having cake .........and eating it !

[The Toolman]

Clarke isn't that much better than Biglands. Different players, different strengths.

Clarke doesn't have a sustained run of SANFL form yet.

Clarke is going to retire at year's end.

If Clarke does get a run of SANFL form, to me it makes no sense to replace Biglands with him, given that he's going to offer less around the ground, and has 10 games tops before he retires.

On the other hand, if Maric starts playing well, or Meesen gets his act together, to me it makes perfect sense (even if they offer less around the ground than Biglands would this week) to give them a few games as backup ruckman, given that you'd hope they've got 10 year careers ahead of them. A bit like the Dogs blooded Minson last year, and Essendon blooded Laycock.

But if we are likely to play finals this year, then we need to have in our best side. Clarke, in form, is still our best ruckman, whether he takes marks or not. As I have said in another post, if our midfielders can sustain their current good form, imagine Doc Clarke putting the ball down their throat at every stoppage.

Biglands is unreliable. Meeson and Maric are untried boys.....you don't go into finals with boys at the expense of a quality player who you know at very least, will give you first use of the ball.

 

[tribey]

HUH?

Biglands might be Hicham El Guerrouj as far as fitness is concerned, but if Clarke is ready, the inept Biglands will have to make way IMO!

I'm not the greatest Biglands fan either, but the man just played a stormer against Essendon - the highlight being his goal on the run from 60-65m out.

Why drop him for a vet in his final year who is yet to hit the park this season - and when he does he is useless except at bounces and throw-ins?

 

[The Toolman]

I'm not the greatest Biglands fan either, but the man just played a stormer against Essendon - the highlight being his goal on the run from 60-65m out.

Why drop him for a vet in his final year who is yet to hit the park this season - and when he does he is useless except at bounces and throw-ins?

Yeah fair point....let's hang on to Biglands because he finally kicked a goal and used a little of his athleticism after 100 games. Maybe, he's got another one in him. And his ruckwork was tremendous too. Those 12 hitouts were gems. What was I thinking? Rhett all is forgiven! Never again will I doubt you. You use that 6ft 5 monster frame to intimidate so well. That massive leap allows you to take those telling marks all over the ground. Your football brain should be compared to Jimmy Hird.

Please.

 

[marvin]

But if we are likely to play finals this year, then we need to have in our best side. Clarke, in form, is still our best ruckman, whether he takes marks or not. As I have said in another post, if our midfielders can sustain their current good form, imagine Doc Clarke putting the ball down their throat at every stoppage.

Hudson may not be as elegant as Clarke, but he's moved way past him on current form.

Biglands is unreliable. Meeson and Maric are untried boys.....you don't go into finals with boys at the expense of a quality player who you know at very least, will give you first use of the ball.

I'm not talking about a Grand Final here. I'm talking a hypothetical situation towards the end of this season, when Clarke is playing well for South and Maric / Meesen are travelling well for their clubs. I'd give one of the kids a run off the bench in place of Biglands.

Besides, we won two premierships with ruckmen who were playing their 3rd and 9th games of AFL football respectively.

 

[marvin]

Yeah fair point....let's hang on to Biglands because he finally kicked a goal and used a little of his athleticism after 100 games. Maybe, he's got another one in him. And his ruckwork was tremendous too. Those 12 hitouts were gems. What was I thinking? Rhett all is forgiven! Never again will I doubt you. You use that 6ft 5 monster frame to intimidate so well. That massive leap allows you to take those telling marks all over the ground. Your football brain should be compared to Jimmy Hird.

Please.

So quoth the Matthew Clarke advocate?

 

[DJ75]

To me there is not doubt about Clarke replacing Biglands or Hudson....it simply should not happen! I'm no Biglands fan, but South coach Robert Pyman picks Hedge and King (anyone heard of them? No?!) ahead of Clarke. Remember the last game Clarke played was in South's reserves when he broke his hand. Not sure if he is playing this weekend, but it isn't in the league side! That should tell you how far away he is from returning to the AFL!
From what I hear at this stage Maric>>>>>Meeson>Clarke in likelyhood of being picked.

 

[The Toolman]

So quoth the Matthew Clarke advocate?

Maybe Clarke can't mark, but he can tap to perfection. I wonder what Rhett's strengths are? Great body?

 

[Crow-mosone]

Hudson may not be as elegant as Clarke, but he's moved way past him on current form.

Quite rightly too. seeing as Clarke has been injured

 

[tribey]

Yeah fair point....let's hang on to Biglands because he finally kicked a goal and used a little of his athleticism after 100 games. Maybe, he's got another one in him. And his ruckwork was tremendous too. Those 12 hitouts were gems. What was I thinking? Rhett all is forgiven! Never again will I doubt you. You use that 6ft 5 monster frame to intimidate so well. That massive leap allows you to take those telling marks all over the ground. Your football brain should be compared to Jimmy Hird.

Please.

Just like a psychic predicting the effects of an earthquake in the Ruhr...

I sense a fair bit of Saar chasm.

 

[Jericho30]

I must say, I never thought having too many good players would be such a problem

 

[Alex99]

To me there is not doubt about Clarke replacing Biglands or Hudson....it simply should not happen! I'm no Biglands fan, but South coach Robert Pyman picks Hedge and King (anyone heard of them? No?!) ahead of Clarke. Remember the last game Clarke played was in South's reserves when he broke his hand. Not sure if he is playing this weekend, but it isn't in the league side! That should tell you how far away he is from returning to the AFL!
From what I hear at this stage Maric>>>>>Meeson>Clarke in likelyhood of being picked.

The Adelaide Crows coaching staff only wanted Mathew Clark to play half a game with South Adelaide that round. M Clark played in the magoos to keep the integrity of the SANFL competition and also allowing the South Adelaide league side the best change at winning, the crows only wanted him to play a half of football so instead of playing in the A and saying that he could go play the second half he played in the seconds. It was only for fitness any way.