Marty Clarke makes stunning debut

[didaka]

The thing about these Irish blokes defecting to league footy without playing as a kid is that they come to league footy with absolutely no bad habits, and the teams which select them as rookies can mould them and teach them in anyway they choose and they are the best at it. A guy that has been kicking with an awkward style, say Ben Johnson, since he has been playing has no chance of ever rectifying his action, where as Marty Clarke who has only just picked up a footy is learning with the best in the field from the get go.

It's like a tradesman hiring an apprentice without experience so that he can train him to his liking instead of hiring someone in the business for 2 years thats picked up bad habits from someone else.

That is my reasoning for the Irish success.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I think there are more than Quigley, it's merely a point, and also conceding that I don't have any stats on the subject. If anyone does have a list of Irish players who've come out and given AFL a go, it would be interesting reading.

It would be naive to think Quigley is the only one who didn't work out.

 

[The Majestic]

Would Clarke be playing in the NAB Cup game?

 

[Jabso]

Who is he?

As FIGJAM would say final warning.

Lets assume the draft was held tomorrow and clarke nominated, where would he go??

If we had a fantasy draft where every AFL player was drafted, Martin Clarke would be #1.

Would Clarke be playing in the NAB Cup game?

Martin Clarke = NAB Cup prizemoney in the bank.

 

[ant22]

I think there are more than Quigley, it's merely a point, and also conceding that I don't have any stats on the subject. If anyone does have a list of Irish players who've come out and given AFL a go, it would be interesting reading.

It would be naive to think Quigley is the only one who didn't work out.

And I am not saying he is. But I don't know of any others and either do you so it does seem the success rate is high.

 

[Jabso]

In all seriousness the fact that he has gone very well in his first game of footy is thanks to the clubs initiative in visiting Martin Clarke, giving him a football and sending him to a couple of training camps in London to see if he really was interested in playing AFL, if he had the skill AND if he was willing to work at it.

 

[Jabso]

And I am not saying he is. But I don't know of any others and either do you so it does seem the success rate is high.

This argument is irrelevant as Martin Clarke is Northern Irish not Irish

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Originally posted by ant22

And I am not saying he is. But I don't know of any others and either do you so it does seem the success rate is high.

Here's a bit more info on the Irish Experiment. No. of games played in brackets.

Success Stories
Jim Stynes (264)
Sean Wight (89)
Tadgh Kennelly (145*)

Still Listed
Setanta O'hAilpin (23*)
Aisake O'hAilpin (0*)
Colm Begley (4*)
Martin Clarke (0*)

Less Successful
Brian Stynes (2)
Dermott McNicholl (3)
Paul Early (1)
Kevin Devine (0)
Bernie Collins (0)
Nicholas Walsh (0)
Declan O'Mahoney (0)
Brendan Quigley (0)

These are just the players I've been able to find so far. Not quite so convincing a success rate now, huh? Don't get me wrong, I want Martin Clarke to succeed as badly as everyone else here, but I can't accept that there's less risk involved in drafting an (Northern) Irish talent as opposed to a home-grown one. Let's hope he continues to develop at the amazing rate we're hearing about, and he can be an addition to the "success stories" chapter.

 

[The Majestic]

I wouldn't read much into the failures, it appeared that Quigley lacked the desire and the heart to play Australian Rules, Clarke sounds like he wants to play Aussie rules, at least by doing all that training he has been doing and the improvements he is making.

 

[Horsebox]

This argument is irrelevant as Martin Clarke is Northern Irish not Irish

If you ever meet him, don't say that to him. He won't be impressed.

 

[powerpies]

This argument is irrelevant as Martin Clarke is Northern Irish not Irish

where Belfast ? Sligo ?

 

[sloth6]

Just got off the phone with Gary Davies from Sportsbet, he has listed Clarke as equal favourite for the Brownlow with Chris Judd.

Also got some nice odds for the Norm Smith, Coleman and Brownlow Medal treble.

 

[Therussian]

Just got off the phone with Gary Davies from Sportsbet, he has listed Clarke as equal favourite for the Brownlow with Chris Judd.

Also got some nice odds for the Norm Smith, Coleman and Brownlow Medal treble.

thats funny cos a red haid bloke wearing a navy blue top with a red yoke (think he had a number 10 on his backk) just gave me $50 and said can you put this on Martin Clarke from collingwood to win the brownlow/coupled with melbourne to lose their first 5 games, he said he'd do it but was in a bit of strife at the moment, seemed like a nice fella

 

[Jabso]

If you ever meet him, don't say that to him. He won't be impressed.

Why? Northern Ireland and Ireland are 2 different countries. I remember someone giving a link to some myspace type thing Clarke had that he has now made private where he is boasting about 'Norn Iron" beating England in soccer.

 

[ant22]

Originally posted by ant22


Here's a bit more info on the Irish Experiment. No. of games played in brackets.

Success Stories
Jim Stynes (264)
Sean Wight (89)
Tadgh Kennelly (145*)

Still Listed
Setanta O'hAilpin (23*)
Aisake O'hAilpin (0*)
Colm Begley (4*)
Martin Clarke (0*)

Less Successful
Brian Stynes (2)
Dermott McNicholl (3)
Paul Early (1)
Kevin Devine (0)
Bernie Collins (0)
Nicholas Walsh (0)
Declan O'Mahoney (0)
Brendan Quigley (0)

These are just the players I've been able to find so far. Not quite so convincing a success rate now, huh? Don't get me wrong, I want Martin Clarke to succeed as badly as everyone else here, but I can't accept that there's less risk involved in drafting an (Northern) Irish talent as opposed to a home-grown one. Let's hope he continues to develop at the amazing rate we're hearing about, and he can be an addition to the "success stories" chapter.

