Soapbox for abuse of a St Kilda player

[bubblegoose]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

I'm a scumbag

Hi Scumbag, feel free not to share your opinions or troll on our board. Bay 13 is where you need to be.

Only a matter o time for a thread like this to popup.

I didn't see the first half of the game yet so can't comment specifically on Raph.

But as defacto said above, the whole team has been down the last few weeks and to just blame one player and his association with old unaccountable St Kilda is a bit naive.

I think now's the time for the coaching/selection panel to pat themselves on the back, but now look forward at the next 4 games as the launch pad and bring in players that will take us into the end of the season in their prime.

 

[sirviv]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

this is a huge over reaction.... our team effort is going to cost us a premiership if we keep playing the way we are. I dont see how you can blame it on one player. the whole team needs to lift. if we play geelong the way we have been playing the last three weeks, we'll get thrashed. its just lucky we overcome the poorer teams.

Could not agree more. The gang tackling from the first 5-6 games seems to have disappeared. If that was Geelong or Hawthorn last night we would have been 7 goals down at 1/4 time. People blame Raph yet Gram is'nt much better just blazes away when he has the footy rarely to the advantage of the forwards. Just because he kicks the ball 50 odd metres doesn't excuse his poor disposal and decision making

 

[lewdogs]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

I'd like to see Maguire come in for him.

 

[Bornsaint]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Could some sweeping changes revitilize the squad and show a sense of urgency or disatisfaction by the coaches to try and get back that gang tackling mentality and spirit back from the first 6 or so games. We seem to have lost that run off HB that we had. Could possibly mean just some positional changes. However, selectional changes could spark up the players to say that maybe they are down a bit and need to lift or that the players pushing in the vfl may get in for them. Show players that the side is still not cemented and that anyone can still be changed. Maguire, Hudgton, Armo (who must come in ), Lynch etc. I know that sides are pressuring and conjest us a bit now but am suggesting that some of these changes could help and possibly freshen and spark up the side. Nice to be able to do now at 10-0 and Geelong 4 games away.

 

[CHBench]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

So when the whole team underperforms we don't make any changes at all and clutch onto the hope they'll improve with time?

He is slow, he is undecisive, he has poor skills, he has no confidence.

Raph Clarke may not be THE problem, but he is part of it. He has done shit all to prove his place in the side, while we have players in the VFL waiting to grab the chance who will do more with their opportunity.

 

[Squizz]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Hi Scumbag, feel free not to share your opinions or troll on our board. Bay 13 is where you need to be.

When a thread is created that could be contentious, I have learned the art (not sure whether I got it from L2M4G) of immediately ignoring posts from an opposition supporter. Particularly any that have the hallmark of being written by someone who thinks Julian Knight and Martin Bryant were just misunderstood.

Thought a few of the boys were ordinary. Bally had the fumbles again, Blake's hands were magnetised to the backs of opposition players, Kingy had no hitouts to advantage, Kosi hardly touched it (one mark!), Scheids wasn't at the standard of previous weeks, and Gwilty wasn't much better for mine.

Gears had a couple of awful clangers, but turned it around with some absolute heroics at times.

Pleased for Bakes - good game.

But Raph was way off it. Big call to say he would cost us a flag given he was our best player in the finals last year. Having said that, he didn't play well against the Lions (some forgiveness for first game back). Two ordinary games on the trot must surely see others given an opportunity.

With Zac playing well along with Sam F and Gilbo (Blake has been OK aside from the frees), I don't see that Raph as a must have type.

 

[Banger724]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Tend to agree with the thread, his decision making is very ordinary and as a few others have stated, continually puts team mates under the pump. The argument he was our best player in the finals last year doesn't count for a great deal in my opinion given we only won 1 of 3 games and the two we lost were by a combined margin of 100+ points.

 

[CHBench]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

HAHAHA. Both of the clarkes are pathetic and if they injure a fingernail its almost a season ending injury for those hacks. change thread to include Blake haha what a joke of a footballer chuck in Gwilt and Riewoldts kicking is going to hurt you big time in a tight crunch game.

You moderators are ****ing losers. ****ing w***ers/little internet gimps. Go **** yourself bigfooty u mob of ****heads

Nice meltdown on teh mainboard.

