a shame it wasnt Hrovat, McDonald or Turner. At least now these guys MUST earn their spot...

 

[archereleven]

Prelim final next year, when we are 3 points down with 30 seconds to go and Clarke with the ball in Sydney's back pocket fluffs his kick straight to Pittard 45 meters out directly in front.

What happens next, who knows!

With Pittards hoof, it will either be a goal or out on the full.

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[shintemaster]

And when does that goodwill ever get returned?

That goodwill is returned in having a culture of players that - hopefully - value the loyalty that the club can give. Other teammates still at the club see this and one would hope that in the majority they consider these actions somewhat when making decisions.

No doubt he has some elite AFL traits in terms of fitness, work rate etc, but it's very clear we're placing a premium on ball use from our outside types, and he just doesn't have that. Does he have the scope? Maybe, but I tend to sit on the side that if you're 21 and still struggle in this area after playing footy for a decade, it's probably not going to magically turn. You can get away with being a poor kick if you make good decisions by hand, but he doesn't do that either.

He's not a disciplined defensive runner like Gibson, so in effect he is a guy who can run all day and find the footy, but doesn't really have any hurt factor and is prone to turnovers. Those types are a dime a dozen and generally don't have long careers in contending sides.

The bold was the killer for me. He's not a great kick but he's also a very sloppy handballer. I just don't think you can get away with both, he also isn't a great tackler or defensive player - both areas that Gibson was pretty solid in. I think Clarke just is short one or two attributes for our team.

 

[True North]

He is a great runner and so so at everything else. He didn't have Isaac Smith's skillset so looked Vanilla. I understand him leaving.

 

[shinboner magic]

Had high hopes when drafted As he sounded like a bargain as a prototype midfielder that could run al day.
Bad luck he didn’t football to well.
Looks like he enjoyed his time at the club

 

[giantroo]

Ryan Clarke was forthright about why he wanted to be traded from North Melbourne to Sydney

Neil Cordy, The Daily Telegraph
October 11, 2018 6:31pm
Subscriber only

RYAN Clarke likes to play direct football and the midfielder-defender was forthright about why he chose to move to Sydney from North Melbourne … the Swans’ track record of turning good players into great ones.

“Sydney get the most out of their players,” the 21-year-old said.

“When I was making my decision about whether or not to come to Sydney it was a big factor.


“I’m looking forward to learning and getting better as a footballer.”

Josh Kennedy, Shane Mumford, Ted Richards and Craig Bolton all struggled before finding success in Sydney, becoming premiership players, All-Australians and - in Kennedy and Bolton’s case - club captains.

Clarke has been on the Swans’ radar for years. An early endorsement of Clarke’s long term prospects came when Swans recruiting guru Kinnear Beatson spotted him as a teenager playing for the Eastern Rangers in the TAC Cup.
Ryan Clarke in action for North Melbourne.

“Kinnear was the first person from an AFL club I spoke to,” Clarke said.

“I spoke to Kinnear a few times after that, including at the combine. The two teams that showed the most interest were the Swans and North.”

When Callum Mills was bid on by Melbourne at pick three in the 2015 draft Sydney were forced to use picks 33, 36, 37 and 43 to match the points bid.

The Kangaroos swooped on Clarke with pick 31 and he has managed 40 games in three seasons, playing mostly as a defender and occasional winger.

“I concentrated on my footy this year and once North and the Swans were out of it then things went from there,” Clarke said.

“I’d agreed to terms a couple of weeks ago so for it to be public now and official it’s a relief. I can’t wait to get started. I’ve heard only good things about Sydney.”
Ryan Clarke tries to fend off George Hewett.

Dan Hannebery’s move to St Kilda appears to have been held up by the Swans pursuit of Collingwood Grand Final defender Tom Langdon but once it is sorted out one way or another Hannebery will move to the Saints, creating midfield opportunities for Clarke and others.

“My preferred position is in the midfield,” Clarke said.

“I’d love to play in the midfield but it depends on what the team needs. I can play a few different roles, half-back, midfield or on the wing.”

Clarke says he leaves the Kangaroos with no regrets and is currently on holidays at Byron Bay with Shaun Higgins, Trent Dumont, Taylor Garner, Luke Davies-Uniake and Jy Simpkin.

“I had a great three years there, they are a great football club and I left on good terms,” Clarke said.

“I’m looking forward to the next chapter. I’ve learned a lot from players like Shaun Higgins, Ben Cunnington and Nick Dal Santo in my first year.”

 

[Roo Beauty]

Great kid. Hope he has a good career up there.

 

[Istanbul Roo]

Did his best for the years that he was with us. We couldn't ask for more. Good luck in Sydney.

 

[kangaspurs]

I saw a few people complaining in the other thread, but is there really anything wrong with what he said in that piece? I feel like it was normal, pseudo-endearing stuff that's common whenever any player moves clubs, and he complimented us and thanked us for the time he spent here.

 

[amaz199]

Best of luck to him.

Played out of position with us, probably never gonna work.

Oh well.

 

[amaz199]

You wouldn't be the first new poster to get a little over-zealous in their first few posts but I'd suggest that the extra dollop of mayo you've added here is so far off the mark that it only serves to detract from whatever validity your point may have had.

Can relate lol.

I didn't filter shit when I first started posting here and didn't hesitate to just rant about shit I had no idea I was talking about. Perhaps I was in a space of 'uncontrollable and unsociable hatred' for North lol.

Meh. It's in the past now.

Ryan has a number of deficiencies as a footballer (or things he 'has not proven (yet) that he can do'), but anyone who has watched his/our games would know that an inability to run out Quarters is not an issue that plagues him.

Agree with this.

Actually ran out games pretty well from my perspective. Just didn't fit the role he was playing and that's one thing we got horribly wrong unfortunately.

 

[King Corey]

Wish we'd persisted with him as a mid, think he can still be a good player. He had all the wrong attributes for a defender though.