Zac

[Postman_Pav]

Whats the most puzzling is that he hasnt been playing as a mid in the WAFL. He's been playing as a ruckman since Beck left and key forward when Beck was there.

Why trial him in a such an unusual role, in his first game for ages when he hasnt established himself in the slightest at this level yet? I would have thought that you would (a) trial him in the WAFL and (b) let him get acustomed to AFL level before throwing him in centre bounces against the oppositions best 3 mids.

Its one thing being a good runner, its another thing entirely to be able to have the intuition/nous and ability in traffic required for clearance work. Reading that article, it seems Harvey has used the following thought process: Midfielders run far + Clarke is a good runnner = Clarke will be a good midfielder.

 

[Clay Davis]

Breust came on for Lisle, Palmer came on for Pearce.

They all of a sudden had more impact at ground level.

Smashed through the middle once again.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Breust came on for Lisle, Palmer came on for Pearce.

They all of a sudden had more impact at ground level.

Smashed through the middle once again.

Of which Breust had nothing to do with as he was playing down forward... He didn't free anyone up either, he played where Lisle was playing and kicked two goals from the square, something Lisle (aside from atrocious kicking) could have also done. Infact I'd say Lisle had more of an impact than Breust, even after he kicked 3 goals.

 

[Clay Davis]

Of which Breust had nothing to do with as he was playing down forward... He didn't free anyone up either, he played where Lisle was playing and kicked two goals from the square, something Lisle (aside from atrocious kicking) could have also done. Infact I'd say Lisle had more of an impact than Breust, even after he kicked 3 goals.

We went in tall, changed a small for a small, they changed a tall for a small, and we had our pinch hitter ruck for most of the last quarter. My point is that it is no wonder we looked flat footed around the contest, especially in our defence where they easily sliced through us to kick goals.

 

[Chris25]

If this means that Clarke will get an extended run in the team, then I'm all for it. The last thing we want is for another super talented ruckman to languish in the WAFL, and then look elsewhere in trade week.

Not saying I agree with playing him as a midfielder, I just want him in the team.

 

[Lach72]

Palmer for Johnson would've made more sense.

Lisle made him look like such a clownshoes Luke had to be continually moved.

Thank god for his shit kicking.
Just watched the first 3 quarters again.

Our intensity was great, probably the vest we've played all year.
We gifted them 3 goals, , 2 of them under no pressure.

Ibbotson should never be put in the same post code as Rioli.

 

[IAMJUNGLEMUFFIN]

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/barlow-in-line-for-shock-afl-recall-20110607-1fq8u.html



Harves is going all Sheeds on us.

Really not sure about this, to be honest.

I thought he showed something. Definitely gives us a bit of flexibility, and depth in the big man department.

 

[Clay Davis]

Palmer for Johnson would've made more sense.

Lisle made him look like such a clownshoes Luke had to be continually moved.

He had no match up, Hawthorn had no extra talls to stretch our defence, he has been ordinary all year, and was terrible in the Hawks game. Yet he stayed on the ground.

No point even bothering to complain about the waste of space. He has a golden ticket.

 

[prattsta]

He had no match up, Hawthorn had no extra talls to stretch our defence, he has been ordinary all year, and was terrible in the Hawks game. Yet he stayed on the ground.

No point even bothering to complain about the waste of space. He has a golden ticket.

It was the perfect time to drop MJ. The Hawks didn't have the talls, Bucovaz was in good form - plus given his injury history his debut would've provided a morale boost - Clarke came into the side and MJ was poor (again) against St Kilda. Now we're coming up against the Bombers who like to play 16 ruckman in their side and it'll be pretty hard to drop a 194cm player for a 188cm player.

Then again, anytime since round 1 would've been a perfectly good time to drop MJ.

 

[malpaso]

MJ's position on the field was very confusing to me. As has been said, the Hawks were limited in their talls up forward so I did not understand why MJ was used in defense.

MJ is simply a better player running on the wing, drifting forward or even sweeping in defense. He has shown that that's where and how he plays best and in turn creates a bit of a matchup problem for the opposition.

Not sure why he's not used in this role more..

 

[Avid_Avenger]

While I kinda agree with some of the other points in your post, this is one is just rubbish. I don't like the dirty birds at all but in case you haven't watched any of their games, their ruck is absolutely smashing everyone's else and it is proving to be one of their best weapons this season. And it has a lot to do with both of them being there often.

I wasn't referring to having 2 ruckmen in the same side or insinuating that their ruck combination wasn't working, way to miss the point. Of course it's going well captain obvious.

I was referring to the times when he plonks 2 ruckmen in the centre square and specifically when he used to do it with Cox and Seaby.

Cox and Natanui is slightly different due to Natanui being such a steam train running in a straight line but it's still an all-or-nothing ploy.

2 ruckman around a boundary stoppage is a completely different thing.

