I am not sure I have seen a worse 3-week * patch of football from a supposed Number 1 defender for a very long time.
Aside from the fact he couldn't get close to Neitz this week, a guy with two dodgy knees, and Polak last week, he doesn't even appear to want to. Since his return he has barely made a spoil (I can remember one easy one tonight where he had the sit and could pick it off), grabbed onto his opponent if he is within reach at all, and otherwise followed along behind his opponent like a trailer.
But that is not my main concern. He has also fumbled everything he gets his hands on, has panicked under pressure to a degree where his courage must be questioned, his kicking and decision making have both been poor, and has side-stepped marking contests and gone with one hand when he needed to put his body on the line.
He still gets talked up because he gets an abundance of cheap possessions off half back, but he lacks the real run and penetration he once had as well.
If you think I am being hard on him, take another look at the tape from any of the last three* games, and ignoring the loose possessions, count the number of times Clement wins the football on his own merit and uses it effectively, and compare that to the number of times he pulls out, fumbles, or trails his opponent.
Even better, next time you are at a game, watch Clement when his direct opponent takes a mark or kicks a goal. He has an amazing ability to disappear from the area and make it look like someone else's problem.
I know he is someone that usually takes a long time to find form, and I know he missed a long period through injury, but on present form Clement is not only not in our best 22, his soft performances actually have a negative impact on the team.
* Edit: Thanks to mydarlingclementine for pointing out just how long the last three matches have felt!!!
Aside from the fact he couldn't get close to Neitz this week, a guy with two dodgy knees, and Polak last week, he doesn't even appear to want to. Since his return he has barely made a spoil (I can remember one easy one tonight where he had the sit and could pick it off), grabbed onto his opponent if he is within reach at all, and otherwise followed along behind his opponent like a trailer.
But that is not my main concern. He has also fumbled everything he gets his hands on, has panicked under pressure to a degree where his courage must be questioned, his kicking and decision making have both been poor, and has side-stepped marking contests and gone with one hand when he needed to put his body on the line.
He still gets talked up because he gets an abundance of cheap possessions off half back, but he lacks the real run and penetration he once had as well.
If you think I am being hard on him, take another look at the tape from any of the last three* games, and ignoring the loose possessions, count the number of times Clement wins the football on his own merit and uses it effectively, and compare that to the number of times he pulls out, fumbles, or trails his opponent.
Even better, next time you are at a game, watch Clement when his direct opponent takes a mark or kicks a goal. He has an amazing ability to disappear from the area and make it look like someone else's problem.
I know he is someone that usually takes a long time to find form, and I know he missed a long period through injury, but on present form Clement is not only not in our best 22, his soft performances actually have a negative impact on the team.
* Edit: Thanks to mydarlingclementine for pointing out just how long the last three matches have felt!!!
I think not.
