Clarke brothers

paul55

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Thread starter #1
How much longer to we have to watch these painful brothers kill our club, no joke bit i am sick of hearing all there excuses etc, the fact is they never play and don't have much of an impact when they do, the cleanout process has to beging at seasons ends and along with Milne, Mcqualter, gwilt, Ferguson, Fiora etc they must go, these types of players don't win u flags, get rid of them and build a team around roo, dal etc.
 

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Persevering Saint

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#3
X and Raph are terrific players, just hampered by injury. And if we measured a player as bad jut because they were regularly injured, well: first, we'd be getting rid of a helluva lot more players than the Clarke boys; and second, we'd be failing to see that this has been a fitness systems issue at the club. Ross Lyon is going to fix the fitness management by the beginning of next year. When he does that, the Clarkes will not get injured as much, and THEN let's talk about their futures. I expect they will perform brilliantly.

Nathan Burke is not a moron. He's an astute football brain, with a great eye for who will be a champion and who won't. When he retired, he could have given his number to anybody - Dal, Ball, just to name a few. But he gave it to Xavier. I trust Burkey's judgement.
 

paul55

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Xman has talent no question but hes never on the field so whats his worth, Raph is a pathetic player and i have never rated him, very soft and always breaks down, maybe its Thomas's
fault and training services for playing him when he wasn't right, i have heard from a few players that Thomas used to give them strong ultimaniums that if they didnt play when he wanted then they would struggle to get back in, thats Raph's problem he played under injury still i don't really rate him!
 

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#5
some how i dont believe that "you have heard from a few players" I suggest you wander down to training and speak to Ross Lyon about your concerns and the fact that "you dont rate Raphael and you think he is pathetic"

I would really like you to name the 'few players" who spoke to you and told you about the Thomas era.
 

paul55

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i am not going to name the 2-3 players i am very good friends with at the club but they r experienced players at the club and have told me that alot of players were pretty much forced into playing even when not 100%, the club during the thomas era didn't always goes as well with the players as everyone believes, i mean hamill walked out on the club for 3 days when Thomas 1st got appointed as he only went there cause Blight was going to coach, i know for a fact Hamill ws not happy at not being able to play in 2005 prem against syd when he declared to thomas he was fit. he himself pulled out of the 2004 prem final against Port when they wanted him to play but he said i don't think i will get thru the game, he was more then confident in 2005 but was told they weren't risking it even though he felt he was right!
 

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#7
i am not going to name the 2-3 players i am very good friends with at the club but they r experienced players at the club and have told me that alot of players were pretty much forced into playing even when not 100%, the club during the thomas era didn't always goes as well with the players as everyone believes, i mean hamill walked out on the club for 3 days when Thomas 1st got appointed as he only went there cause Blight was going to coach, i know for a fact Hamill ws not happy at not being able to play in 2005 prem against syd when he declared to thomas he was fit. he himself pulled out of the 2004 prem final against Port when they wanted him to play but he said i don't think i will get thru the game, he was more then confident in 2005 but was told they weren't risking it even though he felt he was right!
So who's to blame? Hamill for not putting his hand up in 2004? Thomas for not 'forcing' Hamill to play in 2004? Or Thomas for not playing a 'fit' Hamill in 2005? Look at Hamill's impact the last few games and first final of season 2006 - dreadful. Not doubting Hamill's ability, but when under an injury cloud his hard & aggressive game definitely struggles.
 
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#8
In regards to the Clarke brothers....
Over the 4 years we have had Raph he has shown nothing to suggest that he is good enough to play AFL. He is too slow, is indecisive when he has the ball (he is a clanger-king), and cant kick. I really hope it is just down to fitness and that he proves me wrong, but i seriously doubt its all down to fitness. He played 16 games in 2005 (so he must have been fit then) and was lucky that we were good enough that year to carry him - even though back then he was still slow, indecisive and couldnt kick.

I thought X was impressive in the first 7 games this year. He finally looked fit and he suits RL's game style. X was great in creating pressure on the opposition in our fwd50 (which is something that many ppl on this forum have said we have lacked in the last few weeks), and he was also able to chip with some goals (which we lack from our midfielders). Im really hoping both he and C.Jones will be fit for the WCE game.
 

Sir Robert

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#9
In regards to the Clarke brothers....
Over the 4 years we have had Raph he has shown nothing to suggest that he is good enough to play AFL. He is too slow, is indecisive when he has the ball (he is a clanger-king), and cant kick. I really hope it is just down to fitness and that he proves me wrong, but i seriously doubt its all down to fitness. He played 16 games in 2005 (so he must have been fit then) and was lucky that we were good enough that year to carry him - even though back then he was still slow, indecisive and couldnt kick.

I thought X was impressive in the first 7 games this year. He finally looked fit and he suits RL's game style. X was great in creating pressure on the opposition in our fwd50 (which is something that many ppl on this forum have said we have lacked in the last few weeks), and he was also able to chip with some goals (which we lack from our midfielders). Im really hoping both he and C.Jones will be fit for the WCE game.
Raph is no good, he might last another year at the club as we can't cull too many players (See ya McQalter, Brooks & Raymond... Plus a couple of retirements no doubt), but he will be put on notice next year you can guarantee that!

He lacks composure and decision making for AFL standards. I don't think he is slow, but his effectiveness would have to be bloody low compared to most players in the league. I am sure he is fit enough not to butcher the ball every time he has it. RL is taking a different approach to Grant Thomas, in that players won't be limping onto the field under his reign (referring to Sammy Hamill in last years final... Even if he put his hand up it doesn't matter... Thommo has cost us his services this year by even letting or forcing him to play last year).

