Delisted #4 Ryan 'The Clamps' Clarke

Kennedy Parker · Jul 23, 2020

Ryan Clarke

Player Profile
The Sydney Swans recruited Ryan Clarke from North Melbourne ahead of season 2019 and he’s since shown promising signs as a young midfielder. The number four is a prolific ball-winner and can also be used to blanket a star on-baller, which he proved last year in shutting down gun Kangaroo Shaun Higgins and classy Magpie Steele Sidebottom. Clarke played 14 senior games in a stop-start 2019 campaign and has set his sights on cementing a spot in coach John Longmire’s best 22 this year. Draft history: 2015 National Draft selection (North Melbourne), No. 31 overall

Ryan Clarke

DOB:17 June 1997
DEBUT:2016
DRAFT:2015
RECRUITED FROM: Rowville (Vic)/Melb Grammar (Vic)/Eastern U18/North Melb

Ryan Clarke | AFL

Follow Ryan Clarke's progress through AFL

www.sydneyswans.com.au

Kiama Chris · Jul 18, 2022

Banyo Bloods said:
Looks like our secret weapon ain't so secret anymore.

True, but how do you tag a tagger?
Like many I'm really happy for Clarke, who seems a very decent guy, fitting well in the group and playing his heart out in ressies every week, setting a good example for the newbies. I have hoped the club would keep him on for those reasons alone but am delighted we have found a good and valuable role for him in seniors. New contract please.

scaryness · Jul 18, 2022

His next opponents if he keeps his spot

R19: Dawson or Smith
R20: Whitfield
R21: Hall
R22: Daicos
R23: Sinclair again

Jeffers · Jul 18, 2022

Ryan Clarke becoming the reincarnation of Agent nick smith but in the forward line

Grand Uncle Horace · Jul 18, 2022

We are winning the tactical battle at present. While that is happening Clarke keeps his place. However Oppo coaches will put work into countering what is now no longer a surprise. If their measures work I expect Rhino's deficits will be on display and taken advantage of.

I would not be meeting with his Manager yet.

Kiama Chris · Jul 18, 2022

Jeffers said:
Ryan Clarke becoming the reincarnation of Agent nick smith but in the forward line

Let's not get carried away.

sataris · Jul 18, 2022

Kiama Chris said:
Let's not get carried away.

Not official until Ticky009 gives us the smooch of approval .

Ticky009 · Jul 18, 2022

sataris said:
Not official until Ticky009 gives us the smooch of approval .

Still a long way to go before Clarke can step into the Smooch's great shadow.

However, I'm all for celebrating the fact Clarke has done everything asked of him this last month of footy and the stats are clearly backing him up. He's doing an extremely important job for us and I bloody love it!

Jewelsbon · Jul 20, 2022

If anyone from The Mongrel Punt reads our site, please forgive me for posting this as I know you don't like it, but I'm so full of love for Ryan Clarke and what he has brought to our team these last few weeks that I couldn't resist sharing an article that finally not only acknowledges it, but applauds it.
Thank you for a great article.

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kelpie_X · Jul 20, 2022

Millky95 said:
Let's look at it this way:

We play a forward structure of: 2x talls, 1x resting ruck, 2x forward flankers, 2x smalls (with 1 of these on the bench at any given time, a mid resting forward). Our talls are fine (Franklin + 1 one of McLean, McDonald and Amartey). Our flankers are fine (Heeney, Hayward with Gulden and Parker resting forward).

Looking at our smalls we have Papley (16 goals from 11 games) taking up one of those spots. Our 2nd small we have tried, Wicks (4 goals, 8 games), Ronke (6 goals, 7 games), Sheldrick (0 goals, 2 games), Bell (4 goals, 6 games), Campbell a few times for very little and now Clarke (3 goals in 4 games 1 of which he was the sub and never activated)

What is our 2nd small forward offering us? Not a lot in terms of goals, maybe some in pressure, tackles and turn over (I don't have stats that show scores form F50 turnover or TI50 numbers). So if this position isn't kicking goals with a small what do we do with it? Add another tall? The ball will rebound too quickly as we aren't a super strong contested marking side (our talls all get in each others way imo). So we play a negating role instead.

