Hunter Clark 56% Time On Ground 😱

[WellardSaint]

He was on field for about 56% of the 3rd qtr
45% of the last qtr

Total for the game was 56%.

He still got 22 touches- i think 16 kicks.
He seemed to be everywhere in the 3rd qtr and set up several F50 entries.
When he got the ball, he made things happen.
I can't recall any clangers or is that my rose-coloured glasses.

Is he on managed minutes- did he have the flu or something?
He was about the lowest Time On Ground apart from Garcia, I think.

[nostalgicsaint]

He was on field for about 56% of the 3rd qtr
45% of the last qtr

Total for the game was 56%.

He still got 22 touches- i think 16 kicks.
He seemed to be everywhere in the 3rd qtr and set up several F50 entries.
When he got the ball, he made things happen.
I can't recall any clangers or is that my rose-coloured glasses.

Is he on managed minutes- did he have the flu or something?
He was about the lowest Time On Ground apart from Garcia, I think.

This has been consistent most of his career and he has had an injury interrupted year.

The way he plays inside would be pretty taxing. Personally no major issues with it, think he is in great form.

[Lennylegs]

Won't get the votes but I thought he was as important as anyone on the ground. The way he can draw two or three opponents and then get the ball to the outside it so important to the way we play. I don't think it was a coincidence that we got smacked around the footy the last time he didn't play.

If we have to continue to manage his minutes to get more games out of him, so be it. He's too important a player for him to be injured all the time.

[The Fireman]

Much luv

Fanboy

[Otiman]

A real concern if it continues into next year.

Teams can have an 'impact' player but for someone like Hunter Clark we would want him on the ground more than that.

[nostalgicsaint]

A real concern if it continues into next year.

Teams can have an 'impact' player but for someone like Hunter Clark we would want him on the ground more than that.

You don't think he has an impact?

Would suggest looking at our team/midfield performance this year and compare the numbers when he was playing vs not.

[Lennylegs]

A real concern if it continues into next year.

Teams can have an 'impact' player but for someone like Hunter Clark we would want him on the ground more than that.

I don't think he's incapable of playing more minutes. I think we're just being super conservative with him. Which is fine for now.

[skeptic]

I get the impression that this will be the norm for him…

Most of his injuries tend to be from collisions and harsh as it sounds… at least to a degree are sloppy technique from him in protecting himself. I think what happens is that he gets tired and that technique drops off.

As a result, I reckon what they’re doing with him is playing him in intense bursts then resting him

[Moods]

Yeah, fine for this year, but moving forward he needs to be able to play 70 - 75% game time. Even that is missing a quarter of the game.

He was very good Saturday night though, and if he can manage 20-25 quality possessions a game regardless of time on ground I’d be happy. It puts pressure on other players however, if one player can’t be out there much more than a half

[Moods]

I get the impression that this will be the norm for him…

Most of his injuries tend to be from collisions and harsh as it sounds… at least to a degree are sloppy technique from him in protecting himself. I think what happens is that he gets tired and that technique drops off.

As a result, I reckon what they’re doing with him is playing him in intense bursts then resting him

That’s quite perceptive tbh, good point

[repta]

Definitely long term view. 2 games left. He needs some game time. But absolutely cannot be over exposed and get injured.

He needs a full preseason uninterrupted to get fully match fit and to have a few more years of playing

[The Fireman]

The Japanese would have loved to have had him as a pilot during World War II

[Rubyjo]

There was one bit of play where he was streaming through the middle as fast as he could which was nice to see..he is a loper and lanky as, lacks pace but makes up for it In other ways .

[SaintWiki]

Great to see him suddenly turning up and ripping the opposition apart. Whatever the reason is for his gametime, keep it up Saints.

[Scollop]

While Clark was tearing it up at VFL level for 3 weeks in a row in May, St Kilda were losing close games of footy.

Perplexing why he wasn't in the team. They could have played him for 56% game time.

They played Jack Hayes in the seniors straight away after just 1 VFL game (despite Hayes having repeat injuries for a long time) but they left Hunter in the magoos for 3 weeks!

We lost close games in Rnd 9 and Rnd 10 due mostly because match committee decided to leave Hunter Clark out of the senior side. Hawthorn and Freo were both winnable games (at that stage of the year).

Liam Henry had a 6 or 7 week layoff due to a hamstring. He went straight back into the team and had minimal impact in those 2 games. We played Hastie as well in those games if I recall correctly.

https://www.saintsational.net/viewtopic ... 2#p2060312

[CURLY]

While Clark was tearing it up at VFL level for 3 weeks in a row in May, St Kilda were losing close games of footy.

Perplexing why he wasn't in the team. They could have played him for 56% game time.

They played Jack Hayes in the seniors straight away after just 1 VFL game (despite Hayes having repeat injuries for a long time) but they left Hunter in the magoos for 3 weeks!

We lost close games in Rnd 9 and Rnd 10 due mostly because match committee decided to leave Hunter Clark out of the senior side. Hawthorn and Freo were both winnable games (at that stage of the year).

Liam Henry had a 6 or 7 week layoff due to a hamstring. He went straight back into the team and had minimal impact in those 2 games. We played Hastie as well in those games if I recall correctly.

https://www.saintsational.net/viewtopic ... 2#p2060312

Learning a new role and he has benefited as a result. Same as Pou.

[Scollop]

The same role they've playing since they were 9 years of age. The role of playing the game of aussie rules

[CURLY]

The same role they've playing since they were 9 years of age. The role of playing the game of aussie rules

Yeah great call don’t know why they don’t just boot it long and stuff hand balling.
What are these rotations.
Why do our backs keep rolling up why aren’t our forwards just chasing the ball around.

[Vortex]

What do most think about Hunter, is he part of the future now?

Does Lyon rate him? Does he hope he will build an AFL body this pre season or is he happy with his current commitment to the gym?

[B.M]

Loves his courage and football iq

But is
Unfit, slow and sloppy

He needs to get serious about his running ability - which is woeful for a mid

[silverhalo]

Hunter still has areas to improve on but he is playing some really good footy at the moment. I've mentioned on the forum before that his minutes on ground are very limited, not sure why. Doesn't have the tank??

[cwrcyn]

The coach likes him.

He's got a heap of talent. His composure in traffic is better than most guys in our team and he's creative.

Let's hope his next preseason is uninterrupted. He missed a chunk of last preseason and a big chunk of the season proper.

[Killa]

Takes one to know one, hey BM?

Clark is all class as he is demonstrating in his managed minutes - and vital to St Kilda

In regards the VFL, he left the field in his first game back early with a knee issue then cleared to play the next week on managed minutes

Given his absence, this was why his return to the AFL was delayed

And yes, he could have seen different results in the games he has missed which would have meant finals this year

Some of the opinions on here are perplexing such as Howard being “rag dolled” leading to Geelong’s first goal - the problem was the former Adelaide player running free with no pressure and being able to put the ball to the advantage of the forward

But it seems plenty on here have their prejudices and those prejudices dominate “opinion”

[WellardSaint]

Well done to all for the responses.

My own feelings about his 56% TOG and his trajectory this season, are a bit of a smorgasbord of every post here.

I see merit in every point raised here.
Good work all.

I agree that Clark might seem sort of lanky but he knows how to sidle his way out of congestion, more often than not, and he although he wasn't on for long, boy did it seem like he was in everything. He's such a smooth mover and his absence hurt us

[SteeleSaints]

Hunters lack of aerobic running capacity is why he will never be nothing more than a GOP.