Clint Bartram Humble Pie Thread

[Bartram_Class]

Line up folks.

Who thought Bartram was on his way out in 2010?

Fear not, I'll start.

This is my quote in February:

Treading water. I just can't find a space for him in the side.

We've got enough talent in there now not to need an out-and-out tagger, and he's not good enough by foot to play in the back pocket IMO. Bailey's got the right (see easier) idea in attempting to take someone like Jones and make him accountable, rather than taking Bartram and expecting him to learn how to be a prolific midfielder.

Bartram has gone from fringe, depth player to an important cog in a good team. A year ago, if we could have seen our side this week and predicted who would come out for Beamer and Trengove, Bartram's name would be the first on most people's lips. This week, his name has not been mentioned once.

76 games under his belt now, 17/18 this season (barring the Round 1 massacre) and no real competition in sight for his spot. The greatest compliment I can play to Clint at the moment is that if he went down with an injury, I think we'd really miss him. Strauss is not ready and Cheney looks a way off it.

 

[Rojik of the Arctic]

I'll have a slice. Didn't think he was up to it but I've been very impressed this year. He just needs to take a clanger kick out or two his game each week.

 

[Biffinator]

I'll have a slice. Didn't think he was up to it but I've been very impressed this year. He just needs to take a clanger kick out or two his game each week.

yeah, I will have a double serving please. I still have reservations that he wears the Number 3 jumper, but he certainly deserves another contract.

 

[Demon 16]

Yes I need a slice of the pie please. He's exceeded my expectations.

Glad youll keep your user name for another 2 seasons too BC..

 

[CM Sean]

I've always been one of the biggest fans of Bartram, so to see him doing so well to the point that these type of threads are created, actually makes my day.

 

[Surkin]

Any pie left? Serve me up a generous portion.

Has had a terrific year. Would not surprise me at all to see him top 5 in the best and fairest at season's end. Something I never imagined him being capable of.

 

[stickman11]

Any pie left? Serve me up a generous portion.

Has had a terrific year. Would not surprise me at all to see him top 5 in the best and fairest at season's end. Something I never imagined him being capable of.

He is hard at it, nobody has ever doubted that, but disposals let him down big time. Can you afford have so many clangers down back?

Time will tell!

 

[Bartram_Class]

He is hard at it, nobody has ever doubted that, but disposals let him down big time. Can you afford have so many clangers down back?

Time will tell!

Confirmation bias at work here I think Stickman, here are the actual figures for players with the most clangers this year:

1. Scully - 59
2. Jamar - 54
3. Davey - 51
4. Moloney - 50
5. Sylvia - 45
....
...
...
20. Bartram - 19

He's going at about 1 clanger a game. Chances are however, that because most people expect him to turn the ball over, we're more likely to notice it when it happens and make a mental note of it confirming our initial prejudice.

Whilst we're on stats, he's also sitting at 3rd for disposal efficiency, but considering the Pencil is topping that list, not sure how much we can take from that.

 

[d33my]

None for me thanks. Always been a big supporter of Bartram, it always annoyed me in the 'team changes' threads he was often peoples first to go, usually just because he hadn't appeared to get many kicks etc

Before we all go select him for AA, its true his disposal isn't great, but thats the sort of thing that comes with confidence and training. the intangible stuff, the hard at it body on the line stuff, well IMO that can't be taught. You either have it or you don't.

ALSO RE your stats above BC, one reason he might be not near the top of the clanger list is because he will choose an easy option over a more precise kick ie kicking backwards or sideways rather than trying to pinpoint a pass forward. Someone described it perfectly on this forum when they observed that clint will often see a really good option, size it up, decide its too risky and then kick backwards/sideways. I reckon that was spot on.
But an interesting discussion, anyway.

 

[Spirit of 26]

Against the Swans he kicked the ball out on the full twice when trying to hit targets upfield, with no real pressure. Got away with that then, but wouldn't against better sides.

Still have been pleased with his reading of the play, marking and not panicking with his decisions.

 

[d33my]

Yeh, I remember those kicks Spirit of 26. I honestly think that if it hadn't been for those couple he would have got near the bests that day (tough day to break into it too).

 

[saj_21]

Confirmation bias at work here I think Stickman, here are the actual figures for players with the most clangers this year:

1. Scully - 59
2. Jamar - 54
3. Davey - 51
4. Moloney - 50
5. Sylvia - 45
....
...
...
20. Bartram - 19

He's going at about 1 clanger a game. Chances are however, that because most people expect him to turn the ball over, we're more likely to notice it when it happens and make a mental note of it confirming our initial prejudice.

