Training Pre season training

[Tommy Wigs]

He played as a rebounding half back, not as a lock down. Major difference

And it looks like we are preparing him for more midfield this season

I’d rather have faith that he can be a more consistent version of his Collingwood game than to have faith in him replacing Webster

He might not be the most gifted player on the list, but his immense work ethic leads me to believe he can still become a very good player for us in a position of need alongside Pou

I was aghast when this was proposed as I rate Windy and think he’s a lot more talented than people give him credit for.

But I suppose if we add a senior (non 30yo) FA/trade, plus Pou, plus at least one of the skinnier runners through there at any one time, and still some Steele and Macrae time, he’ll have a real fight for mid time. When I say it like this my head is concerned with the lack of quality in there.

 

[SaintSteele9]

Some of the training footage from preseason made it look like he could actually move reasonably fast. He looked on his way to being an A grade player under Richo.. If he can get fit and committed he could still be anything.

I think I’ve said this before, but often when I’m watching replays of our games the day or so after, Clark seems to bob up in our scoring chains more than you notice live/at the time. Good things come from his involvement so let’s hope his involvement continues to grow!

 

[Joffaboy]

Thats it he is 25yo, 26 at the start of the season and we still allow him the IF's. Its a 50% chance he wont be at the club in 2026. Injuries or otherwise he has been a poor top 10 pick in my view.

Wood didn't have a break out year until he was 28, Paul Kelly was crap until he was 25.
Hunter Clarke's erobic capacity is fine. Has done all the training, always in the thick in mat sim and midfield in all the after training running.
His inside ball work was a major reason we won 6 of 8 at the end of the season. Negativity towards him is overblown.

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[Bill Crouse]

We have alot of players on 1 year contracts only.
Eight definates to sign on- Garcia, Hastie, Heath, Keeler, NWM, Owens, Sch'maker, Windhager. We had 10 players leave this year, so letting go of another 11, is not a stretch.

Not saying that they won't make it, but I think Hastie, Heath, Keeler and Schoonermonster still have to show a lot more before they are put in the same category as the other 4 names.

 

[SteeleSaints]

Wood didn't have a break out year until he was 28, Paul Kelly was crap until he was 25.
Hunter Clarke's erobic capacity is fine. Has done all the training, always in the thick in mat sim and midfield in all the after training running.
His inside ball work was a major reason we won 6 of 8 at the end of the season. Negativity towards him is overblown.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Sorry but I cant agree Joff, but thats footy. He wouldnt be at the club if I was managing the list - he is the all time tease IMO.

 

[Neil Elvis Winmar]

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Sorry but I cant agree Joff, but thats footy. He wouldnt be at the club if I was managing the list - he is the all time tease IMO.

Thank god that’s not the case!


On iPhone using ][emoji6]][emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[SteeleSaints]

Hunter has played 98 games in 7 seasons at the club (av 14gpy), he is the 60% man. He is fit and available 60% of the time and when he plays can only manage 60% TOG.

Supporters need to take the emotion out when discussing players and look at it like they a running a business. If you had an employee who only turned up 60% of the time what would you do?

People were screaming for Zac Jones to be delisted at seasons end, because he averages 13 games per year. You could argue when fit a firing he offers more than Hunter, yet we dont show him the same loyalty.

If Hunter was at a stronger club with midfield depth he would have been moved on some time ago. Again IMO he wont be at our club in '26.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Don't recall anyone "screaming for Zac Jones to be delisted at seasons end". In fact from memory most were delighted at the end of his season and there was a fair bit of talk hoping he could stay fit to provide a point of difference for us next year.

 

[Joffaboy]

Don't recall anyone "screaming for Zac Jones to be delisted at seasons end". In fact from memory most were delighted at the end of his season and there was a fair bit of talk hoping he could stay fit to provide a point of difference for us next year.

The fact is both Clark and Jones are OOC at years end.
There is intense competition now for a midfield spot, with Dow, Carroll, Hall, Travalgia, Macrae, Garcia, and a fit Windhager all after a mids gig.
Stay fit and perform because if we have a good injury run in the mids and they don't, we'll, they may just well be out on their ear.

I don't agree with SteeleSaints, I believe Clark is a valuable inside mid with a tremendous point of difference as he is dual sided. What I absolutely do agree with is our mids depth and quality is better than at any time since probably 2010, constant absences or poor form will mean a player won't be saved by a skinny mid list.

No doubt Clark is a favourite of mine, but if someone pops up and takes his spot and we are winning and he get chopped, well, I support the team, players come and go.

