Marty Clarke

[BIG G PIEMAN]

In the best once again.

Is he a chance to get a game this week do you think? Also played very well in his first AFL game againt Sydney in the 15 a side game

Also great to see Cooky best on for Willi. Seems to be having a pretty consistent year.

 

[DWil6]

Martin Clarke is just going from strength to strength. I am amazed that a guy with so little football under his belt is featuring in the best in a league a step below the national league!

It's frightening and either a real testament to his talent or a massive slap in the face for the quality of the VFL.

Personally i think he is looking the goods and i'd like to know how many other players have played effectively no senior or junior football matches, then come into a quality competition and stepped up to the level almost instantly.

What will this boy become??

 

[hellfire]

Martin Clarke is just going from strength to strength. I am amazed that a guy with so little football under his belt is featuring in the best in a league a step below the national league!

It's frightening and either a real testament to his talent or a massive slap in the face for the quality of the VFL.

Personally i think he is looking the goods and i'd like to know how many other players have played effectively no senior or junior football matches, then come into a quality competition and stepped up to the level almost instantly.

What will this boy become??

Pendles basically did similar didn't he? Hadn't play any footy since under 12s, except for one season before getting drafted at number 5?

 

[DWil6]

Pendles basically did similar didn't he? Hadn't play any footy since under 12s, except for one season before getting drafted at number 5?

I'm not sure you can equate it.. i respect the call and agree that Pendles is a gun and has had limited experience at the mature age but he kicked a ball with his mates at least. Clarke didnt' even use a similar shaped football!!!

 

[Coin_Toss]

Clarke's going to be a good player. He's mastered the basic skills of the game and he can kick a football like he's done it for years. He will only get better with a year or two under his belt, probably will make his debut sooner rather than later.

 

[Frederlick]

How good is it to actually be able to debate whether a gun young player who was recruited OS and cost us zip draft wise should be brought into the team? Whilst they still maybe not be the greatest team on field there is so much momentum around The Club. I remember a mate of mine telling me when Lexus first opened that the Pies were going to rebuild the empire there, and I was sceptical but now, well maybe Clarke is just the first of many.

 

[Hollow Knight]

How good is it to actually be able to debate whether a gun young player who was recruited OS and cost us zip draft wise should be brought into the team? Whilst they still maybe not be the greatest team on field there is so much momentum around The Club. I remember a mate of mine telling me when Lexus first opened that the Pies were going to rebuild the empire there, and I was sceptical but now, well maybe Clarke is just the first of many.

We went through the same thing with Begley.

Some of these Irish kids are freaks.

 

[Jabso]

Clarke is Northern Irish though so it's completely different!

I hope he'll be playing against Sydney and we can see if he can pull off his little trick kicks that go sideways 5 metres where he could be handballing.

 

[Lonie_from_50]

He is a class act and I think despite the Van Berloism's the Pies Board have given him, we all know that he has a pretty big future ahead of him. He is an ball sport athlete, therefore he fits into the modern game and has a brain to find the object.

He has come on much quicker and is showing great consistency in the VFL and he would only be as good if not better at the top level due to the way it is played. Can't wait, whether it be this week or next...he will make his debut in 2007.

 

[Optimax]

Clarke is Northern Irish though so it's completely different!

I hope he'll be playing against Sydney and we can see if he can pull off his little trick kicks that go sideways 5 metres where he could be handballing.

He is going to be exciting but are these a good thing

 

[boom crash opera]

He is going to be exciting but are these a good thing

exactly right

 

[ant22]

We went through the same thing with Begley.

Some of these Irish kids are freaks.

Yeh he has been a bit of a freak as well. Its amazing how quickly some of these kids pick it up. P!$$es me off actually. I played the game for years and still struggled. These young fellas come over here and are better in there first week than I have ever been.

 

[Optimax]

We went through the same thing with Begley.

Some of these Irish kids are freaks.

Yeah but marty is better because he plays for Collingwood, Begly is good but not Clarke good.

 

[FIGJAM]

He's a gun. Not the world's quickest player, but extremely hard at it and runs as hard as Heater. Is left-field smart and can kick it straight at a range of distances. Pretty much does everything to advantage.

28 possies yesterday & now multiple bests. Would have to be very close to selection. I think Sydney would be a pretty good team to find match ups for him.

Unleash the Messiah!!

 

[boom crash opera]

steady on steady on. give him time as you say he is a first year player and has only played 10 games of aussie rules . perhaps give him a taste later in the year when we need some fresh legs and he is more developed but not now after a mid season break when everyone is revitalised and we are lacking the neccessary leadership and experianced players to guide him anyway.

