2025 Pre-Season chat
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Clark played as a full time mid in every VFL game I watched.
Kobe Gryant
'07, '09, '11, '22
Credit: @Cenchfooty on IG
Agree with this as far as ressies were concerned in latter part of year DB, as MC/coaches started to redirect how they want him to play, at least in the short term when taking into consideration his early development wasn't what it was expected to be due to current physical capabilities and other areas of concern.
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- Aug 21, 2009
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Stay safe man, praying for u
You
Agree and I was in the same camp of not drafting Clark at the time for similar reasons. I fear the fact he was a falcon blinded us somewhat.
I was in the draft Philipou camp. Got shot down at the time. It’s clear we made an error on this and also something that is not hindsight but clear at the time as it is now.
I still think there is a role for Clark. I think he can potentially become that 4th/5th string defensive mid that every team needs that enables the better mids to play more to their strengths. Like Atkins.
Issue is we could get this type of player in the rookie draft… but hope for Clark is not lost. Needs to take strides this year and demand a spot.
Hope so. I was gutted when we didn’t take Nate Caddy.
Hoping to see some strides this year from COS
cat_shack
Team Captain
Don’t get any of the negativity around Clark or O’Sullivan. Clark played 14 games last year, predominantly as an undersized, 19yr old mid. From what I saw, he had decision making and toughness at the contest. Could buy himself time, and knew where to run when the ball was in dispute. He got bullied at times for his size, and the time he could usually buy for himself at TAC level wasnt there because of this. That will change as he gets bigger with every off season. As for O'Sullivan, a key position prospect, that debuted as an 18 yr old, and looked super comfortable? Give me a spell. Guys like Selwood and Taylor shape opinion, because they contributed straight away. But it is such an unrealistic expectation. If you asked anyone in the Cats development program I’d hazard a guess they would be chuffed with development of both.
- Oct 31, 2013
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Nice to see Zach is making Connor happy.
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That is some unfortunate positioning
Vdubs
Hall of Famer
Apologies if already posted, but this is an ultra-impressive interview again, and reinforces my bias that he should be next skipper
Way too early to call on any of this, and Phillipou seems like he would not be a culture fit for us.
I remember being skeptical about Clark in his draft year, but I watched a few of his Champs games and I was sold. He just read the play better than anyone else and I saw first-hand the competitive spirit he's lauded for.
Since he's joined us I felt his first season of VFL was very, very poor. Last season he improved out of sight, he just wasn't running out games.
I don't know what his off-field application is like but it will need to be top shelf for him to make it, and if it is he will have a very good career.
I wanted Philipou as he offered a point of difference as a potential midfielder. He could still go either way Boom or Bust.
I was still happy to get Clark and think he will be a good 200 game player without ever being a star
Bit soon for that mate.
Someone's already mentioned the local connection, but I wonder if having such a high pick made us take the safe option - great but not necessarily spectactular midfielder with leadership qualities over risking X factor, which is often a boom-or-bust option.
I also think Clark will make the grade (maybe it takes a year or so longer), but I'm not sure about his ceiling.
At the time was there a player around that mark that you did want us to take instead. I know some clubs were a little worried about Pou and Ginbey going home. They were the 2 guys that seemed to have the most upside. Ginbey been pretty disappointing after a promising start to his career and Pou been the opposite. Started horrible but finished this year great.
I’ve said a few times my hope for Clark is for him to be a Caldwell type player. He also struggled a little to start with and had some injuries but now he’s finally found his role and stayed healthy. They have a pretty similar athletic profile and skill set.
