Two things saints fans have finally stopped believing!

[brown-coat]

That we have one of the most talented lists in the AFL.

That Raph Clarke is a star in the making.

I've noticed this in recent weeks. Refreshing that folks are finally, slowly, inevitably seeing clearly again.

Now lets play some tough footy!

[dsreg1]

Broad brush

[redwhite&blackblood]

An the only reason anyone believed all that in the first place was the media built things up and all the sheep follow. Now the Media are looking like tools for getting it wrong again so they have and will continue to condemn the club for not producing with the so called "Great list" that it wasn't their error but the clubs mismanagement.

If Raph actually played to his talent he could be anything but he isn't a go getter he is more take my serve kinda guy. So he will not improve as quick (if at all) as we expected.

[joffaboy]

Now lets play some tough footy!

Only worthwhile part of the OT.

[brown-coat]

I'm serious though. These factors hype us too much. Creates too much silly expectation, the players forget the fundamental things of footy.

Now all the expectation is off, you just go out and play some hardass nothing to lose football. IMO.

[dsreg1]

I'm serious though. These factors hype us too much. Creates too much silly expectation, the players forget the fundamental things of footy.

Now all the expectation is off, you just go out and play some hardass nothing to lose football. IMO.

So fans believing in an injury ravaged youngster has caused the team to 'hype too much'?

[brown-coat]

Yes 100% correctomundo Issac. The bane of 2008!

[Saints Premiers 2008]

if raph wasn't indigenous he would not have the tag of unfulfilled potential

and no i dont care whether he is orange, purple or silver

its a media beat up that all indigenour players that get drafted are silky and pull plays from nowhere

[Solar]

if raph wasn't indigenous he would not have the tag of unfulfilled potential

and no i dont care whether he is orange, purple or silver

its a media beat up that all indigenour players that get drafted are silky and pull plays from nowhere

come on, he was seen as a player with a huge upside before he was drafted, remember when he played on kouta as a 16 year old for a NT team?

Still has a huge upside and was one of the few who when times got tough put his body in. Don't think we have seen the last of raph, all comes down to confidence IMO

[Spinner]

if raph wasn't indigenous he would not have the tag of unfulfilled potential

and no i dont care whether he is orange, purple or silver

its a media beat up that all indigenour players that get drafted are silky and pull plays from nowhere

Obviously you have some agenda there.....No one else brought up Clarke's skin colour.

Can't you just hate him to being a poor player?

Can't you accept his potential stems from bing a Top 10 draft pick?

....Ill go as far as saying thats pretty much a racist driven post......because it is.

[matrix]

i had no problem with it.
and i didnt think it was a racist comment.

[midas_touch]

Raph could have all the potential in the world, however raw talent alone can only get you so far. Development plays a big role in youngsters fulfilling their potential, so it would be this area in which Raph has struggled in, in turn creating the lack of confidence that is obviously affecting him.

[WinnersOnly]

I posted years ago that I was concerned that Raph and Xavier were not developing their bodies sufficiently to acheive results in the AFL. Raph particularly has not worked hard enough on his running or disposal (no dynamic running capabilities what so ever). He has relied solely on his natural talent to get him through and has failed!

Well Raph that just doesn't cut it at this level as 90% of your opponents also have natural talent and most have worked a darn site harder to acheive results.

The club and training staff have also failed him in this regard, but it is too late now for Raph to redress his weaknesses he will not be at the club next year. I just hope for his and the clubs sake that they can arrange a trade for him!

[Beekay]

if raph wasn't indigenous he would not have the tag of unfulfilled potential

and no i dont care whether he is orange, purple or silver

its a media beat up that all indigenour players that get drafted are silky and pull plays from nowhere

Obviously you have some agenda there.....No one else brought up Clarke's skin colour.

Can't you just hate him to being a poor player?

Can't you accept his potential stems from bing a Top 10 draft pick?

....Ill go as far as saying thats pretty much a racist driven post......because it is.

Don't be an idiot.

[mightysainters]

he was our first pick in the draft of course he will have hype... pick 8 is high... and was touted as a top 5 before he was injured just before the under 18's carnival...

Plain and simple he has not fulfilled the potential he was touted as having and is a DUD, should be delisted... just a list filler..will never be anything...

[Mr Magic]

he was our first pick in the draft of course he will have hype... pick 8 is high... and was touted as a top 5 before he was injured just before the under 18's carnival...

