Past Mitch Clark #1 (2006-2011)

[Tim the Toolman]

Re: Mitch Clark

I disagree. He needs a spell in twos in my opinion. Banfieldnshowed how really to play in the F50. Game was so-so today and whilst insat around the lions cheer squad end a lot of lions fans were agreeing withbme.
What was Jimmy thinking when he was kicking to him in the last few minutes?

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Mitch Clark

Michael Voss

Voss said Mitch Clark looked as though he was ready to fill the hole Brown's injury had left in the Lions' forward line.

"[Clark has] been under a little bit of heat the last couple of weeks, he's been working really hard but sort of letting himself down in a couple of areas," Voss said.

"But I thought today was a really great step in the right direction for him. If we've got him being able to step up in that part of the ground he will be a difficult opponent to play on because he does move very well."

 

[Last of the Roys]

Re: Mitch Clark

I disagree. He needs a spell in twos in my opinion. Banfieldnshowed how really to play in the F50. Game was so-so today and whilst insat around the lions cheer squad end a lot of lions fans were agreeing withbme.
What was Jimmy thinking when he was kicking to him in the last few minutes?

He still made a fair few "what was he thinking" mistakes, but his effort was infinitely better than last week, and he was one of the key reasons we were competitive IMHO.

 

[LIONHART]

Re: Mitch Clark

far and away clarks best game for the season (pre-season included), looked like he wanted to be there today, body language is such an important thing.

 

[BuntonRules]

Re: Mitch Clark

far and away clarks best game for the season (pre-season included), looked like he wanted to be there today, body language is such an important thing.

This comment lifts my spirits no end. Went to Southport for the Suns & Mitch's body language was appalling, so bad that I was resigned to us losing him.

Now ,perhaps, we will give up on this fantasy of making him a full forward & accept what he is - a highly valuable oversized ruck rover cum CHF. Luey is more dangerous out of the square. Even this week, when he went deep forward late in the game he was practically useless.

I will say it again - let the boy roam & reap the rewards.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Mitch Clark

Clark eyes forward line
By Nick Bowen
7:10 AM Mon 11 Apr, 2011

ONE OF the biggest positives to come out of the Brisbane Lions' spirited loss to Melbourne on Sunday at the MCG was the performance of forward Mitch Clark.

Clark said in the Lions’ rooms after the game he had been pleased with his effort but would like to have kicked more goals.

"I haven't been too happy with my form in the first couple of weeks," Clark said.

"I was just trying to work up the ground and provide a target for the boys coming out of defence and through the midfield.

"I didn't get too many opportunities deep to kick goals but my work rate was a lot better this week compared to the previous two weeks."

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Mitch Clark

Clark's goal, courtesy of Ginger Greatness

[YOUTUBE]nsp9iEO0ku8&feature=player_embedded[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Jemima]

Re: Mitch Clark

far and away clarks best game for the season (pre-season included), looked like he wanted to be there today, body language is such an important thing.

Agreed. He still has a lot of room for improvement - and I still have my doubts about him being a key position forward - but his effort against the Dees was enormous.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Mitch Clark

Link to article

Leadership group member Mitch Clark was unflappable yesterday as he insisted the players would generate some winning momentum.
"We're not far off it at all," the key tall said.
"If we play our roles and not have any mental lapses, we'll be hard to beat."

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Mitch Clark

Round 5 vs St Kilda

Lion Mitch Clark overshadowed the Saints superstar skipper Nick Riewoldt to be the dominant forward on the ground with four goals.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Mitch Clark

Page eight of The Age liftout
Steve Butler

"Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown has admitted the changing landscape of the expanding AFL had added a nervous element to the club's battle to retain star West Australian trio Mitch Clark, Matthew Leuenberger and Daniel Rich.

With all three contracted only until the end of the season, WA based manager Colin Young will travel to Brisbane next week to discuss Clark's immediate future, while Melbourne-based Paul Connors expects to meet Lions officials this weekend in relation to Leuenberger and Rich.

"They are genuine stars of the side who are very important to us and it goes without saying that we all want them to stay", Brown said. "They've put in a lot to the footy club and I know they love the footy club and I'm pretty confident they'll stay. But its a pretty nervous time for all footy clubs at the moment, so you can understand why players are reluctant to sign up early in the season."

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Mitch Clark

Round 6 vs Richmond

The Lions pumped it in haphazardly, forcing Mitch Clark to fly for mark-of-the-year contenders, and the Tigers too often were allowed to sweep it away.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Re: Mitch Clark

Well if you continually play from behind, that'll happen.

