Lets talk about Raphael Clarke

[AFLOnline]

What's with the sudden obsessions with Raph at the moment? I'll admit he strung a few good games together at the end of 2008, especially against Geelong, but his still got terribad skills, worse awareness than Koschitzke and slower than... a porkypine? <_< lol

Anyhow, I'd like to see him have a full good pre-season, let alone a full season before I go calling him a star.

 

[TassieSaint]

Re: Lets talk about Xavier Clarke

Maybe it's because in his 3 of his last 4 games he displayed great skills, good awareness and great drive drive from the backline, not to mention safe hands and was a completely changed player?

By the way he had a shocker against Geelong, it was against the pies he dominated, so your dodgy memory on how well he actually played at the end of the season might explain your lack of excitement toward him as a prospect for 2009.

 

[Modra93]

Re: Lets talk about Xavier Clarke

He also played loose and Collingwood literally just bombed the ball long straight to him by himself many times.

 

[dan0z]

Re: Lets talk about Xavier Clarke

......has raph started training yet>??
anyone seen or heard how he is going?

 

[Rough_Edges]

Re: Lets talk about Xavier Clarke

......has raph started training yet>??
anyone seen or heard how he is going?

Trained prety well on monday IIRC.

In the main group etc.

 

[Sainters66]

Re: Lets talk about Xavier Clarke

What's with the sudden obsessions with Raph at the moment? I'll admit he strung a few good games together at the end of 2008, especially against Geelong, but his still got terribad skills, worse awareness than Koschitzke and slower than... a porkypine? <_< lol

Anyhow, I'd like to see him have a full good pre-season, let alone a full season before I go calling him a star.

You're wrong!.................

 

[Kildonan]

AFLOnline - I cut out the posts that were chiefly about Raph in the Xavier thread and started a new thread. I would encourage you to talk about the positives of our players rather than exaggerating the negatives (which I might add are only your opinion yet stated as if it were fact). Please refer to the board rules.

Last year I was impressed at how Raph had bulked up, especially upper chest and shoulders. I met Raph at the Gold Coast function in December 2008. He looks good again this year - he might not be quite as big, but he looks ripped, not an ounce of fat. In fact I reckon most senior players were slightly trimmer this year with the exception of Luke Ball - he is all muscle.

Just as an aside, before the function, I saw Sam Fisher after he exited the pool and walked back to the lifts in his trunks. There were two gorgeous promotional girls there for some other reason. Their jaws just dropped as he walked past them. He couldn't help but flex his muscles a little to show off. He is seriously ripped, every muscle in his back stood out really well defined like a body sculpter's. He kept walking, leaving these stunners panting

 

[Rough_Edges]

Re: Lets talk about Xavier Clarke

He also played loose and Collingwood literally just bombed the ball long straight to him by himself many times.

lol.

Fair enough be negitive.

But negitising (is that a word ) the main guys is just boring and wrong.


Raph took a massive jump towards the end of the last season and did some of his very best work.

Something for us all to be excited about.

 

[John Bonney]

Re: Lets talk about Xavier Clarke

lol.

Fair enough be negitive.

But negitising (is that a word ) the main guys is just boring and wrong.


Raph took a massive jump towards the end of the last season and did some of his very best work.

Something for us all to be excited about.

Bear that in mind with your own previous criticism of our young players,David Armitage in particular.

 

[Modra93]

Re: Lets talk about Xavier Clarke

lol.

Fair enough be negitive.

But negitising (is that a word ) the main guys is just boring and wrong.


Raph took a massive jump towards the end of the last season and did some of his very best work.

Something for us all to be excited about.

Just being realistic. yeah he played well, but bare in mind the collingwood midfield played terrible, teams arent just gonna kick it to him like they did in that game

 

[AFLOnline]

Did a mod turn this into a thread? lol..

 

[AFLOnline]

Re: Lets talk about Xavier Clarke

By the way he had a shocker against Geelong, it was against the pies he dominated, so your dodgy memory on how well he actually played at the end of the season might explain your lack of excitement toward him as a prospect for 2009.