 

[gilbert the best]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Rubbish - the stats people are full of it

0 impact on the game, turned it over, dropped marks, consistently out marked by opponent. im sorry, i really liked his form late last season, but against a good team, his efforts will cost dearly... sorry raph, your time is up.

his best game last year was against the pies in the finals he should have been best on the ground that night because he ran around all night without an apponent thats what made him stand out.Probably cost us three goals last night, with the talent queing up for a game couldnt possibly keep a player of his standard in the side.
the saints being ten/nil are sitting pretty well it was hard to play good football last night with melbourne putting eighteen players in our forward line for the second half.

 

[siamang]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Please explain??

Blake gets most of his possessions as a free man down back. In a one-on one contest with a forward, Max is far better. Blake still makes some clumsy mistakes and coughs it up when under pressure. In: Max, Maguire
Out: R.Clarke, Blake. For the record, Baker has been mediocre, although maybe I don't notice his tagging skills?

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Could not agree more. The gang tackling from the first 5-6 games seems to have disappeared. If that was Geelong or Hawthorn last night we would have been 7 goals down at 1/4 time. People blame Raph yet Gram is'nt much better just blazes away when he has the footy rarely to the advantage of the forwards. Just because he kicks the ball 50 odd metres doesn't excuse his poor disposal and decision making

I'll take a loose ball in the forward 50 over a loose ball in the defensive 50 every time. Especially with our current defensive pressue ( If it is still current or are they letting it slide ), there is at least half a chance we will regain possession in the forward half of the ground. Gram is not perfect but he does impact the game in our favour.

I am glad that Raph is playing at the moment, after his efforts last year I wanted to see if he could do it again. Now I am not so sure that he can, but I consider this is the best time of year to try it. If he gets another game he would have to make it a killer.

For me I would like to see us move more stoppers into the backline, ie Hudgeton and give Chips the run and carry job. Otherwise I am still interested to see how Begley would go, he showed plenty of promise at the Lions before injuries knocked him round. Then there is always Leigh Fisher who was pretty reliable in 06,07, and has a huge tank for our current game style. Would probably fill a similar role to Raph more reliably.

 

[The Punter]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

As one of the Raph defenders on this board, I feel it is my duty to say ... he was pretty awful on Saturday night.

But he has always needed games on end to get into form. Coupled with our selection so far this year (never more than one player out), he will probably come back in. Having said that, I wouldn't be happy with Milne in for Mr Brain Explosion (otherwise known as Michael Gardiner). Milne needs to come in for someone his size.

 

[Riewoldting]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

I couldn't agree more with this thread - I dunno if he will cost us a flag, actually I hope he doesn't play in the grand final if we get there, but watching the Brisbane game and Melbourne game was so frustrating for one reason - Raph Clarke.

He is the only player in this side who is not pulling his weight, he cannot play our new game style because he is so damn slow, doesn't put enough pressure on defenders and puts his team mates under pressure.

You could call it way before the ball was marked by Melbourne that Raph would let his opponent get it, he is so vulnerable as a key defender. Then if he is released to a runner, the amount of times he puts players under pressure because he is too scared to take on the play is ridiculous. I remember once on Saturday night he saw a Melb. player was coming to him and he could see if he handballed to Dal Santo or Hayes he'd put them under enormous pressure, but he goes and handballs it anyway and costs us a goal.

He is letting the defense down and is so frustrating to watch. Please drop him immediately - he's not good enough for the Saints.

 

[Squizz]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

The argument he was our best player in the finals last year doesn't count for a great deal in my opinion given we only won 1 of 3 games and the two we lost were by a combined margin of 100+ points.

So by the above logic (if Raph played well in losing games) others were more likely to cost us a flag?

 

[StFly]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

So by the above logic (if Raph played well in losing games) others were more likely to cost us a flag?

Now now, we can't go using logic in an obvious whinge thread, what were you thinking Squiz?

 

[Squizz]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Now now, we can't go using logic in an obvious whinge thread, what were you thinking Squiz?

My bad.

But if someone can't recognise that he has had some good games, they lose credibility in canning him for the dud ones.