Wow, how much time do you have on your hands? Apart from B.stynes I'd never really heard of the others. It would be interesting to know how many where told they were not good enough and how many left like begley because they where home sick. But nice work none the less.

No doubt in general terms drafting a kid from ireland is moe of a risk than drafting a junior Aussie rules footballer. My Hypothetical(and thats all this is) is about drafting clarke, I simply used that fact that there seemed to be a high success rate amongst irishman as 1 argument. But is more about what clarke has done in the short time he has been here. I have said that drafting clarke who has had the chance to train with the club for 6 months who has and been named second best on ground in his first ever game of Aussie rules is no more of a risk than some of the kids who have been top 20 in recent years. Add to this the fact that he supposedely did very well in the intraclub and from all reports has a great attitude, has picked up the skills quickly, is quick, has good endurance and has a good attitude. I am not suggesting for one second that if he nominated for the draft before he came out he would even be picked up. I doubt that would be the case. But he has had 6 months in the system and impressed early and I cant see how this is any more of a risk than picking up a kid who has had a good junior career but not had the chance to train with a club or player afl practise matches. I dont rate practise matches very highly but I suspect its a better guide than an under 18 game. Im not expert mind you, its just my opinion.

I'd rather a kid come from a sport like gaelic football than basketball(not suggesting we dont ever draft kids who played basketball) IF a kid has all the athletic attributes and can read the play well the main worries are picking up the skills. From all reports Clarke's skills are very good. I dont see it as a massive risk.

But I will reiterate, I am not for 1 second suggesting he will even make it let alone be a future star but I think his chances at this stage are as good as 50% of the kids picked up in the draft. Hence the reason I dont see him as a great risk.

You don't need to agree with me, but I am sticking to my opinion.

Not that any of this matters because in drafting terms the kid is a FREEBIE!!!

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I have said that drafting clarke who has had the chance to train with the club for 6 months who has and been named second best on ground in his first ever game of Aussie rules is no more of a risk than some of the kids who have been top 20 in recent years.

But that only happened three days ago, they didn't have that info when they drafted him.

I don't want to argue with you, and I'm perfectly happy to get swept up in the MC hype. I just think that the risk, in general, is higher bringing a kid over from Ireland.

Here's the link I found with regard to Irish imports. It was on the first page of a google search, and it's by no means comprehensive. http://www.footystamps.com/ot_international_football.htm

 

[Horsebox]

Why? Northern Ireland and Ireland are 2 different countries. I remember someone giving a link to some myspace type thing Clarke had that he has now made private where he is boasting about 'Norn Iron" beating England in soccer.

Two different countries! You don't say. And most people are delighted about it I'm sure. Have you a TV in your house? The fact that he is happy about northern ireland beating england is neither here nor there. If the faroe islands beat england he'd probably be just as happy. His kind are usually not very welcome at "Norn Iron" soccer matches.

 

[Messiah]

Two different countries! You don't say. And most people are delighted about it I'm sure. Have you a TV in your house? The fact that he is happy about northern ireland beating england is neither here nor there. If the faroe islands beat england he'd probably be just as happy. His kind are usually not very welcome at "Norn Iron" soccer matches.

I don't get it?
He is from County Down in Norn Iron and was a student in Belfast ...

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,,21231470-5001023,00.html

Clarke, 19, hails from Northern Ireland and the mountainous, maritime County Down; Signed by Collingwood as an international rookie, tonight will be the Belfast student and gaelic talent's first AFL game.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Can the mods please remove the word "stunning" from the title of this thread.

I'm getting some horrible McKee type nightmares!!!

 

[Cyclops]

Can the mods please remove the word "stunning" from the title of this thread.

I'm getting some horrible McKee type nightmares!!!

He'll have to do a lot to wrench the nickname McKee made his own from the leaden grip of the sexy stunner.

Maybe we need a fresh nickname for Clarke. How about "Brill-yant" (in a high pitched Irish accent), you know the Guiness motto from a recent ad campaign.

If he's from County Down, can we call him the *********?

Just so long as we don't get some lame effort like "Mick" or "Irish".

 

[FIGJAM]

The Syndrome!

 

[lenny&carl]

The Syndrome!

Nice! Well he does look a bit like Heater

 

[sloth6]

We could refer to Clarke simply as 'Chas' or 'Charlie'

 

[Jabso]

Two different countries! You don't say. And most people are delighted about it I'm sure. Have you a TV in your house? The fact that he is happy about northern ireland beating england is neither here nor there. If the faroe islands beat england he'd probably be just as happy. His kind are usually not very welcome at "Norn Iron" soccer matches.

Whatever. He comes from the country Northern Ireland not the Republic of Ireland. He is from NI, they have their own national soccer team, why wouldn't and shouldn't he be proud of them beating England? Yes he's still Irish and yes I know that it's not like calling a Canadian, American but still there is a difference.

 

[Jabso]

The Syndrome!

The Crown Prince of Down?