My bad I meant Hawthorn.

Don't get me wrong, I think he could have a great 09, but the way I see it is some of the people on here are talking him up more than a Carlton fan talking up Matthew Kreuzer or Bryce Gibbs.

Maybe we should just keep him on the low down and let him be our surprise weapon?

 

[AFLOnline]

Re: Lets talk about Xavier Clarke

You're wrong!.................

Oh fair enough. Thanks for the insightful post. I see how wrong I truly was now....

 

[AFLOnline]

AFLOnline - I cut out the posts that were chiefly about Raph in the Xavier thread and started a new thread.

Oh that explains it.

I would encourage you to talk about the positives of our players rather than exaggerating the negatives (which I might add are only your opinion yet stated as if it were fact). Please refer to the board rules.

Exaggerating? Fair enough, I did talk him down a bit but I still find these to be his biggest weaknesses that he needs to work on. However, I would be exaggerating if I were too say he is going to be a 'star' in 2009 like most of the members on here say. He will surely be a great player, just not in the 'star' category just yet.

Sure he was a handy player for us in the last month or so of football, and proved to us all he wasn't completely useless like most AFL critics labeled him (I've always thought he would shine). But I still stand by my statement that I believe he needs to work on his skills, pace, awareness and execution in my opinion. I think 90% of Saints fans in general would agree with me.

However, his proven he can take a grab and find the ball, which are good positives, especially for a defender.

Last year I was impressed at how Raph had bulked up, especially upper chest and shoulders. I met Raph at the Gold Coast function. He looks good again this year - he might not be quite as big, but he looks ripped, not an ounce of fat. In fact I reckon most senior players were slightly trimmer this year with the exception of Luke Ball - he is all muscle.

Well that's good news. By the way, don't get me wrong. I think he will be more than a handy player for us in '09, I just don't think he quite deserves the 'exaggeration' as you'd say, of being a superstar this season. I'd like too see him prove himself and play more games first. ^_^

And you're not wrong about Bally Tank.

Just as an aside, before the function, I saw Sam Fisher after he exited the pool and walked back to the lifts in his trunks. There were two gorgeous promotional girls there for some other reason. Their jaws just dropped as he walked past them. He couldn't help but flex his muscles a little to show off. He is seriously ripped, every muscle in his back stood out really well defined like a body sculpter's. He kept walking, leaving these stunners panting

Just when I thought he couldn't get any better. I stand corrected

 

[Kildonan]

Good post AFLOnline

 

[AFLOnline]

Lol thankyou ^_^ Good reply haha

 

[Kildonan]

I have heard of cases where our players have ventured online and have been very upset at what their own fans are saying about them. I have my suspicions that the forum they were talking about was SS but I am not sure. It has led to a general policy for them of not bothering with reading forums in general. I would like to think that if any players were curious, that they would not find a string of hurtful posts or insults here.

If we were discussing a match and a player did something disappointing, then negative comment is understandable. Even in threads like this we find that negative comment is unavoidable, I simply want it to be more realistic.

 

[dg102]

Thats exactly right! I know where all this negativity is coming from, but its not really fair. Raph Clarke played some very good football towards the end of the season and so did Gwilt. This came as a direct result of being given more freedom to run the ball. And they both did this exceptionally well. Given Gram pushing into midfield, these two have more of a running back role now. Gwilt also played around the forward line alot in the end of the season and took some really good marks. Dont forget Raph has been seriously injured for most of his career before 08.
And I just want to add on Armatige after reading the negativity on him. Dont forget this guy is in development. He improved alot last year, some of his hard ball work was very good. Given enough game time he is one of our best Prospects, if not the best.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I've seen Gwilt play some good footy but I can't recall seing it in the backline. I don't believe it is a good position for him.
Similarly in VFL he could play midfield, but is a bit off the pace at AFL.
I believe his one hope in making the grade is as a forward. He seems to have the kicking and marking skills to make a reasonable impact in the forward line. He needs to improve his own confidence and that of the team. I believe that if the opposition had their best defenders playing on Riewoldt then a kick to Gwilt is a good option.

