Raph Clarke

[Teflon]

Do not want a bagging thread but am looking for arease we will have to improve IF we are to beat full strength Geelongs etc and Raph Clarke to me tonight was ordinary. Looked slow, again put players under pressure and at times just had no INTENSITY.

This guy has supposed super talent - IF we can harness this our backline gets a gem and our rebounding ability another huge boost (I thought Adelaide looked fantastic on the rebound tonight) so what is it? X displays enormous urgency - Raph appears to be at another place....tis a worry and to me this HAS to be his year to turn it around - you can see Lyon has the faith he keeps on playing him...time to really step up for me.

[Enrico_Misso]

Agree he was poor tonight.
He just seems to be indecisive when he gets the ball.
Needs to build up confidence.

[saintsRrising]

Both the Clarkes are not good "thinkers".

However X does more than enough to earn his spot....and makesa lot less errors than Raph.

Raph however makes too many soft msitakes. For example every game he kicks to a stationary Saints player..allowing the opposition to run in and spoil or mark.


With Raph...I would play Geary or L Fisher before I would select Raph.

[Iceman234]

Is currently 23-30 for mine.

[LTN16]

He was average tonight.

He played mostly as a loose man in defence but needs to improve his kicking. He struggles to get any penetration and they always end up being hospital kicks. When he was drafted they said that he was the best young player to ever come out of the NT. He has got a lot of potential and I hope he can live up to his expectations in the future.

[The_Dud]

too many hospital passes

struggles under pressure

[benengel14]

As an opposition coach, if there was one player you could leave unguarded without fear of being hurt - it would be Raph Clarke. Leave him by himself in the forward 50 and you'd still take the odds.

We keep being reminded that he has talent, but hasn't strung together enough games showing this.

It is certainly too soon to write him off, and I think he could very well make a turn-around this season. At the moment though; his decision-making is poor and doesn't cope well under pressure. But if he's got the talent some claim he has - too soon to write him off.

saintsRrising:Who was it? Raph or another player? who hand-ball'd to Harvey in the Essendon game, who then got caught and a free paid against him?

[skeptic]

our expectation of him is that he's a KPP (as a defender) who's expected to have the silky skills and run of a midfielder... thats a tough role.

he's excellent in the air, and is one of the few players in this team that does the "do what it takes no matter the cost" things e.g. make that last ditch spoil, win that ball in the pack, take the kick under pressure...

I guess sometimes he tries to play a bit above himself pull off too many freaky things which he can't.

The fact remains however that he's one of the best in the air players in our team and he's certainly some1 i'd want to see around when the ball hits the ground.

The area he needs to work on is his discipline, RL needs to get it into his head when to go up, when to stay down, what options are good and what are not... he's got the tools and he'll make it IMO

[my les foote]

Two things that stood out for me tonight with Raph.

1. The commentators called him Raph or Raphael, not Raffa.

2. The kid that presented him with the medal had a mullet that had me asking myself if Wayne Weideman had children

[fonz_#15]

he will not play in a premiership side.. and we wont be a premeirship side with him in it..

[Solar]

strange one, we so the highs and lows with raph in every game

can do some very silly things when given to much time to dwell with the ball, yet is fantastic with spoils and good hands and a clever kick if he goes his his instincts. Needs to be coached well but pressure is on to keep his spot in the best 22, which is a good thing

[ace]

The world is full of failed talent.

Sucessful application of talent is a lot rarer.

Raph has to deliver on his talent. X has already admitted that it time for himself to start delivering.

[Saint Bev]

Raph played the way Raph always plays, shocking.............. How many chances......... Sorry folks, he is a dud

[ausfatcat]

Raph played ok not great but ok he had a brain fade for about 10 mins but did some good things, he played better than Gilbert in my book. you guys are being too harsh

[riccardo]

I think Raf is nearly there, he just needs a bit more polish about his performance.

But after 4 years maybe this year is his last chance. Hope he amps it up.

[Dan Warna]

actually raph was in a premiership side

ordinary form but x took a bit of time to develop.

[JeffDunne]

Do not want a bagging thread . . . .

So why start one?

Your bagging of him in other threads not providing you with enough satisfaction?

Raph certainly needs to step up and earn his place in the 22.

I fairness though, the kid has missed a lot of football and has been asked to play some pretty demading roles.

[snoopygirl]

I'm happy to wait until Max & Goose are back in the side & then see how he holds up in the backline before I write him off.

[LTN16]

I'm happy to wait until Max & Goose are back in the side & then see how he holds up in the backline before I write him off.

Thats a good point because when we get Max & Goose I'm sure that there won't be as much pressure on Raph & Gilbert so it will be good to see what they play like then.

[Armoooo]

I can't see Raph getting a game over any of the following: Gram, Xavier, L.Fisher, Hudghton, Baker, Goddard, Gilbert, Dempster, S.Fisher or Blake....
He just isn't in our 22...

[plugger66]

I can't see Raph getting a game over any of the following: Gram, Xavier, L.Fisher, Hudghton, Baker, Goddard, Gilbert, Dempster, S.Fisher or Blake....
He just isn't in our 22...

I think he would be ahead of Dempster. Could be fighting with Fish for a position IMO.

[brown-coat]

Raph Clare is a dud of the highest order.

He has no hidden talent, nothing.

He only has a mind full of indecision.

Sorry to be harsh, but he will lose us games if we keep him in the side. How much confidence do you need to just..fricking kick the ball to a team mate?

[matrix]

he's frustrating to watch....along with birss.
i cant see them being selected in the grand final 22

[joffaboy]

Raph Clare is a dud of the highest order.

Who are you?

He has no hidden talent, nothing.

Crap

He only has a mind full of indecision.

Crap

Sorry to be harsh, but he will lose us games if we keep him in the side.

Crap. He was instrumental in us scoring the winning goal last night. Thats slipped by you did it you Raph basher?

How much confidence do you need to just..fricking kick the ball to a team mate?

WTF would you know? Have you ever played in defence for an AFL team?

All you are is a negative Raph hater. He was no worse that Gilbert or Allen last night.

Have to question your motive for only singling out Raph ahead of those two. If you weren't so clueless I would put it down to something a bit more sinister, however you have constantly shown that your lack of insight on football would make your turgid, ill informed statements, just foolish more than any other low agenda.

[WinnersOnly]

He tries hard and is generally good under pressure - but he lacks 10 metres off the mark speed and his kicking is too up and under which also lacks penetration.

If someone can get hold of him and improve those things he will be a big asset. If not IMO there will be a lot of players move in front of him and he will end up draft bait at seasons end...