Clancee Pearce elevated!

[Kickett Punches Read]

His hardness at the play is fantastic. Clubs like Carlton and Melbourne wallow because they don't have this... but haters gonna hate Clancee.

Given the players we have lost, his hardness may be something that keeps him in the team, but if the drafting of midfield talent is as good as what everyone here thinks, then his spot in the team will be in danger. Of all our mids currently best 22, mzungu, Pearce and Deboer would be the least talented footballers IMO, with Crowley just ahead. Someone has to drop out if our kids are as good as what everyone says

 

[holy diver]

We are yet to see how much our midfield can improve further. He certainly has some areas in his game that aren't as great as the other highly skilled mids we have, however he does bring some of clearly can't. You sure as hell wouldn't see Stephen hill for all his great skill smash a pack or lay a bone shattering hard bump in play like Pearce. These 1%er's may be unfashionable but they certainly helped us win more than we lost during season 2012. In regards to the youtube clip and Clancee Pearce's 2012 season in general he deserves praise. It's easy for anyone to nit-pick from a keyboard but for my 2 cents anyone who cleanly lays out Stevie J deserves respect.
I have to agree with some of the comments that based on current form and impact Mzungu would lose a place before Clancee Pearce at the moment.

 

[pavsbootlace]

He certainly does lack pace off the mark, but he's pretty fit and managed to spread well enough to find plenty of the footy this year. He's very strong in a marking contest and his boot is not only long but accurate.

He wouldn't get picked ahead of Mundy, Crowley, Barlow, Fyfe, Danyle or Hilly, so barring injury he's competing with Tendai, Mora and the youngsters for a spot on the bench or a flank. I'd call him a very handy depth player at this stage.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

We are yet to see how much our midfield can improve further. He certainly has some areas in his game that aren't as great as the other highly skilled mids we have, however he does bring some of clearly can't. You sure as hell wouldn't see Stephen hill for all his great skill smash a pack or lay a bone shattering hard bump in play like Pearce. These 1%er's may be unfashionable but they certainly helped us win more than we lost during season 2012. In regards to the youtube clip and Clancee Pearce's 2012 season in general he deserves praise. It's easy for anyone to nit-pick from a keyboard but for my 2 cents anyone who cleanly lays out Stevie J in an important final deserves respect.

Which final are you talking about. Steve Johnson was suspended for the elimination final.

Pearce had a great year, certainly better than what I thought capable. He has his strengths and his weaknesses, people can't have it both ways though, either we have drafted guns who will take his spot, or we haven't and he will keep it. There is a third option which is that clancee ends up a better player than all the other mids and someone else gets dropped.

 

[pavsbootlace]

based on current form and impact Mzungu would lose a place before Clancee Pearce at the moment.

Agreed

 

[electricfeel]

Clancee is also one of the few midfielders who will kick goals as well, particularly from outside 50. Love him as a player and admire his work. Also love the raging hard-on BT has for him.

 

[holy diver]

Which final are you talking about. Steve Johnson was suspended for the elimination final.

Got the final and the regular season match mixed up. Regardless he impacted on Geelong's scoring ability by removing Stevie J's influence for a period of the match. He is the player he is. You'd obviously remove him from the 22, I wouldn't on present form.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

Given the players we have lost, his hardness may be something that keeps him in the team, but if the drafting of midfield talent is as good as what everyone here thinks, then his spot in the team will be in danger. Of all our mids currently best 22, mzungu, Pearce and Deboer would be the least talented footballers IMO, with Crowley just ahead. Someone has to drop out if our kids are as good as what everyone says

Agree with this and I hasten to add if Barlow's disposal doesn't get back to it's best , he will be facing pressure to hold his spot.

 

[Jezzitizle]

But why is Clancee's pace an issue? Gets enough of the ball, will probably get a bit more this year.. he makes enough tackles. People say he isn't clean.. but I think he is as clean as anyone really, his kicking is better than most, his handballs are not bad. He is better than most in the air. He wins it on the ground. I seriously don't understand why some don't want him in the 22. Love him as a player. Mzungu I respect for his work rate, he runs harder than any of the other midfielders, and is running hard late in quarters. Though I think he needs to tidy up his disposal a bit.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Got the final and the regular season match mixed up. Regardless he impacted on Geelong's scoring ability by removing Stevie J's influence for a period of the match. He is the player he is. You'd obviously remove him from the 22, I wouldn't on present form.

Actually, I think at this very second Pearce is best 22. I just think that if the kids we have been developing for midfield spots, if they are as good as what many on here think, then someone will have to make way. I'd say mzungu would be first on that list, probably Deboer after that, and Pearce after that.

Agree with this and I hasten to add if Barlow's disposal doesn't get back to it's best , he will be facing pressure to hold his spot.

Mick Barlow showed glimpses this year, I expect him to be back to his best in 13. Tom Sheridan will be breathing down his neck next year if he is not

 

[Nickos66]

I'm a huge fan of Clancee, but I think he may only have 2-3 seasons left in him before he's overtaken by some kids and high draft picks. Especially if the list management committee favour the silky, speedy ballerina types over the cripplers and meat & potato types.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

Provided Clancee keeps working and pushing hard for a spot like he did this year, he will play every game.

I wouldn't worry too much how he fits into the team on paper, there are so many factors to take into account in injuries, players out of form, WAFL performances etc. A player who can be hard at it, consistently will always get a run in especially under Ross.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Provided Clancee keeps working and pushing hard for a spot like he did this year, he will play every game.

