AFL Player 36: Angus Clarke

[VelvetSledge]

 

[Agronomus]

Fantastic debut but what about the gun half backs that we still need?

 

[DERO]

And Hayes should have played 5-10 games last season.

Maybe.

 

[Squeaky]

Good move by our recruitment team to target players who don't mind running.

Then it will be up to match committee to drop the players that can't run...

 

[Vindicater]

Maybe.

Nah for sure he should have had most of Laverdes games in the back half of the year.

 

[DERO]

Nah for sure he should have had most of Laverdes games in the back half of the year.

Maybe.

One thing that sometimes gets forgotten is the experience factor. It is why we played Heppell down there and why Zach wanted him to stay on an extra year and also why we went after Mitch Duncan last year.

 

[bombreys]

Maybe.

One thing that sometimes gets forgotten is the experience factor. It is why we played Heppell down there and why Zach wanted him to stay on an extra year and also why we went after Mitch Duncan last year.

Duncan would have been really good in that role for us, imo. And I understand the want for Heppell - last year it was just a horrible mix. With Heppell, Kelly, Laverde, McKay and McGrath, that’s 5 players who, to put it kindly, are below average kicks. Just not feasible.

If (and I know how big of an ‘if’ this is) we had Roberts, McGrath, McKay, Reid and Ridley all healthy and playing, it’d be a lot easier to slot a Heppell-type in there.

 

[katana]

It is why we played Heppell down there

is this meant to be an endorsement?

 

[DERO]

is this meant to be an endorsement?

Endorsed by the captain, yes.

 

[Duckworth]

I thought Angus Clarke was more of a defender but could play both ends. Where has he been playing most of the VFL?

 

[cAsEy_18]

I thought Angus Clarke was more of a defender but could play both ends. Where has he been playing most of the VFL?

He’s just an athlete honestly. Half back and wing is probably where he’s been seen the most, but wing is probably his go. Genuine endurance runner in the Ed Langdon mould.

 

[carloss]

 

[Petrify]

Got the Rising Star nom apparently

 

[Petrify]

Got the Rising Star nom apparently

Official here

Clarke’s dream debut rewarded with Telstra Rising Star nomination

First-gamer earns Dons’ third nomination of 2025.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[Mercurial89]

Endorsed by the captain, yes.

Whilst I love the guy, he's hardly an expert of team development.
The alternative to that is say, the dogs.
Sat Macrae, Daniel and Bailey Dale, used them as sub and pushed youth into the side, even though it cost them games. Bevo regularly uses selection pressure on senior players and throws young players into positions that were held by seniors.

The result being players who are fast tracked and a side that is constantly reinventing itself and pushing up the ladder.

Again there is a balance to be had here, some nuance.
But too often the comment is they aren't ready or need a couple of weeks in the VFL. If it's only "a few weeks" then the argument against them coming in early shouldn't be so strong.

Essendon is a conservative club, the passage of time is not what should be relied on for development.

The fact we are playing kids by Scott's own admission we wouldn't be if we had a fit list is an indictment on our development strategy.

 

[FlyingV]

Sick! 3 rising stars, Reid breakout, Hayesy looked good before going down and Johnson and Kako also have an opportunity to add to the three.

Loving playing the kids

 

[Ambrosia]

From wing to CHB?

 

[faible]

From wing to CHB?

I hope Brad leaves Clarke on the wing with the same stubbornness he did Harry Jones.

 

[Milanista28]

Whilst I love the guy, he's hardly an expert of team development.
The alternative to that is say, the dogs.
Sat Macrae, Daniel and Bailey Dale, used them as sub and pushed youth into the side, even though it cost them games. Bevo regularly uses selection pressure on senior players and throws young players into positions that were held by seniors.

The result being players who are fast tracked and a side that is constantly reinventing itself and pushing up the ladder.

Again there is a balance to be had here, some nuance.
But too often the comment is they aren't ready or need a couple of weeks in the VFL. If it's only "a few weeks" then the argument against them coming in early shouldn't be so strong.

Essendon is a conservative club, the passage of time is not what should be relied on for development.

The fact we are playing kids by Scott's own admission we wouldn't be if we had a fit list is an indictment on our development strategy.

 

[andleanback]

Has put on 8kg since being drafted, with his go to snack being lamb chops

 

[jannissary]

Has put on 8kg since being drafted, with his go to snack being lamb chops

that goes hard as ****.

 

[JayJ20]

Someone made the comparison to Oliver Dempsey and I can totally see it. Well perhaps without the aerial ability (yet!). The two marks he took for his first two goals do remind me of him.

I can see him being a tricky opponent on the wing like Dempsey is.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Has put on 8kg since being drafted, with his go to snack being lamb chops

Reckon he’s grown a few cm as well. Obviously angles but he looks like he’s next to Caddy here and about his size. Listed as 5 cms difference.

 

[Ambrosia]

Someone made the comparison to Oliver Dempsey and I can totally see it. Well perhaps without the aerial ability (yet!). The two marks he took for his first two goals do remind me of him.

I can see him being a tricky opponent on the wing like Dempsey is.

Big fan of Clarke but he doesn't have near the athleticism of Dempsey from what I've seen

 

[andleanback]

Reckon he’s grown a few cm as well. Obviously angles but he looks like he’s next to Caddy here and about his size. Listed as 5 cms difference.

View attachment 2326540

Yeh I reckon he’s grown aswell, looks taller than 189

 

[JayJ20]

Big fan of Clarke but he doesn't have near the athleticism of Dempsey from what I've seen

Yeah he doesn't and I haven't seen the aerial ability either, but I think there are some aspects of his game that resembles him.