We make it a 17 on 17 game instead of 18 on 17 as this position isn't kicking goals anyway. But not only do we make it 17 on 17, we take out a key ball mover for the opposition. In games we have lost our half backs haven't had much run and carry or a lot of metres gained. A lot of teams are scoring on the back of rebounds from half back. If we can kill that, the ball locked in our F50, repeat entries from turn over or stoppages down the line as opposed to rebounded and scored against.

It would be like if we were allowed to play Blakey on the field but he wasn't allowed to touch the ball. It takes out an opposition weapon for a spot that we weren't really using anyway

Try looking at goal assists?

Millky95 · Jul 20, 2022

kelpie_X said:
Try looking at goal assists?

Wicks: 4 GA in 8 games
Ronke: 4 GA in 7 games
Sheldrick: 1 GA in 2 games
Bell: 2 in 6 games
Campbell*: 1 in 13 games
Clarke: 0 in 4 games

*Including multiple games in defense

So not a position generating high goal assists. Compared to Papley having 16, Gulden having 12, Heeney, Franklin, McDonald and Hayward having 8 each and McLean having 6.

Warner is on top with 18

Dubai Quacker · Jul 23, 2022

Games Sydney has lost in 2022 when R.Clarke has played: 0

The Mongrel Punt · Jul 24, 2022

Jewelsbon said:
If anyone from The Mongrel Punt reads our site, please forgive me for posting this as I know you don't like it, but I'm so full of love for Ryan Clarke

4

Ryan Clarke

Age
27

Ht

186cm

Wt
83kg

Pos.
Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D
18.8

5

K
9.1

4

HB
9.7

5

M
3.4

3

T
2.2

4

G
0.2

2

D
18.5

4

K
8.8

4

HB
9.8

5

M
1.8

2

T
2.5

3

G
0.3

3

D
19.6

5

K
7.0

3

HB
12.6

5

M
2.4

3

T
2.2

4

G
0.0

1

and what he has brought to our team these last few weeks that I couldn't resist sharing an article that finally not only acknowledges it, but applauds it.
Thank you for a great article.

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I got ya.

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CheapCharlie · Jul 24, 2022

I like that Clarke just kept working hard in the Reserves, bringing in high stat numbers week after week. I thought at one stage we wouldn't be seeing him play for the firsts again.
Looking an important player now

cherub · Jul 24, 2022

CheapCharlie said:
I like that Clarke just kept working hard in the Reserves, bringing in high stat numbers week after week. I thought at one stage we wouldn't be seeing him play for the first sagain.
Looking an important player now

Implicit in that is that some development has occurred in the Reserves, that it isn't a waste of time or a negative thing to have to be in Reserves. Campbell and McDonald can work on aspects of their game. Maybe Laidler is better than the credit he gets.

Jeffers · Jul 24, 2022

Another scalp for Agent Clarke…..Judas Dawson

caesar88 · Jul 24, 2022

cherub said:
Implicit in that is that some development has occurred in the Reserves, that it isn't a waste of time or a negative thing to have to be in Reserves. Campbell and McDonald can work on aspects of their game. Maybe Laidler is better than the credit he gets.

I have always believed that "dropped" and "reserves" are not dirty words!

Olian · Jul 24, 2022

AFL 9 things we learned, he gets a special mention.

5. Unheralded Swan is Longmire's wildcard

Ryan Clarke has quickly become the wildcard up John Longmire's sleeve heading towards September. The Swans are stacked full of attacking threats, but in Clarke, they have someone who can put the clamps on a star and disrupt the opposition's plans. After stifling St Kilda's Jack Sinclair, the Western Bulldogs' Bailey Dale and Fremantle's Jordan Clark in the past month, Clarke was sent to former teammate Jordan Dawson in Saturday's win over Adelaide, but only for a quarter. Matthew Nicks was forced to move the star to half-forward after that, changing the Crows' plans. Stop or disrupt, Clarke is adding value at the SCG right now. - Josh Gabelich

GoTheSwannies · Jul 25, 2022

I'm so happy for Clarke that he's been able to come in from relative obscurity to demanding his spot in the 22. This guy epitomises the character of a true blood, he's been grinding away in the 2's, developing his game and waiting for an opportunity, and he's taken that opportunity with both hands.