I wouldn't worry too much how he fits into the team on paper, there are so many factors to take into account in injuries, players out of form, WAFL performances etc. A player who can be hard at it, consistently will always get a run in especially under Ross.

Heh tell that to nick lower

 

[E Shed]

He is proof that hard work can win out over pure talent. The archetype of the Ross Lyon "buy in".
Continues to confound me, I had him as depth and wouldn't have been particularly upset if he was delisted at the end of 2011.
Having seen him at training on Monday he is barely recognisable from a couple of years ago. His unfashionable body shape and awkward kicking style bely his pure effectiveness as a hard running goal scoring midfielder. It's easy to forget how highly regarded he was as a junior for his ability to read the play and setup off half back.
I reckon Ross really backs his players in (those that buy in) and would not be at all surprised to see him play every game again this year. Good on ya Clancy.

 

[caterina]

Agree with this and I hasten to add if Barlow's disposal doesn't get back to it's best , he will be facing pressure to hold his spot.

I agree, I think Mick could be under some pressure in a year or two
I'm not sure his disposal by foot was ever a highlight, though it is certainly a bit worse post injury. But to me the thing that seemed to be really missing last year that we saw in 2010 was that uncanny ability to put an outside runner into space with a cute handball or knock on, in other words his disposal by hand when in tight spaces. If he gets that back and maintains his ability to stack up the possessions he'll remain very valuable

 

[Paracleet]

Bit patronising if you ask me. How about he did have the talent; which his professional football expert coach recognised as usable if it was honed. Indeed if he wasn't talented he wouldn't been retained this many years for Ross to 'magically' transform.

 

[doberman]

Given the players we have lost, his hardness may be something that keeps him in the team, but if the drafting of midfield talent is as good as what everyone here thinks, then his spot in the team will be in danger. Of all our mids currently best 22, mzungu, Pearce and Deboer would be the least talented footballers IMO, with Crowley just ahead. Someone has to drop out if our kids are as good as what everyone says

I thought deBoer had a fantastic year. His progression was amazing, probably overshadowed by that of Clancee's. His footskills have really tidied up, he always has that agression at the ball, and he always handballs well in traffic. I thought his overhead marking had improved by so much that at some of the earlier games I actually confused him for Fyfe.

The only time you can really say that he's less talented than other midfielders is when he is having a shot or pulled up on the mark so you can really get a good look at his kicking style.

Underrated player for me. I don't think he'll get pushed out by the young pups, but that's just me.

 

[willoblue]

good luck Clancee. hope you keep improving

 

[Righteo]

Clancee is also one of the few midfielders who will kick goals as well, particularly from outside 50. Love him as a player and admire his work. Also love the raging hard-on BT has for him.

He's seriously close to our best kick on the run from outside 50, just spears them through the sticks effortlessly Hurn style.

 

[electricfeel]

He's seriously close to our best kick on the run from outside 50, just spears them through the sticks effortlessly Hurn style.

Yep and you can never have enough of these types of players.

 

[Freo Dr]

Clancee always has the talent which is why I wanted to grab him as a rookie from Swans way back when but needed the extra bit of motivation and game time which he finally got in 2012.

3rd in disposals in 2012 behind Barlow and Mundy, took more marks than any other mid, more goals than any other mid and the only one other than Mundy who can be relied on from outside 50. Clancee is easily best 22 and with his hardness at the ball and the loss of McPhee/Lower as well he will be for some time. Guys like Mzungu, Spurr, Ibbotson and even Micky B if he cannot improve his disposal (I think he will this pre season) would be looked at before Clancee. He is not flashy and his ball drop/kicking is slow but it is deliberate and effective would not be surprised if his kicking efficiency was more than Fyfe in 2012. He handballs more than he kicks by some margin - could be because he is often in and under getting it out or because he only kicks when in a bit more space to execute his kicking action.

Maybe he will eventually lose his spot to one of the youngsters but I cannot see this happening for a few years yet and if he does it will mean we have basically the best midfield in the competition and probably also that the gamestyle changed to totally favour a bunch of fleet footed marathon runners.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

Very good field kick too, I'd say it's his decision making that lets him down at times but he has enough going for him in other departments

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

I thought deBoer had a fantastic year. His progression was amazing, probably overshadowed by that of Clancee's. His footskills have really tidied up, he always has that agression at the ball, and he always handballs well in traffic. I thought his overhead marking had improved by so much that at some of the earlier games I actually confused him for Fyfe.

The only time you can really say that he's less talented than other midfielders is when he is having a shot or pulled up on the mark so you can really get a good look at his kicking style.

Underrated player for me. I don't think he'll get pushed out by the young pups, but that's just me.

dont get me wrong, im not saying deboer is not in our best 22, or best 18 even. im just saying that the talent is relative to what he has around him. i would place hill, fyfe, mundy and barlow all ahead of him talent-wise. Thats not to say he wont have a better 2013 than all of them.

 

[manpurple]

Clancy should stay in the 22 without too many problems if he maintains last year's form. We are down McPhee and we need another enforcer type around to look after all the stick like newbs. Besides, if RTB stays true to form he will only have one newb in the side at a time. Conceivably we already have that space vacant with McPhee out and the spot we couldn't fill for more than three matches in a row last season on the HFF.

 

[doberman]

dont get me wrong, im not saying deboer is not in our best 22, or best 18 even. im just saying that the talent is relative to what he has around him. i would place hill, fyfe, mundy and barlow all ahead of him talent-wise. Thats not to say he wont have a better 2013 than all of them.

Fair point, just goes to show how strong our midfield and team is getting. The '08 Fremantle draft could go down in history as one of the best.