 

[The Punter]

No doubt that Gwilt's best position is half forward, and while R Clarke could be useful across half-forward, his calmness is better suited for half-back. He's also a reasonably good kick.

I just think he's never had his body right (2005 was the closest he got), and you could see his confidence rise after stringing back-to-back-to-back quality appearances in the finals. I am eagerly awaiting seeing him run out this year.

 

[Squizz]

Agree that Gwilt has been played out of position, and whilst he reads the play pretty well, is very strong over the ball, and kicks a nice ball he ain't the speedster Ross Lyon makes him out to be.

As for Raph, it is arguable that he shouldn't have been playing at all if his back was what the club later revealed (and then some subsequent other issues).

The club has not been able to cotton wool Goose, Bally and X when they should have (and add Raph as well).

 

[Jimmy 35]

im not sure how he'll start this season but after a few games i think he will be a solid player, putting his body on the line when necassary and giving 100% all the time

 

[Joffaboy]

I have heard of cases where our players have ventured online and have been very upset at what their own fans are saying about them. I have my suspicions that the forum they were talking about was SS but I am not sure.

It was SS. And it was the hate and vitriol spewed toward Raph that was highlighted.

It was nothing short of disgraceful - and the fools and closet racists (because the attacks and both Raph and X over there went much further than their playing skills) looked like total ignoramouses when it was revealed that Raph had been diagnoses with Epilepsy.

Getting the medication right is a difficult thing with such a condition and his medication may have had a lot to do with his early form.

When he came back later in the year he looked totally transformed - ran quicker - was surer of hand and foot - and his decision making was so much better than earlier in the season he literally looked like a different player.

Couple this with his fathers terminal illness and Raph had the season from hell - no wonder he didn't look good - mind and body was not right.

I was so thrilled with Raph in the latter part of the season last year. lets hope with a full preseason - his medical condition under control - and the greif of his dads illness and death somewhat subsiding - that he powers on in 2009 and becomes the player he is capable of.

 

[swansfan51]

It was SS. And it was the hate and vitriol spewed toward Raph that was highlighted.

It was nothing short of disgraceful - and the fools and closet racists (because the attacks and both Raph and X over there went much further than their playing skills) looked like total ignoramouses when it was revealed that Raph had been diagnoses with Epilepsy.

Getting the medication right is a difficult thing with such a condition and his medication may have had a lot to do with his early form.

When he came back later in the year he looked totally transformed - ran quicker - was surer of hand and foot - and his decision making was so much better than earlier in the season he literally looked like a different player.

Couple this with his fathers terminal illness and Raph had the season from hell - no wonder he didn't look good - mind and body was not right.

I was so thrilled with Raph in the latter part of the season last year. lets hope with a full preseason - his medical condition under control - and the greif of his dads illness and death somewhat subsiding - that he powers on in 2009 and becomes the player he is capable of.

I was just linked to this thread by someone else - do you think it is make or break time for Raphael? The club has shown a lot of faith in him and made a continued commitment over quite a few seasons. While I totally understand your argument that he has great talent and could be a good player if circumstances change, it can't be disputed that there are dozens of talented players each year who fail to make the grade in the AFL and end up on the scrapheap. Do you think this season is his last chance to establish himself at the Saints, or do you think the club will continue to support and persist with him?

Also a few more quick questions - what role do you see him being able to play for St Kilda? Clarke does not strike me as being an elite ball winner or massive possession gainer, so where/how do you think he best fits into the side and what role will he play? Or is that incorrect and do you seem him as being a heavy possession player? Last year there was a famous push towards a more accountable style of play, with Dal Santo, a fantastically creative and skillful player, even being dropped because it was felt that his commitment off the ball and pressure in defence were not up to scratch. Is that still a priority at St Kilda, and do you feel that the Clarke brothers fit this mould or do they provide other benefits?

Best,
swansfan51 (and see you in round 1 of course!)

 

[seanoff]

looked very smooth and confident in the all stars game.

played as a key defender. disposal and decision making looked very similar to his last 6 games of last yr. pretty impressive.

the cows didn't kick many goals.