Raph

[bigcarl]

Has a fair leap on him, but always goes the punch rather than trying an overhead mark.

Lack of confidence or following instructions?

[Sam23]

I love Saintsational!

Raph plays a really good game.

And bigcarl picks out his one error!

Fantastic.

[bigcarl]

I love Saintsational!

Raph plays a really good game.

And bigcarl picks out his one error!

Fantastic.

Alright smartarse, I've been one of Raph's biggest supporters. Just somewhere where he might improve.

[SainterX]

Yep, always better with the ball in your hands.
If you jump that high Raph have a go, take the mark. Even if you miss it you still get the same result as from a mispunch so not a gamble

[kalsaint]

I love Saintsational!

Raph plays a really good game.

And bigcarl picks out his one error!

Fantastic.

Alright smartarse, I've been one of Raph's biggest supporters. Just somewhere where he might improve.

X used to get up fairly high at times too. I always cringed that he would end up injuring himself. Need'nt have worried, his hamstrings restrained too many high flyers.

[Dr Spaceman]

Good leap.

Better than a bad leap.

[perfectionist]

Has a fair leap on him, but always goes the punch rather than trying an overhead mark.

Lack of confidence or following instructions?

I think the former, but is not alone in that regard. Maybe tonight might give them that bit of confidence. Without doubt, a dropped mark will usually hurt, because unlike a deliberate punch, the player is unprepared for the fall of the ball. But, to win a flag, those marks have to be gone for and taken. He has done it in the past. They all did for most of 2009.

[bigcarl]

Has a fair leap on him, but always goes the punch rather than trying an overhead mark.

Lack of confidence or following instructions?

I think the former, but is not alone in that regard. Maybe tonight might give them that bit of confidence. Without doubt, a dropped mark will usually hurt, because unlike a deliberate punch, the player is unprepared for the fall of the ball. But, to win a flag, those marks have to be gone for and taken. He has done it in the past. They all did for most of 2009.

Yes, Gilbert is another who can take a good mark but isn't taking them.

[The Fireman]

Raph is improving and good on him, as his confidence builds and it is, he will take those grabs.
well done Raph.

[SainterK]

Has a fair leap on him, but always goes the punch rather than trying an overhead mark.

Lack of confidence or following instructions?

He is following instructions, for sure.

Blake, Raph, Dempster, Zac.

Ross expects them to.

[bigcarl]

Has a fair leap on him, but always goes the punch rather than trying an overhead mark.

Lack of confidence or following instructions?

He is following instructions, for sure.

Blake, Raph, Dempster, Zac.

Ross expects them to.

Don't you reckon it ought to be a judgement call, though?

Fair enough if it's bombed into a pack situation with Petrie under it.

What if you've got the perfect sit on it as Raph did tonight.

[SainterK]

Has a fair leap on him, but always goes the punch rather than trying an overhead mark.

Lack of confidence or following instructions?

He is following instructions, for sure.

Blake, Raph, Dempster, Zac.

Ross expects them to.

Don't you reckon it ought to be a judgement call at times, though?

Fair enough if it's bombed in to a pack situation with Petrie under it.

I honestly doubt it, I think they are coached to spoil/punch.

[bigcarl]

Has a fair leap on him, but always goes the punch rather than trying an overhead mark.

Lack of confidence or following instructions?

He is following instructions, for sure.

Blake, Raph, Dempster, Zac.

Ross expects them to.

Don't you reckon it ought to be a judgement call at times, though?

Fair enough if it's bombed in to a pack situation with Petrie under it.

I honestly doubt it, I think they are coached to spoil/punch.

What if you've got the perfect sit on it as Raph did tonight? Disadvantaged us by going for the punch instead of taking a relatively easy mark.

[mr six o'clock]

Has a fair leap on him, but always goes the punch rather than trying an overhead mark.

Lack of confidence or following instructions?

He is following instructions, for sure.

Blake, Raph, Dempster, Zac.

Ross expects them to.[/quote


Fair enough if it's bombed in to a pack situation with Petrie under it.

I honestly doubt it, I think they are coached to spoil/punch.

Defensive backmen always play the percentages

[BigMart]

Fair critisism...he should of marked it...

To allow the ball to spill backwards is a cardinal sin, he did it twice...

All the players need to back themselves to take possesion....unless they know they cannot and seconday option is to spoil.....

Just like a gun batsman will look to attack first and defend when required.....

Last week our defenders did this regularly and it cost us.....safety first is a conservative option that thwarts ability to rebound and attack.....like the safety kick

[Solar]

confidence, confidence, confidence....

I love the fact that this is the biggest issue as it's something he has the skills to do it. Agree, always like to see them stick the mark.

[BigMart]

For cofidence to be an issue, he must think first....

He should listento the words of j.kennedy...

[bigcarl]

JUST DO!

[Maklom]

He is still not there yet. Not sure if he will ever get there. I'll give him kudos for blind courage and plugging a gap but still falls to pieces when the pressure is on. No one to replace him with at the moment.

[joffaboy]

He is still not there yet. Not sure if he will ever get there. I'll give him kudos for blind courage and plugging a gap but still falls to pieces when the pressure is on. No one to replace him with at the moment.

What a s.hit post

Did you watch the same fkn game?

You are an imbicile if you think Clarke would be replaced by anyone in the team in the backline.

Raphj haters like you should just piss off tonight.

Fkn Trolls

[Maklom]

I don't hate Raph but if you want to pump him up and accept mediocrity in our team then good luck to you. He has not yet rewarded this club for the opportunities he has received so far and I hope he does but we should demand more, far more. Otherwise we shall just have to be satisfied with second best for the foreseeable future.

[bergholt]

What if you've got the perfect sit on it as Raph did tonight? Disadvantaged us by going for the punch instead of taking a relatively easy mark.

to be honest, that one should have been a free kick. you can push someone in the back like that if you're taking the mark, but generally if you fail to mark then you've given away a free.

[Little Dozer]

I don't hate Raph but if you want to pump him up and accept mediocrity in our team then good luck to you. He has not yet rewarded this club for the opportunities he has received so far and I hope he does but we should demand more, far more. Otherwise we shall just have to be satisfied with second best for the foreseeable future.

Spot on the money.

[skeptic]

The difference between a Raph Clarke good game and a Raph Clarke great game is his ability to hurt opposition.

Raph Clarke is capable of being an offensive defender that really really hurts you on the rebound, wins a lot of ball, use it well etc

That's the one area of his game that we haven't developed properly.

He is and always has been a top notch defender IMO and his defensive work was superb again last night.

Last night was a good game and plays a lot of them... far more than he's given credit for... not a lot of great games though

[skeptic]

I don't hate Raph but if you want to pump him up and accept mediocrity in our team then good luck to you. He has not yet rewarded this club for the opportunities he has received so far and I hope he does but we should demand more, far more. Otherwise we shall just have to be satisfied with second best for the foreseeable future.

I'd hardly call him mediocre...

but I see your point. Me personally I put other players in that category like Jones, Ray, Gram etc (not based on last night)