Whilst we're on stats, he's also sitting at 3rd for disposal efficiency, but considering the Pencil is topping that list, not sure how much we can take from that.

Good work BC, both of us have stuck for Bartram all year and im glad a few others are now jumping on board. Good work with the stats to, Bartram does get less of the ball than the others in your top 5 (minus Jamar) but wat ur stats show is he isn't wasteful.

He may not get a lot of it but uses when he does get it. IMO it is a bit of a myth that Bartram is wasteful or turns it over a lot, if you compared disposals vs turnover, he would be no worse than high possesion winners such as Davey, Moloney, Sylvia, Bruce etc.

 

[stretcharmstrong]

Hook me up with a slice.

He has impressed me the last 5 or 6 weeks that's for sure. And, as others have stated, his spot is safe for the time being. Surprised to see his "clanger ranking" too...

He still worries me when he gets his hands on the ball though, despite what those stats say.

Carry on Clint.

 

[cannons]

Yeah, I'll take the remainder of the pie.

To be honest, when I saw him named for Rd 2 against Collingwood I wasn't too impressed, but after seeing him play this year it's pretty obvious that he's become an important part of the team.

With Clint, it isn't about what he does with the ball, it's about what he does to stop others from getting the ball, and that is something he does very well. He's still a terrible kick in my view, but so long as he looks for a safe option and endeavours to put the ball in the hands of someone who is more skilful, then I don't have too many worries in that respect.

Good luck to him

 

[Crimson Azure]

No thanks I'm full (of myself that is ). I don't recall saying a bad word about the kid & I have at times defended him so I won't take a slice but I will say it’s great to see what we all thought he was capable of after his debut season in 2006.

 

[Deefolt]

I am with a few of the suggestions, that has been my only critique of him. Still think he is a fantastic tackler. Always have, his odd kicks have been higher in the past but he has cut them down.

So that says enormous amounts on him.

 

[Deestroy]

I'll take a slice. He does so many smart things in traffic; tapping the ball to a teammate, blocking, tackling at the right time and is much better one-on-one defensively than I had thought.

Like others have said he still has issues with his disposal even when under no pressure. If he can cut down those basic errors he will be an ideal small defender.

 

[Gazza_11]

I've been one of his bigger endorsers, proud to say. Shattered when he was injured.

 

[demon21]

Fair to say at the start of the year I thought he was just about gone im glad to be wrong he has been really good this year.

I also though the same thing about Dunn as well and he is starting to play some good footy i think it helps that he knows his role now.

 

[Captain Jack]

Have we made more pie yet? I want some.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Yep, there would be a few around here eating some humble pie on Bartam. I've been a fan of his since day 1. Just love his work ethic. He's clearly been one of our big improvers. Taking over where Whelan left. One of the first picked each week. Now, he just needs to work on his kicking over summer. If he can improve his kicking by 20%-30% he will be one of the best back pockets in the game in years to come. I predict a top 5 B&F finish for Bartram this year....

 

[proka123]

I've always been one of the biggest fans of Bartram, so to see him doing so well to the point that these type of threads are created, actually makes my day.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Was very annoyed earlier in the season and last year when his name was always first up to be dropped. It looks like he is finally getting over that horrific ankle injury he suffered in his first year. He is now starting to come into his own. Can't wait to see how he goes in his first final.

 

[stretcharmstrong]

Great post dcrock

 

[Mr Rude]

Ill hold off on the humble pie eating.

As good he has been the past month he still turns the ball over way too often. If his defensive pressure, which has been fantastic, drops of juts a bit he will be back to Casey.

Happy with his year but he has to keep this sort of form up for a couple more years.

 

[Dez!]

Ill hold off on the humble pie eating.

As good he has been the past month he still turns the ball over way too often. If his defensive pressure, which has been fantastic, drops of juts a bit he will be back to Casey.

Happy with his year but he has to keep this sort of form up for a couple more years.

He's only averaging a touch over one turnover a game which is excellent for a defender.

Also it's not his defensive pressure that's his strength, it's his shutting down ability. He has consistently shut down every small defender he's played on, far too harsh on him there.

Can't remember if I have actually slagged Bartram on BF, probably a few posts a while ago but can't be arsed going to look someone else do it.