Matthew Clarke

[bluesfan]

How is the new veteran ruckman in Clarke going down at Moorabbin? How does he look at training? Plus, can somebody please post some pics of training? Thanks.

Clarke will be a very handy aquisition to your ruck department. He is one of the very best tap ruckmen of the past decade and with him and Gardiner, and possibly others, your ruck division is looking pretty good - Ross Lyon has recruited well, especially with the loss of Cain Ackland.

 

[Oh When the Saints]

visit saintsational.com for more information

 

[panthers]

especially with the loss of Cain Ackland

I dont think that he is much of a loss to us

 

[Barney Rubble]

Mathew Clarke will be a good choice provided he can stay fit, as he isn't the kind of bloke to make rash decisions (coming on board) and he wouldn't be here if he didn't believe in the rest of the group

 

[johnnyhoward]

especially with the loss of Cain Ackland

I dont think that he is much of a loss to us

The problem is we'll only get one year out of Clarke. Ackland still had a little scope for improvement and was still handy.

 

[Barney Rubble]

The problem is we'll only get one year out of Clarke. Ackland still had a little scope for improvement and was still handy.

I agree, but maybe the best part about having him and Michael will be the internal coaching these guys can give, not only to our young ruckmen, but all midfielders aswell; if you were a Dal'santo or Ball next year, even a Hayes, wouldn't you want to be on the end of some magic from these guys? think about it, the above blokes and an extra couple of nano seconds to clear the ball, this my friends is what we missed when Trent Knobel departed (watch him get better now at the Tigers), makes the difference of either Ball or Dal getting clobbered big time. guys, let the young blokes learn from the best (which we now have) and trust me we do have real good ruck prospects

 

[raikkonen]

If his form this year for us is anything to go by then you will have a good year with him. Im not happy at how he 'retired' and then decides to comeback - for a new club. However, nothing I can do about it, so good lukc to him.

 

[pol06]

I agree, but maybe the best part about having him and Michael will be the internal coaching these guys can give, not only to our young ruckmen, but all midfielders aswell; if you were a Dal'santo or Ball next year, even a Hayes, wouldn't you want to be on the end of some magic from these guys? think about it, the above blokes and an extra couple of nano seconds to clear the ball, this my friends is what we missed when Trent Knobel departed (watch him get better now at the Tigers), makes the difference of either Ball or Dal getting clobbered big time. guys, let the young blokes learn from the best (which we now have) and trust me we do have real good ruck prospects

trent knobel is absoltue crap. posible the worst around teh ground player in the afl, has no skills at all. he is a liability on the field

 

[Kildonan]

Trent Knobel is a huge footballer. He fills the image of a ruckman beautifully. When the ball is bounced he gets his hand on it and more often than not he gets the ball to advantage. Sadly that's about it for him though as a footballer - he runs around with that "I'm lost" look on his face, his head turning back and forth looking for some indication of where he should actually be. He tries to be the receiver in a wrap around pass but he's standing still so no-one passes it to him. Every now and then he gets it right and he gets a kick or a handpass - but these are usually a result of a teammate trying to bring him into the game rather than his own devices.
A bit of a gumby on the park, his best management is to throw him forward as a second target to drag defenders away from the real target. Occasionally he'll throw his huge paws in the air and bring down a mark. Toss a coin on the kick though - he's not quite reliable.

 

[markinUSA]

Regarding Clarke's "retirement" - he did offer to play on for another year at his previous club, and they said "no thanks". So they encouraged him to retire. Only after Ackland left did Lyon contact him and then he thought about it, and said yes. This was a genuine retirement - not like Mal Michael.

 

[skeetercoghlan]

Regarding getting one year out of Clarke, using Jason Ball, Paul Salmon as examples the recent history of aging ruckman would seem to indicate that they can play on bit longer. Maybe we all get a bit hoodwinked by the early demise of the midfield runner?

 

[Kildonan]

Welcome skeetercoghlan to BigFooty.