Hoping he does a Mason Wood and is past his injuries. An injury free preseason is vital to a good season IMO. Do be surprised to see a down year from Henry for example.

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[Neil Elvis Winmar]

Hunter has played 98 games in 7 seasons at the club (av 14gpy), he is the 60% man. He is fit and available 60% of the time and when he plays can only manage 60% TOG.

Supporters need to take the emotion out when discussing players and look at it like they a running a business. If you had an employee who only turned up 60% of the time what would you do?

People were screaming for Zac Jones to be delisted at seasons end, because he averages 13 games per year. You could argue when fit a firing he offers more than Hunter, yet we dont show him the same loyalty.

If Hunter was at a stronger club with midfield depth he would have been moved on some time ago. Again IMO he wont be at our club in '26.

By that rationale you would have delisted Max King too. None of Hunters injuries have been because his under prepared but in fact because he attacks the ball with the courage and application we should be applauding.

No one’s being emotional about it. We just see that when he plays he’s having a high impact and it correlates with us winning. I still think when fit he’s in our best team easily and actually in our top dozen players for impact.

Stop hanging the player out for what pick they were taken with and just look at the impact they are having on us winning games. We need more talent not delisted some our most talented when entering their prime. If he was delisted at the end of this year I guarantee nearly all the top clubs would try and pick him up whether that be to play midfield or HB.


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[ESPN8 The Ocho]

Hunter has played 98 games in 7 seasons at the club (av 14gpy), he is the 60% man. He is fit and available 60% of the time and when he plays can only manage 60% TOG.

Supporters need to take the emotion out when discussing players and look at it like they a running a business. If you had an employee who only turned up 60% of the time what would you do?

People were screaming for Zac Jones to be delisted at seasons end, because he averages 13 games per year. You could argue when fit a firing he offers more than Hunter, yet we dont show him the same loyalty.

If Hunter was at a stronger club with midfield depth he would have been moved on some time ago. Again IMO he wont be at our club in '26.

If I had an employee who had a 40% absenteeism due to work related injuries, I would not be questioning the employee’s abilities nor commitment.

 

[Joffaboy]

If I had an employee who had a 40% absenteeism due to work related injuries, I would not be questioning the employee’s abilities nor commitment.

Actually, Workcover would be paying you a visit.


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[saintmike65]

Wood didn't have a break out year until he was 28, Paul Kelly was crap until he was 25.
Hunter Clarke's erobic capacity is fine. Has done all the training, always in the thick in mat sim and midfield in all the after training running.
His inside ball work was a major reason we won 6 of 8 at the end of the season. Negativity towards him is overblown.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Having watched a few replays of our late season wins, Hunter Clark was instrumental in our midfield improvement.
He’s put on some size this off season so expect his percentage time in the midfield to increase in ‘25!

 

[BrutThough]

Don't recall anyone "screaming for Zac Jones to be delisted at seasons end". In fact from memory most were delighted at the end of his season and there was a fair bit of talk hoping he could stay fit to provide a point of difference for us next year.

Depends on what point of the season we are talking. Plenty were calling for Jones to be delisted and vocally pissed off he was re-selected for the senior side. But his form turned in the last month which changed the viewpoint of a lot of supporters suddenly wanting him to stay.

 

[BrutThough]

Hunter has played 98 games in 7 seasons at the club (av 14gpy), he is the 60% man. He is fit and available 60% of the time and when he plays can only manage 60% TOG.

Supporters need to take the emotion out when discussing players and look at it like they a running a business. If you had an employee who only turned up 60% of the time what would you do?

People were screaming for Zac Jones to be delisted at seasons end, because he averages 13 games per year. You could argue when fit a firing he offers more than Hunter, yet we dont show him the same loyalty.

If Hunter was at a stronger club with midfield depth he would have been moved on some time ago. Again IMO he wont be at our club in '26.

You're not entirely wrong.

Clark is OOC and will be 26. He isnt guaranteed selection every week and anyone that isnt guaranteed selection, isnt guaranteed to get a new contract at the end of the year. It's on him to prove he can be a consistent part of the midfield this season and moving forward.

 

[gringo2011]

Thats it he is 25yo, 26 at the start of the season and we still allow him the IF's. Its a 50% chance he wont be at the club in 2026. Injuries or otherwise he has been a poor top 10 pick in my view.

100%. He's had a heap of chances and so far for a variety of reasons he hasn't consistently performed. He's got masses of potential that never got realised. Similar to Mason Wood's career so far. Hopefully the best bit is still coming.

