This thread is dedicated to Xavier Clarke.
Turning 26 this year the X man has played 105 games for StKilda and kicked 49 goals. He is an indiginous player who was drafted from St Marys in the Northern Territory with selection #5 in the 2001 National Draft.
Despite much criticism X is a brilliant player when fit with amazing talent, however is not durable, and often finds himself on the sideline.
Xavier is quick, hard at it, has decent foot skills and is a good tackler. He can break the line when playing in the backline and pop up for a goal when forward. I find that he is most effective off the half back line, adding skill and pace. He can also take a hanger.
Often refered to as the 'Clarkes', Xavier and brother Raphael cop some serious flack for being shit. Now i'll admit I am not a fan of Raph as I believe he has terrible awareness, and doesnt have the required attack on the ball nor football brain, but I don't think it is fair on Xavier to be judged by his brothers performances (two finals playing loose doesnt quite cut it Raph).
I am sick of hearing people talk about how 'shit' Xavier is when he is genuinely a good player who unfortunately we will never see the best of due to his terrible run with injury.
Whether or not this moron has ever seen X play I don't know. I assume he hasn't. Yeah a lot of aboriginal players can been seen as soft, because they are generally outside players, but how X man can be called that when he is genuinely a player who attacks the ball hard (which in many cases has left him injured).
I really look forward to seeeing Xavier playing this year, Ross said on 3aw that they also believe his best footy is played from behind the ball so hopefully that means morre half back flank. If he can have a solid preseason and an uninterupted year (remembering that both brothers years were again interupted last year by the death of their father) there is no doubt Xavier will prove many of the doubters wrong. Good luck X
Turning 26 this year the X man has played 105 games for StKilda and kicked 49 goals. He is an indiginous player who was drafted from St Marys in the Northern Territory with selection #5 in the 2001 National Draft.
Despite much criticism X is a brilliant player when fit with amazing talent, however is not durable, and often finds himself on the sideline.
Xavier is quick, hard at it, has decent foot skills and is a good tackler. He can break the line when playing in the backline and pop up for a goal when forward. I find that he is most effective off the half back line, adding skill and pace. He can also take a hanger.
Often refered to as the 'Clarkes', Xavier and brother Raphael cop some serious flack for being shit. Now i'll admit I am not a fan of Raph as I believe he has terrible awareness, and doesnt have the required attack on the ball nor football brain, but I don't think it is fair on Xavier to be judged by his brothers performances (two finals playing loose doesnt quite cut it Raph).
I am sick of hearing people talk about how 'shit' Xavier is when he is genuinely a good player who unfortunately we will never see the best of due to his terrible run with injury.
Whether or not this moron has ever seen X play I don't know. I assume he hasn't. Yeah a lot of aboriginal players can been seen as soft, because they are generally outside players, but how X man can be called that when he is genuinely a player who attacks the ball hard (which in many cases has left him injured).
I really look forward to seeeing Xavier playing this year, Ross said on 3aw that they also believe his best footy is played from behind the ball so hopefully that means morre half back flank. If he can have a solid preseason and an uninterupted year (remembering that both brothers years were again interupted last year by the death of their father) there is no doubt Xavier will prove many of the doubters wrong. Good luck X