He really adds what was previously a missing piece to the side. And he not only provides that defensive pressure around the ground, while shutting down his direct opponent, but has capitalised on his opportunities around goal. I've said it before, but the turn in the team we've seen over the last few weeks is owed (at least in part) to Clarke's inclusion in the side. And it's great to see his performances noticed in the media, absolutely warranted.

Last thing I'll say is most people on this board were rightly miffed when Clarke was dropped against Essendon, after his performance the week prior. And those same people were calling for his inclusion the next week. So hats off to everyone that recognised what our coaches failed to.

Here's hoping Clarke will be our 2022 Mitch Morton.

caesar88 · Jul 25, 2022

If we can keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible then he will go from deserving to hold his place in the 22 to a lock.

Dubai Quacker · Jul 25, 2022

caesar88 said:
If we can keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible then he will go from deserving to hold his place in the 22 to a lock.

I don’t think this narrative is really fair.

Sure, he’s not an outstanding field kick - but he’s shown an ability to find the big sticks.

I’m more than happy with Clarke getting 15 disposals and a goal, whilst also negating the opposition’s most damaging half-back.

BloodySwan · Jul 25, 2022

Dubai Quacker said:
I don’t think this narrative is really fair.

Sure, he’s not an outstanding field kick - but he’s shown an ability to find the big sticks.

I’m more than happy with Clarke getting 15 disposals and a goal, whilst also negating the opposition’s most damaging half-back.

If Clarke only got 5 disposals people would be calling for him to get dropped

caesar88 · Jul 25, 2022

Dubai Quacker said:
I don’t think this narrative is really fair.

Sure, he’s not an outstanding field kick - but he’s shown an ability to find the big sticks.

I’m more than happy with Clarke getting 15 disposals and a goal, whilst also negating the opposition’s most damaging half-back.

Just does the wrong thing with the ball too often. Very poor decisions and lacking spacial awareness with ball in hand. 16 disposals on the weekend was too many for him. If he stays at the average of 11 he was on before that, that's a good return considering he's in the team to negate.

BarneyBent · Jul 25, 2022

caesar88 said:
Just does the wrong thing with the ball too often. Very poor decisions and lacking spacial awareness with ball in hand. 16 disposals on the weekend was too many for him. If he stays at the average of 11 he was on before that, that's a good return considering he's in the team to negate.

Sorry but this is a ridiculous call. He's not a super damaging user by any stretch, and he makes some errors, but not so often that we'd rather he avoid touching the ball. For that to happen he would have to do more damage than good per possession which is so far from reality.

Is he a player who should look to hand off to better kicks when he gets the chance? Of course. He's a player who would probably be at his best with a 50:50 kick to HB ratio. But he shouldn't be actively avoiding the ball.

LukeParkerno1 · Jul 25, 2022

Weirdly I haven't found his disposal that bad, but maybe I'm used to Lloyd kicking it terribly or others. Feel Clarke as he's matured has got better at playing to his limitations.

Kiama Chris · Jul 25, 2022

BarneyBent said:
Sorry but this is a ridiculous call. He's not a super damaging user by any stretch, and he makes some errors, but not so often that we'd rather he avoid touching the ball. For that to happen he would have to do more damage than good per possession which is so far from reality.

Is he a player who should look to hand off to better kicks when he gets the chance? Of course. He's a player who would probably be at his best with a 50:50 kick to HB ratio. But he shouldn't be actively avoiding the ball.

He reminds me a little of Dean Towers and early Harry Cunningham being unsure what to do with the ball once he had it. Harry got over it but Dean never quite did. A lot of it is just plain lack of confidence in that part of his game.
In the Freo game he gave a hospital hand pass to Chad who smashed his tackler but he kept running and received the kick 30+ metres downfield then made a decent 50m entry. The worst and best all in one.

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Delisted #4 Ryan 'The Clamps' Clarke

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5. Unheralded Swan is Longmire's wildcard