X should definitely stay tho, he is a great talent and when he wants to can really open up a game for us. However I think it does come down to him being in the right frame of mind on the night. God I hope he can get his injuries under control so that he can put together some consistent footy over the next few years.
 

paul55

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Thread starter #11
X Clarke is a joke of a player lets be serious, i thought the Fiora trade over Pavlich was bad but geez this bloke is up there with Sampi as one of the worst top 10 picks of all time, he nevers get on the field, we could of had either bartel of the that freak from Geelong Johnson or even Polak but we go with Clarke, what a joke that was, it was bad enough choosing Ball over judd but that draft will haunt us for a very long time indeed!
 

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#12
How that top ten have performed tilll now:

1.Judd
2.Hodge
3.Bartell
4.Ball
5.Polak
5.Power
7.Hale
8.Clarke
9.Sampi
10.Molan
 
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#13
i am not going to name the 2-3 players i am very good friends with at the club but they r experienced players at the club and have told me that alot of players were pretty much forced into playing even when not 100%, the club during the thomas era didn't always goes as well with the players as everyone believes, i mean hamill walked out on the club for 3 days when Thomas 1st got appointed as he only went there cause Blight was going to coach, i know for a fact Hamill ws not happy at not being able to play in 2005 prem against syd when he declared to thomas he was fit. he himself pulled out of the 2004 prem final against Port when they wanted him to play but he said i don't think i will get thru the game, he was more then confident in 2005 but was told they weren't risking it even though he felt he was right!

Big Noter.

Credibility = Zero
 

paul55

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Thread starter #14
crediablity, our club doesnt have any, not when u have best m8's running the club abd creating a circus down there its bloody embarassing what has happ the last few yrs, this club will never go anywhere if blokes like butterrs and thomas r allowed to be there, we r a laughing stock of the comp and it hurts like hell what has happ the last few yrs, how the hell did we not at least make a grand final, Thomas is to blame that arrogant man!
 

Persevering Saint

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#15
crediablity, our club doesnt have any, not when u have best m8's running the club abd creating a circus down there its bloody embarassing what has happ the last few yrs, this club will never go anywhere if blokes like butterrs and thomas r allowed to be there, we r a laughing stock of the comp and it hurts like hell what has happ the last few yrs, how the hell did we not at least make a grand final, Thomas is to blame that arrogant man!
Learn the club motto. Then look up in the dictionary the definition of "SUPPORTer."

Best mates can run the club pretty darn well, when one of the things that makes them best mates is their love and dedication for StKFC and their zealous passion for it to succeed.

As for Raph being lousy, two things. One, as to the accusation he's slow, it's pretty hard to be fast when you have been barely able to walk because of a back complaint (Ross Lyon cited Raph's difficulty walking specifically as his main evidence for the fitness management problems) - his fitness-problems, as I've said, will soon be a thing of the past. Second, as to lack of footy brain, watch the kangas v saints match again, 2nd quarter: it's at our 50, big pack, Raph gets ball, instinctively threads a handball in congestion out to Dal, Dal kicks to Fraser in the goal square, mark, goal. Raph made something where there was nothing. Enough said.
 

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#16
X Clarke is a joke of a player lets be serious, i thought the Fiora trade over Pavlich was bad but geez this bloke is up there with Sampi as one of the worst top 10 picks of all time, he nevers get on the field, we could of had either bartel of the that freak from Geelong Johnson or even Polak but we go with Clarke, what a joke that was, it was bad enough choosing Ball over judd but that draft will haunt us for a very long time indeed!
That's the pure example of how to be and to become a joke of a supporter. Specially bashing a very good player. You'd love to be able to be as good as him.
 

Punter!

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#17
X Clarke is a joke of a player lets be serious, i thought the Fiora trade over Pavlich was bad but geez this bloke is up there with Sampi as one of the worst top 10 picks of all time, he nevers get on the field, we could of had either bartel of the that freak from Geelong Johnson or even Polak but we go with Clarke, what a joke that was, it was bad enough choosing Ball over judd but that draft will haunt us for a very long time indeed!
Could-of should-of gon-ah wann-a might-ah... piss off somewhere else if you're going to bag the recruiters in heinsight.

I think ross lyon has found a good spot for clarke as a medium sized half forward. He takes a good mark, has good goal sense and is quick of the mark. He played a really good game aginst sydney, kicked 2.2. He fits the o'keefe/buchanan mould well.

Ball is a sporting prodigy - cricket, football, tennis, hockey, athletics. He could have made it at a lot of sports. You can't teach his courage or recruit that genuine toughness. Judd had each of his shoulders reconstructed by the time he finished year 12! He was high risk. Im guessing if we chose judd in front of ball and judd broke down, you'd be here today saying "why did we pick a bloke who'd already had those sorts off injuries??"

Luke Ball will play 200+ games for the stkilda football club. Tell me that isn't a good draft pick.

The 2001 draft will not haunt us at all - pk2 ball, pk5 x clarke, pk13 dal santo, pk 21 maguire, pk 37 montagna. Solid draft for the club if you ask me numnuts.
 

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#18
Rough on Raph. The poor bastard cant escape injury.

or a tackle...he just F%#Ks up way too much just put him in the 2's for 3 weeks get some run in his legs in a slower paced enviroment he just cant make a decision you can see it in his eyes when he gets the ball he is $hit scared.
 
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