Plain and simple he has not fulfilled the potential he was touted as having and is a DUD, should be delisted... just a list filler..will never be anything...

I recall hearing/reading media speculation at the time about the fact that everyone knew we wanted to get Raphael with our first pick and the 'odds' that he would be still available when we had our pick. I even had a converstion with JB about it at the 'Thommo Club' night held before that draft. When I told JB what I had heard, he smiled and was non-committal about whether we were planning to pick Raph or not.

[Spinner]

he was our first pick in the draft of course he will have hype... pick 8 is high... and was touted as a top 5 before he was injured just before the under 18's carnival...

Plain and simple he has not fulfilled the potential he was touted as having and is a DUD, should be delisted... just a list filler..will never be anything...

I think with time, Raph has the potential to be one of the best players in the AFL.

With time....and a lot of it I might add.

Only 40 odd games thus far....with many after returning from injury....I have faith.

[bigcarl]

Still has a huge upside and was one of the few who when times got tough put his body in. Don't think we have seen the last of raph, all comes down to confidence IMO

agree. i haven't lost faith in him and expect him to make some sort of an impact later in the season, especially if we play finals.

his errors make him look bad and people tend to overlook the good things he does. i agree that it is a confidence thing.

bring him in last week in a team that wins by 70 points and i'm sure a few would be singing his praises.

[Solar]

I posted years ago that I was concerned that Raph and Xavier were not developing their bodies sufficiently to acheive results in the AFL. Raph particularly has not worked hard enough on his running or didposal (no dynamic running capabilities what so ever). He has relied solely on his natural talent to get him through and has failed!

Well Raph that just doesn't cut it at this level as 90% of your opponents also have natural talent and most have worked a darn site harder to acheive results.

The club and training staff have also failed him in this regard, but it is too late now for Raph to redress his weaknesses he will not be at the club next year. I just hope for his and the clubs sake that they can arrange a trade for him!

may I remind you of the fact that last preseason was the first full preseason raph's body has allowed him to get through. Coming back from back and hamstring injuries mean that he has lost conditioning in his legs.

As someone else pointed out, he has only played 40 odd injury plagued games.

But some on here pick their targets and don't give up. Those saying he will be delisted must have won the jackpot last night because they are claiming too see the future.....

[my les foote]

if raph wasn't indigenous he would not have the tag of unfulfilled potential

and no i dont care whether he is orange, purple or silver

its a media beat up that all indigenour players that get drafted are silky and pull plays from nowhere

Caydn Beetham was another indigenous player who didn't fulfill his potential. Or maybe he was just a top ten draft pick

[bob__71]

What a bunch of sad bastards....with such support i find it hard to believe that he turns up at all.

Just another example of never played loosers big noting themselves on the internet.

Brown coat is the biggest troll on this site.

[brown-coat]

Brown coat is the biggest troll on this site.

Not really.

I'm just always right, when people believe lots of rose coloured fantasies they call me a troll.

All hail brown-coat.

[plugger66]

if raph wasn't indigenous he would not have the tag of unfulfilled potential

and no i dont care whether he is orange, purple or silver

its a media beat up that all indigenour players that get drafted are silky and pull plays from nowhere

Caydn Beetham was another indigenous player who didn't fulfill his potential. Or maybe he was just a top ten draft pick

Pretty sure hwe wasnt indeigenous but yes didnt fulfill potential.

[bobmurray]

if raph wasn't indigenous he would not have the tag of unfulfilled potential

and no i dont care whether he is orange, purple or silver

its a media beat up that all indigenour players that get drafted are silky and pull plays from nowhere

Obviously you have some agenda there.....No one else brought up Clarke's skin colour.

Can't you just hate him to being a poor player?

Can't you accept his potential stems from bing a Top 10 draft pick?

....Ill go as far as saying thats pretty much a racist driven post......because it is.

It wasn't a racist post,but that won't stop people trying to inflame things by pulling out the racist card,there's a few on here who play it whenever they can......master baiters......

[my les foote]

if raph wasn't indigenous he would not have the tag of unfulfilled potential

and no i dont care whether he is orange, purple or silver

its a media beat up that all indigenour players that get drafted are silky and pull plays from nowhere

Caydn Beetham was another indigenous player who didn't fulfill his potential. Or maybe he was just a top ten draft pick

Pretty sure hwe wasnt indeigenous but yes didnt fulfill potential.

Thanks, I didn't know that