Credit To Raph Clarke

[Bernard Shakey]

Thank you Raph for a great game today, to follow up your great game last week.

Keep it going mate, and the sky's the limit.

[JeffDunne]

Agreed.

Given the year he's had off the field & the crap he's copped from his own 'supporters', it's a real credit to him to come back like he has.

Well played Raph!

[Teflon]

Hear hear.

I admit to having this bloke gone.

I didnt think hed cut it.

I was wrong and am super glad to admit that.

Great game. Wrapt the attack on the footy and decision making was first class.

[evertonfc]

My heart swelled a little with pride today to see him play with such dash and flair...but with some intensity and awareness, too.

The game suited him today. It was very unnacountable, loose and free-flowing.

I fear the pressure-cooker of can't-make-mistakes from next week onwards might be tough for him, especially if he has to mark a Steven Johnson, Ryan Gamble or Mathew Stokes - he habitually gets destroyed by players with footy smarts.

He did well today and I was impressed, but finals throws up a whole new intensity - and requires close checking and smart play of the highest order.

Having said that, in 2005, he played very well against Adelaide - but I'm just still a little shaky this time around.

Maybe without Dempster and Maguire, and with Gram and Chips playing up the ground, we might not have a choice.

[stinger]

My heart swelled a little with pride today to see him play with such dash and flair...but with some intensity and awareness, too.

The game suited him today. It was very unnacountable, loose and free-flowing.

I fear the pressure-cooker of can't-make-mistakes from next week onwards might be tough for him, especially if he has to mark a Steven Johnson, Ryan Gamble or Mathew Stokes - he habitually gets destroyed by players with footy smarts.

He did well today and I was impressed, but finals throws up a whole new intensity - and requires close checking and smart play of the highest order.

Having said that, in 2005, he played very well against Adelaide - but I'm just still a little shaky this time around.

Maybe without Dempster and Maguire, and with Gram and Chips playing up the ground, we might not have a choice.

give him some credit ffs........

[saintly_safes]

Have been A Raph critic & dont shy away from that , I give credit where credit is due & he has proved me wrong .He deserves all the praise hes getting & i hope he just keeps on keeping on

[saintspremiers]

My heart swelled a little with pride today to see him play with such dash and flair...but with some intensity and awareness, too.

The game suited him today. It was very unnacountable, loose and free-flowing.

I fear the pressure-cooker of can't-make-mistakes from next week onwards might be tough for him, especially if he has to mark a Steven Johnson, Ryan Gamble or Mathew Stokes - he habitually gets destroyed by players with footy smarts.

He did well today and I was impressed, but finals throws up a whole new intensity - and requires close checking and smart play of the highest order.

Having said that, in 2005, he played very well against Adelaide - but I'm just still a little shaky this time around.

Maybe without Dempster and Maguire, and with Gram and Chips playing up the ground, we might not have a choice.

I hope Raph prints this out and re your issue of struggling in a finals pressure environment writes "BS" all over it, and proves you wrong!

Raph CAN play good footy under pressure, and I reckon he WILL against Geelong. Trust him. I do now.

[Otiman]

From where he was 2 months ago in the VFL, it's an amazingly huge leap. He was copping abuse from the stands of Casey, and I said at the time that his heart just didn't seem in his footy, which is probably a huge insult to the man.

I had his '08 written off after seeing the way he went about it, but to his credit, and to the credit of those that supported him closely, good on him.

He has worked through adversity, which I won't bring up here, but his steely resolve and discipline has seen him break into the AFL side a much better player than ever before.

[Sam23]

My heart swelled a little with pride today to see him play with such dash and flair...but with some intensity and awareness, too.

The game suited him today. It was very unnacountable, loose and free-flowing.

I fear the pressure-cooker of can't-make-mistakes from next week onwards might be tough for him, especially if he has to mark a Steven Johnson, Ryan Gamble or Mathew Stokes - he habitually gets destroyed by players with footy smarts.

He did well today and I was impressed, but finals throws up a whole new intensity - and requires close checking and smart play of the highest order.

Having said that, in 2005, he played very well against Adelaide - but I'm just still a little shaky this time around.

Maybe without Dempster and Maguire, and with Gram and Chips playing up the ground, we might not have a choice.

Disgraceful post.


3 solid games in a row for Raph now.

[i_luv_nick_riewoldt]

I noticed how calm under pressure he was, if the ball was on the ground near him in the 50m then he would just pick it up and dash through the middle!! He was great, keep going young man!!

[BAM! (shhhh)]

My heart swelled a little with pride today to see him play with such dash and flair...but with some intensity and awareness, too.

The game suited him today. It was very unnacountable, loose and free-flowing.

I fear the pressure-cooker of can't-make-mistakes from next week onwards might be tough for him, especially if he has to mark a Steven Johnson, Ryan Gamble or Mathew Stokes - he habitually gets destroyed by players with footy smarts.

He did well today and I was impressed, but finals throws up a whole new intensity - and requires close checking and smart play of the highest order.