Yeah there does seem to be a greater longevity at both ends of the height spectrum. It may be because smalls just don't suffer the stresses on the body that most other players do and the very talls generally don't contribute as much until a later age. Their actual time playing at the highest level is not any more than medium and small players just from a later age to a later age.

 

[Marklar_33]

The problem is we'll only get one year out of Clarke. Ackland still had a little scope for improvement and was still handy.

Its now or never...

 

[sainter]

Its now or never...

Which players do you think will go around for the last time in 2007?

Harvey, Thompson and Clarke are the obvious three.

Perhaps Gehrig and Hamill if motivation/injuries turn out to be a factor.

I don't know about you but to me that leaves behing a pretty strong list of players aged in their early to mid 20's.

Riewoldt, Koschitzke, Hayes, Ball, Dal Santo and Maguire would probably be seen as the elite young players at the club and there has been enough evidence to suggest that the likes of S Fisher, L Fisher, Montagna, Gram and Goddard could join them if a few of them haven't already.

Throw in the veterans like Hudghton and Voss, a group of players that include the Clarkes, Fiora, Watts, Rix and McQualter who have plenty to prove and some younger kids like Armitage, Howard, Raymond and Gilbert and you've got yourself a very handy list that will be thereabouts for more than just 2007.

Of course the time for us to take the next step is now. I'm expecting us to make the top four and go one better this time around. I just don't subscribe to the talk that because we've been towards the top of the ladder for the past few seasons that we're suddenly on our last chance.

 

[i_love_aaronh]

Hopefully Maguire and Hayes in particular will be ok and not suffer too much by being out for so much of 2006. At many times, players who have suffered long-term serious injuries, do take longer to recover mentally, as well as physically. This needs to be taken into consideration, in 2007. We can't just judge them on past performances/reputations.

 

[sainter]

Hopefully Maguire and Hayes in particular will be ok and not suffer too much by being out for so much of 2006. At many times, players who have suffered long-term serious injuries, do take longer to recover mentally, as well as physically. This needs to be taken into consideration, in 2007. We can't just judge them on past performances/reputations.

It seems Hayes will be close to returning for round one. It will definitely take him a while to gain some confidence in his knee and I know I'll probably have my heart in my mouth every time he twists and turns because he's just so important to us but he seems like the kind of person who'll take it in his stride.

I don't think we can expect a lot from Maguire next season. From what I've read he won't be available until midway through the season and like you said there will be some mental barriers to overcome. Again like Hayes he's a laid back kind of character and that's probably the best way to be when recovering from his kind of injury. As long as he can get back and not have any complications I'll be rapt.

 

[Southwark@Southbank]

Which players do you think will go around for the last time in 2007?

S Fisher, L Fisher, Montagna, Gram and Goddard could join them if a few of them haven't already.

Throw in the veterans like Hudghton and Voss, a group of players that include the Clarkes, Fiora, Watts, Rix and McQualter who have plenty to prove and some younger kids like Armitage, Howard, Raymond and Gilbert and you've got yourself a very handy list that will be thereabouts for more than just 2007.

Throw in jumping Justin Sweeney and Shane Birss and it's all over for the other 15 teams in 2007

 

[sainter]

Throw in jumping Justin Sweeney and Shane Birss and it's all over for the other 15 teams in 2007

I'm not expecting them all to perform.

I just can't understand why people think 2007 is our last chance when Harvey is the only player certain to be in our best 22 that is expected to retire.

You were wrong to bold Montagna, Gram and Hudghton by the way.

 

[-VC-]

I might find myself cheering for the Saints in 'neutral' games for me. Love the Doc and I wish him all the best. Whatever the circumstances around his initial retirement it was the right time for him to part from Adelaide and if he has another year or even two years left in him then I hope he does well.*

* add obligatory "but not against the Crows" comment.

 

[ChrisFooty]

I actually have more confidence in Clarke than in Gardiner. Clarke is old old old, but even him at 40 would still do a better job in the ruck than say kosi and blake. (both are horrible rucking)

If jason blake keeps rucking, we will get smashed by good teams. At least Clarke will be competitive in the middle.