Marty back at the Pies

[lgarth80]

Rather than be forced to be a more skilled Ben Johnson for his career, which seems to be the low bar Mick set for him.

TBH I think his main role in our team would be to replace Johnson once he retires.
If he developed half the defensive qualities that BJ did, I'd be absolutely stoked.

From what I saw, he was very average defensively. I'm not sure that he will find it easy to get a game if we keep our gameplan the same - in other words a high pressure turnover game up forward, and a tight "no easy kicks" game down back.

So - my thinking is if Marty is going to return, and play off the back line, I can see us using the press when it's in our attack, and in the defence, we will use the Hawthorn chip and charge game, with Marty being used as an attacking runner.

Marty's passing game would not be out of line saying he would be something like Guerra/Suckling/Birchall.

That said who knows, maybe he's there to replace Didak up forward!

 

[Daicos Mullets]

Excellent news! Now I can bring out of retirement my 2008 Clarke #18 guernsey!

 

[Crazy Tails]

Excellent news! Now I can bring out of retirement my 2008 Clarke #18 guernsey!

Might have to get a new number on it. Not sure jols will be that keen to give up his premiership winning number.

 

[blaze036]

I think he'll try move to a wing/forward role in 2012 with johno playing on

 

[scruffydog]

Hmm.

Let's look at the facts:-

1. Marty has been out of the game for 2 years.
2. He has been playing a semi-professional sport, which means he won't be completely unfit, but he certainly won't be anywhere near AFL-level fit.
3. When he left, he wasn't in our best 22.
4. We have a much better side then, with a much better 22.

Honestly, pick 25 for a player who may never even get a game seems like a bit much. I know he wasn't terrible for us, we all liked Marty, but... well, I just hope this Elliot kid is good to make up for what appears to be a huge price to pay. He's honestly worth pick 40 at most.

 

[HFF]

^^^ Fitness will not be an issue with Clarke. He was always in the top 2 every year in the fitness tests- he will come back and it will be like he never left from that regard.

He may not be an automatic best 22 player but with Benny Johnson's pending retirement, ditto Davis' his inclusion/return to our side at 23 years old is very important.

We got great value out of the deal when you look at it very closely and see what areas in our list needed to be addressed.

 

[Bloben]

Even if Marty wasn't to get a game in 2012 and he spent the year on improving in the VFL, we would have a ready made replacement at 25 years of age in 2013 for the HBB to take the recently retired spots of Davis and BJ.

I think he will play in 2012 though. He may not play 22 games however he showed us last time how rapid his rate of improvement is. I think that he will surprise again.

 

[Ed D]

TBH I think his main role in our team would be to replace Johnson once he retires.
If he developed half the defensive qualities that BJ did, I'd be absolutely stoked.

From what I saw, he was very average defensively. I'm not sure that he will find it easy to get a game if we keep our gameplan the same - in other words a high pressure turnover game up forward, and a tight "no easy kicks" game down back.

Not true about him having no defensive skills or pressure, he was doing well off the half back flank and also as a tagger. He was averaging close to 3 tackles a game when he got going and that was before we had the press happening. He'll be fine, it could just take a while to understand his role again and get match fitness, although he was very quick to pick it up the first time around.

Hmm.

Let's look at the facts:-

1. Marty has been out of the game for 2 years.
2. He has been playing a semi-professional sport, which means he won't be completely unfit, but he certainly won't be anywhere near AFL-level fit.
3. When he left, he wasn't in our best 22.
4. We have a much better side then, with a much better 22.

Honestly, pick 25 for a player who may never even get a game seems like a bit much. I know he wasn't terrible for us, we all liked Marty, but... well, I just hope this Elliot kid is good to make up for what appears to be a huge price to pay. He's honestly worth pick 40 at most.

2 and 3 aren't true. Like what was said above, Clarke was always in our fittest players at the club, including in his first year with us. Also in his final year he played the opening 12 rounds before getting injured and losing his passion/getting home sick, and he never got back into the team.

Marty wasn't near hitting his peak either, he was in his 3rd year of learning the game and had already put together 40 odd games. If he's committed he'll make the side.