 

[Saint Ray]

Depends on what point of the season we are talking. Plenty were calling for Jones to be delisted and vocally pissed off he was re-selected for the senior side. But his form turned in the last month which changed the viewpoint of a lot of supporters suddenly wanting him to stay.

Just goes to show that the selectors know more than some supporters.

 

[Minga]

The perennial Clark bashing is so odd (though admittedly most seem to be in defence of him on here)

Plenty of top 10 picks don’t make it as far as he has, plenty haven’t gone through the incidental on-field injuries he’s been through

One of the few Saints players I see consistently do the intangible things on the field that make a difference pushing the contested ball forward

Suppose it’s a good sign that when your list improves it gets harder to find whipping boys

 

[karnaby]

Just goes to show that the selectors know more than some supporters.

And, if I recall correctly, Clark was in the group that went to NZ for the All Black leadership program.
Fairly confident that the club views him differently to some supporters.

 

[SteeleSaints]

Just goes to show that the selectors know more than some supporters.

Correct and the fact that players get their body and fitness right allows them to be picked. Jones like Clark have always been handy players when they got some continuity. Hunter did have so very good games nearing the end of the season, but its what he doesnt do that bothers me. If he doesnt win first use and the ball is out of that inner 10 metres perimeter he is a liability ala Luke Dunstan.

How many times did we see Hunter labouring 20-30 metres behind his opponent on turn over, for me that is really telling. He undoes every good thing he does being a liability on turnover and the fact he cant run out games is the clincher for me. As much as some might love Hunter, unless he has a blinder this year the club has to be ruthless they cant keep carrying players like that.

Would the club have gone out and got Macrae, Carroll and Boxshall if they thought Hunter had a reliable and bright future. Look at what the kids bring - Phillipou, Windhager, Garcia, Wilson even Travaglia and Boxshall they are all elite runners and thats what the current game requires.

 

[Yabadoo22]

Don't recall anyone "screaming for Zac Jones to be delisted at seasons end". In fact from memory most were delighted at the end of his season and there was a fair bit of talk hoping he could stay fit to provide a point of difference for us next year.

I was definitely screaming for jones to be moved on, and I still stand by that. He will break down again before the season starts, come back later in the year, burn teammates and butcher the ball. Hope he is no more then depth and players go past him.

 

[jumperfan]

I was definitely screaming for jones to be moved on, and I still stand by that. He will break down again before the season starts, come back later in the year, burn teammates and butcher the ball. Hope he is no more then depth and players go past him.

If he ends up being depth that would be a huge win. He was much better than you're giving him credit for at the end of the year.

 

[Geezington]

Just saw max king drop all his luggage at the Gold Coast airport, he’s looking pretty thick thought he’d be a lot taller then what he actually is to

 

[stfan]

Wow, who plays back

Well Wilkie and Howard will be locks as two of the talls.


With no pre-season matches yet Arie seems to currently have front running on the third tall spot. We will see how he goes after he has some other AFL opponents. Hopefully he plays well enough to keep Cordy out of 22.

That Arie is inexperienced, makes IMO Webster a lock for BP due to his experience and abilities.

and you’d think that means RoMa is no chance of playing much forward.

Well "forward line group", would just mean that he will train and play as a forward. It does not mean that he is a lock to play forward in the starting first 22.

So not saying this will happen, but if they did play Boyd in some games, then as Roma is a lock for the 22 then that would mean Roma playing sometime forward for if Boyd is in the 22 then he would at least ruck 50%.

Roma is too good a player to have a low TOG%.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Correct and the fact that players get their body and fitness right allows them to be picked. Jones like Clark have always been handy players when they got some continuity. Hunter did have so very good games nearing the end of the season, but its what he doesnt do that bothers me. If he doesnt win first use and the ball is out of that inner 10 metres perimeter he is a liability ala Luke Dunstan.

How many times did we see Hunter labouring 20-30 metres behind his opponent on turn over, for me that is really telling. He undoes every good thing he does being a liability on turnover and the fact he cant run out games is the clincher for me. As much as some might love Hunter, unless he has a blinder this year the club has to be ruthless they cant keep carrying players like that.

Would the club have gone out and got Macrae, Carroll and Boxshall if they thought Hunter had a reliable and bright future. Look at what the kids bring - Phillipou, Windhager, Garcia, Wilson even Travaglia and Boxshall they are all elite runners and thats what the current game requires.

The current game requires what it has always required - being able to get the ball.

Clark has improved his contested possession and clearance rates significantly over the past two years as he's been played more as an inside mid.

Getting an uninterrupted run will see those stats continue to improve.