 

[chopperduck]

Re: Mitch Clark

Whilst Clark wasn't great, there was constantly a 2nd and 3rd defender in front blocking space. Clark was the wrong option for most of the night, but unfortunately, we didn't have a 2nd target.

 

[blinker]

Re: Mitch Clark

with raines and hanley kicking into the forward line, what hope did clarke have. black was the only player capable of weighting a kick.

 

[T Rick]

Re: Mitch Clark

Lets face it Mitch Clark is probably one of our best potential mid-fielders and not an A grade KPF. With Fev given the bullet (rightfully so), who else have we got with Browny and Staker out of action and Acorn not capable of sustaining the level of defensive pressure required at this stage of his development? Our forward structure is just floundering at the moment and I can't see any magic bullet on the horizon.

 

[chopperduck]

Re: Mitch Clark

Clark will do fine as the second forward behind Brown, but he isn't good enough to carry our forward line, especially with our recent form. I just don't see Clark not getting in huge trouble if it's his decision to play deep. I think it's a coaching problem. He needs to be release up the field.

 

[Ironmonger]

Re: Mitch Clark

A few times he got his hands to it and couldn't seem to hold on. McGuane was very good on him, though.

 

[NoelMugavin]

Re: Mitch Clark

you wont take the mark of the year with your eyes closed

it was horrible to watch

 

[Trjn]

Re: Mitch Clark

Clark will do fine as the second forward behind Brown, but he isn't good enough to carry our forward line, especially with our recent form. I just don't see Clark not getting in huge trouble if it's his decision to play deep. I think it's a coaching problem. He needs to be release up the field.

Clark can play basically every position on the field aside from a deep full forward. Complete waste of his talents to have him there and whoever is responsible for putting him there should be under serious scrutiny.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Re: Mitch Clark

So from those who went to the games, what was the difference between Mitch against Melbourne and Mitch against Richmond?

In the Richmond game was he not willing to lead out and therefore getting stuck inside 50 fighting off multiple defenders? Was it looking like he was being told to stay close to goal?

To my mind he's most effective if he's willing to lead out and offer an option from 50. He's just not a FF and he score more goals crumbing than in marking contests from that position.

 

[Last of the Roys]

Re: Mitch Clark

So from those who went to the games, what was the difference between Mitch against Melbourne and Mitch against Richmond?

In the Richmond game was he not willing to lead out and therefore getting stuck inside 50 fighting off multiple defenders? Was it looking like he was being told to stay close to goal?

To my mind he's most effective if he's willing to lead out and offer an option from 50. He's just not a FF and he score more goals crumbing than in marking contests from that position.

I went to both games.

My best guess is that the difference was a combination of:
- being told to play closer to goal;
- Richmond dropping at least one player back in front of Clark in most contests;
- Clark losing confidence early and having a shocker;
- our poor disposals going into the forward line.

I also think he is better when he gets up the ground more. Hopefully the coaches realise that and play him at CHF.

 

[Balony_pony16]

Re: Mitch Clark

I think it is time to return clark to the ruck and get him back to his 2009 AA form...especially considering he hasn't committed to the lions. Improving his trade value would be wise.

I always thought that if you have a player who can play elite in a position...leave him there. A young midfield could build alot of confidence having a ruck combo like clark and berger dominating the middle.

Voss needs to bite the bullet and give the ressies pairing of cornelius and Retzlaff a solid few weeks on the big stage...they both know each others game pretty well and could play with good confidence along side each other

 

[T Rick]

Re: Mitch Clark

I think it is time to return clark to the ruck and get him back to his 2009 AA form...especially considering he hasn't committed to the lions. Improving his trade value would be wise.

I always thought that if you have a player who can play elite in a position...leave him there. A young midfield could build alot of confidence having a ruck combo like clark and berger dominating the middle.

Voss needs to bite the bullet and give the ressies pairing of cornelius and Retzlaff a solid few weeks on the big stage...they both know each others game pretty well and could play with good confidence along side each other

The problem with that is Clark & Leuey both need to be playing atleast 80% TOG. Where do they play when they aren't in the ruck?

 

[western royboy]

Re: Mitch Clark

The problem with that is Clark & Leuey both need to be playing atleast 80% TOG. Where do they play when they aren't in the ruck?

Go Forward and rest in a pocket like the good old days provide second leading option when JB returns. Matt Rendell was a more than capable FF prior to taking over from Ron Alexander as our No.1 Ruckman in the early '80's.