Wonder how many out there panned CJ two years ago (well there is at least one ) only to be thoroughly enjoying his work now?

There wasn't much Gardi-love last year or early this year either.

 

[aussie86999]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Regardless of how bias anyone is, how can anyone not see how slow, Indecisive, clumsy and poor skilled this guy is.

I love our players too but anyone who jeopardises the best chance that I feel we have of winning a flag for as long as I remember must go.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

My bad.

But if someone can't recognise that he has had some good games, they lose credibility in canning him for the dud ones.

Wonder how many out there panned CJ two years ago (well there is at least one ) only to be thoroughly enjoying his work now?

There wasn't much Gardi-love last year or early this year either.

Bad example.
Lots of people panned CJ two years ago. ( As a rookie )
Last year less people were panning him.
This year no-one is panning him.

Shall we now trace Raph back from 2004. Three years experience up on CJ and he is still where CJ was 3 years ago.

Over the last pre-season we have seen an in-form CJ progress to the next level and and in-form Raphael regress to his previous level.

If it's a confidence thing he needs to find it and now may be his only chance ( if he hasn't blown it already ).

 

[Squizz]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Over the last pre-season we have seen an in-form CJ progress to the next level and and in-form Raphael regress to his previous level.

No problem with that, but I dispute that last year's finals performances count for nothing.

I am in agreement that there are others who should be in front of Raph at selection based on what he has served up in the past two games.

 

[dg102]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Gilbert is a better example. He's more of a raph clarke type player. H'es taken the next step also was injured a bit.
Jones was always going to be ok, I was saying 2 years ago. "look at how fast and hungry this kid is for the ball", I always knew he could be a very good tagger. Raph needs to show that hunger and fight, play with passion. He looses in this department.
I really cant understand when I see someone come into the side. Where spots are so scarce, and not go bannana for the ball. Guys coming in should go crazy for the contested possies, tackles, try and take the game on. And that goes for everyone coming in, not just Rapha.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Gilbert is a better example. He's more of a raph clarke type player. H'es taken the next step also was injured a bit.
Jones was always going to be ok, I was saying 2 years ago. "look at how fast and hungry this kid is for the ball", I always knew he could be a very good tagger. Raph needs to show that hunger and fight, play with passion. He looses in this department.
I really cant understand when I see someone come into the side. Where spots are so scarce, and not go bannana for the ball. Guys coming in should go crazy for the contested possies, tackles, try and take the game on. And that goes for everyone coming in, not just Rapha.

He might be more like Clarke as a player type ( I don't think so), but still not a good example of someone being maligned and coming good.
There were people slinging off about Gilbert two years ago, but personally I thought they were being a bit harsh on a 21 year old his first real season of AFL. His third year is just as much a breakthrough as Jones'.

I have never liked Raphael Clarke in the backline, but I can't really see where else in the team he fits in.
For a player in his 6th season, but to be fair still relatively young, I don't think we can wait 5 games for him to find his mojo every time he has some sort of interuption. Not when injuries seem to be an ongoing concern for him. I can't believe it would be acceptable to have three weeks out for a hamstring then another three weeks in the AFL getting confidence back.


I don't mind if he gets another week, but if he dosn't get some results.. well Luke Miles and Colm Begley both deserve a chance as well.

 

[The Punter]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Not everyone can attack the ball like Paul Kelly. Not everyone can win every contested possession. We need players to win the ball in close, to win it by reading the play, and then to use it.

Raph still reads the play well. On Saturday night, he used it poorly, and he looks ordinary when this happens. But the job of winning the ball in close is, and always has, belonged to someone else.

Bob Skilton won plenty of ball, and no premierships.

Clinton Young doesn't win his own ball. He has one premiership.

I think a few people need to read some of St Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.

 

[Signd Sealed Saint]

Re: Raph Clarke will cost us a flag

Just exactly what does Clarke bring to the team? Doesn't get the hard ball, okay, acceptable if you have one of the best kicks in the comp (Young). If you can't kick either, then you're in trouble. He's not a close checking player. So whats he good for? Hudgeton/Maguire will come in for him eventually, maybe not this week, but soon. I hope. He'll melt under the pressure of Geelong in round 14.