 

[boom crash opera]

although i would love to see him play

 

[Lonie_from_50]

Martin Clarke and Heath Shaw on each HBF...now that's sexy.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Sexy, but not yet. We want Clarkey to be backed by Presti and Clement before throwing him into the big time.

 

[WakeUpPies]

debut him on the forward flank so even if he makes a mistake it wont be that major and he could sneak a few goals, or maybe 9

 

[King Woodie]

He's a gun. Not the world's quickest player, but extremely hard at it and runs as hard as Heater. Is left-field smart and can kick it straight at a range of distances. Pretty much does everything to advantage.

28 possies yesterday & now multiple bests. Would have to be very close to selection. I think Sydney would be a pretty good team to find match ups for him.

Unleash the Messiah!!

I think that is an important point, Figgy...

He is actually a very quick player (ie testing has him min the top few at Collingwood, just behind Rus) but he doesn't use his pace on the football field - ie doesn't get the ball and explode. However this is probably becuase he is still unfamiliar with the game, so when he gets the ball in space, he seems to hang back and survey for a little while before making a decision.

Therefore, it can be read that as he becomes more familiar with the game, and as it becomes more instinctive, he will get the ball more and put the foot down and trust his ability to read what is happening at full pace.

Tremendous upside.

Thrown him in against the Swans and give him a taste. Even swap him with Toovs (who I rate, but needs a stint in the two's) and let him follow around Bolton or Kirk.

Or play him on Tadgh...?

 

[FIGJAM]

steady on steady on. give him time as you say he is a first year player and has only played 10 games of aussie rules . perhaps give him a taste later in the year when we need some fresh legs and he is more developed but not now after a mid season break when everyone is revitalised and we are lacking the neccessary leadership and experianced players to guide him anyway.

Maybe, but the flip side of that argument is that he is doing enough right to have earnt a shot. He's grown from looking generally sound, but occassionally lost in a game, to sound 100% of the time and injecting some elite level class at other times.

Plus, he's not a confidence player and a down game won't wreck his head.

Double plus, he will be like Robert Harvey to the power of 7, only with better skills, and holding him back from the footballing world is a crime against our great game!

 

[ChipDouglas]

Do yourself a favour and have a look at him on CTV flick the ball up with his toe on the run into his hands, freak!!! I saw him AT training last year and his then concrete hands didn't fill me with MUCH hope and he looked years away. He looks the part now though, Marty you've come a long way baby!

 

[Dundalis]

I think that is an important point, Figgy...

He is actually a very quick player (ie testing has him min the top few at Collingwood, just behind Rus) but he doesn't use his pace on the football field - ie doesn't get the ball and explode. However this is probably becuase he is still unfamiliar with the game, so when he gets the ball in space, he seems to hang back and survey for a little while before making a decision.

Therefore, it can be read that as he becomes more familiar with the game, and as it becomes more instinctive, he will get the ball more and put the foot down and trust his ability to read what is happening at full pace.

Tremendous upside.

Thrown him in against the Swans and give him a taste. Even swap him with Toovs (who I rate, but needs a stint in the two's) and let him follow around Bolton or Kirk.

Or play him on Tadgh...?

I always thought speed was one of his best qualities from what I'd read as well. Is he a lot like Heath Shaw in style? Only seen him play one game earlier in the season. Looks similar. In fact most people would not have pegged Shaw as quick when they first saw him play. Mainly the running style.

 

[Coin_Toss]

I always thought speed was one of his best qualities from what I'd read as well. Is he a lot like Heath Shaw in style? Only seen him play one game earlier in the season. Looks similar. In fact most people would not have pegged Shaw as quick when they first saw him play. Mainly the running style.

Heath Shaw still runs with a limp if that's what you mean, Marty is very quick (as Woodie said, he is holding back a bit at the moment), so I think he will get better as he has got massive upside in this area.

 

[Dundalis]

Heath Shaw still runs with a limp if that's what you mean, Marty is very quick (as Woodie said, he is holding back a bit at the moment), so I think he will get better as he has got massive upside in this area.

No I just meant his running style was not as aesthetically pleasing as say Judd. He has a waddling style of running that generally isn't associated with great speed.

I was curious if Clarke was similar to Shaw because it would be great to have another Heath Shaw in the team. Means we could play one in midfield, and maybe rotate so we still get the great run from the backline. I presume he's not as good a mark as Heath.