 

[Avid_Avenger]

It was the perfect time to drop MJ. The Hawks didn't have the talls, Bucovaz was in good form - plus given his injury history his debut would've provided a morale boost - Clarke came into the side and MJ was poor (again) against St Kilda. Now we're coming up against the Bombers who like to play 16 ruckman in their side and it'll be pretty hard to drop a 194cm player for a 188cm player.

Then again, anytime since round 1 would've been a perfectly good time to drop MJ.

Agree completely. But as Clay said MJ has a golden ticket.

I can understand Harves love for someone like McPhee when he was out of form but MJ's limp-wristed style just flies in the face of everything that Harvey was as a player and is as a coach. Baffling why he is the golden child, especially considering how he let everyone down last year.

 

[Nodgey]

It was the perfect time to drop MJ. The Hawks didn't have the talls, Bucovaz was in good form - plus given his injury history his debut would've provided a morale boost - Clarke came into the side and MJ was poor (again) against St Kilda. Now we're coming up against the Bombers who like to play 16 ruckman in their side and it'll be pretty hard to drop a 194cm player for a 188cm player.

Then again, anytime since round 1 would've been a perfectly good time to drop MJ.

I agree. All the talk mid-week was how BennyB was in the mix, but then they chicken out and go all beige with the inclusions. Would have been great to see another debutante.

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

Last year, using Leigh Brown as the 2nd ruckman would have sounded like the dumbest idea we'd ever heard of.

Finding a 6'8" running midfielder might just be the new prototype for midfield combinations. It can't hurt to be a bit lateral on this one.

If he can genuinely cover the ground, there could be all sort of benefits. This season whe have watched as the tall players come into their own in the final quarter. One who can do that and run could be really useful.

When he pushes into defence he blocks a fair bit of space and can compete with the tall forward/ruckman, and vice versa when he pushes forward.

And when he is in for the stoppages, he could make putting a block on for your midfielders a whole new experience. Try getting around a bloke that big.

This could be a stroke of genius.

 

[Farrand]

I wonder if Harvs is attempting to turn him into an Adam Goodes type? If it came good I would not be complaining.

 

[Noobrifle]

Whilst I'll admit I've been impressed by Zac's poise and agility in the middle, he still needs to show that he can do all the big man things right - ie sticking marks, spoiling, rucking. Imo we need a good KP player much more than we need another midfielder.

With his height and speed he could very well be a good forward or defender if his marking skills and footy brain are upto to scratch. The on the ground stuff is the bonus.

 

[Nickos66]

I have no doubt that given a steady run for the 1st time in the AFL in his career he'll improve rapidly. He's got a lot to prove, this kid.

 

[Cameron_K]

Just finished watching Harves press conference and I don't think I have ever heard him be so certain of something as he is that Zac is going to be a special player. His reaction actually really surprised me, Zac must be doing something very right around the club based on the way Harvey was speaking

 

[Scham]

Massive potential for him to become a special player - no doubt about it. Hopefully we can keep him at the club.

P.S. It's good to see so much positivity about him on here after so many on this board were bagging him in the off season prior to the drafts.

 

[Clay Davis]

P.S. It's good to see so much positivity about him on here after so many on this board were bagging him in the off season prior to the drafts.

Yeah, never understood that stuff. He looked very promising in the games he'd played.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

I have no doubt that given a steady run for the 1st time in the AFL in his career he'll improve rapidly. He's got a lot to prove, this kid.

agree with this completely. all he needs is to keep developing his game sense, which he'll only get from playing games. he's skilful enough and big enough now to be handy. add another 7 kilos on him and he could be really damaging.

 

[esquilax]

Last year's use of Clarke at home in the St Kilda game was baffling.

Last weekends use of Clarke in the Hawk's game was only slightly less so.

As another poster said, if he turns into an Adam Goodes type we'll all be delighted.

I wonder if Harvey's enthusiasm for the kid Clarke isn't a message to our man MJ. Surely we can't have both in the team (as players, one on form goes straight out obviously).

 

[Clay Davis]

Would have to be the subtlest message ever.

 

[Moo]

Happy for the club to try something out of left field and run Clarke on the ball.

However in the last quarter we needed to go back to basics and that means Griffin in the middle and Clarke in the support ruck role.

Clarke should play against the Bombers - he will at least attract one of the talented talls of Essendon when he is forward.

 

[PapaJ]

My first reaction is it's just plain stupid idea - but on reflection I don't mind it as a trial. But I think we need to keep some things in mind. Clarke isn't and probably will never be even close to the ability of Goodes or Cox types as people have been suggesting, that makes using him in the middle as a bold experiment at best.

More importantly, as somebody else has already suggested, he's got a lot of development to go before he would even be considered a regular in an extended squad yet let alone starting 21. At his hight he needs to be marking much much better, his kicking is OK, but also needs to get better and his stamina if he's going to play in the middle a bit is going to have to go to an all together new level for a big man.

Give it a go, but don't put too many eggs in that basket to say the least.