Having said that, in 2005, he played very well against Adelaide - but I'm just still a little shaky this time around.

Maybe without Dempster and Maguire, and with Gram and Chips playing up the ground, we might not have a choice.

Raph is one I'm going to be watching very, very closely.

I strongly believe that for all (necessary) the focus on blooding kids, and building up games, it's finals experience that really tells you, really makes, and really breaks a lot of players.

While today's game may have helped the statsline (for everyone, not just Raph), given his recent form, this is where we'll really find out - he's still young, but this is where everything gets magnified by everyone - not just his own supporters.

If he can play the way he has the last 3 weeks, he'll get credit he wouldn't be able to remember from his debut year... and if he lets brainfades colour his game, he'll be written off by the world at large.

Big stage, and he's a talent whose probably earned the right to play finals. He and Gwilt are part of the reason for our form, and I can't wait to see what they do next week.

[The Fireman]

Have a listen to you wankers, the guy has been a liability for so long and he strings a couple together and you go ape droppings.











............he is doing ok, isn't he

[Moccha]

My heart swelled a little with pride today to see him play with such dash and flair...but with some intensity and awareness, too.

The game suited him today. It was very unnacountable, loose and free-flowing.

I fear the pressure-cooker of can't-make-mistakes from next week onwards might be tough for him, especially if he has to mark a Steven Johnson, Ryan Gamble or Mathew Stokes - he habitually gets destroyed by players with footy smarts.

He did well today and I was impressed, but finals throws up a whole new intensity - and requires close checking and smart play of the highest order.

Having said that, in 2005, he played very well against Adelaide - but I'm just still a little shaky this time around.

Maybe without Dempster and Maguire, and with Gram and Chips playing up the ground, we might not have a choice.

Stokes is up on report. I reckon he'll miss a week

[fonz_#15]

i won't shy away from being one of the idiots who wrote raph off...


i am so happy to be wrong

[To the top]

Some on here seem to have forgotten his game v. Adelaide in the 2005 Qualifying Final.

Centre-half-back in wet conditions in Adelaide, played in front of a bigger opponent all night and was one of the BOG's behind Harvey.

You do not play as he played that night, with less than 20 games under his belt, if you can not play the game.

And it was a final.

[bigcarl]

the kid has some serious ability.

some will laugh, but he looks a potential superstar to me and i think ultimately might be wasted to an extent on a hbf.

like to see him play wing with stints on the ball.

[n1ck]

Played very well again tonight.

3 good games in a row.

He's building nicely, the kid.

[Otiman]

the kid has some serious ability.

some will laugh, but he looks a potential superstar to me and i think ultimately might be wasted to an extent on a hbf.

like to see him play wing with stints on the ball.

Can't play 22 blokes on the ball.

[n1ck]

the kid has some serious ability.

some will laugh, but he looks a potential superstar to me and i think ultimately might be wasted to an extent on a hbf.

like to see him play wing with stints on the ball.

Can't play 22 blokes on the ball.

The bulldogs somehow manage!

[SideshowMilne]

My heart swelled a little with pride today to see him play with such dash and flair...but with some intensity and awareness, too..

give him some credit ffs........

My heart swelled a little with pride today to see him play with such dash and flair...but with some intensity and awareness, too.

Disgraceful post.


3 solid games in a row for Raph now.

Above is my pet hate with SS. Somone writes a personal opinion which is pretty close to the mark (and contains praise mind you), and it gets beat down by a couple of one-eyed dingbats who can only tolerate 100% positive sentiments posted. Without educated fan opinion both ways SS is worthless.

[Richter]

the kid has some serious ability.

some will laugh, but he looks a potential superstar to me and i think ultimately might be wasted to an extent on a hbf.

like to see him play wing with stints on the ball.

Can't play 22 blokes on the ball.

Why not? For us only Max has not had a run through the midfield at some stage this season.

[Spinner]

Gun!!!

Will dominate the AFL in four to five years time!!!

[stinger]

My heart swelled a little with pride today to see him play with such dash and flair...but with some intensity and awareness, too..

give him some credit ffs........

My heart swelled a little with pride today to see him play with such dash and flair...but with some intensity and awareness, too.

Disgraceful post.


3 solid games in a row for Raph now.

Above is my pet hate with SS. Somone writes a personal opinion which is pretty close to the mark (and contains praise mind you), and it gets beat down by a couple of one-eyed dingbats who can only tolerate 100% positive sentiments posted. Without educated fan opinion both ways SS is worthless.

well piss off then.....

...you know sfa.......


raph was criticised so much on here it caused him depression.........don't take my word for it....that comes from his mum......

..he then plays a very good game...only to be again doubted by pple on here....after some faint praise sure...but.... sure i stuck up for him.....and for that i get a f*** wit like you calling me a dingbat .....not that i give a fat rats for your opinion, clown.......



i'm betting that you are a carsum troll anyway......

[Sobraz]

Massive Raph fan... Plays the game the way I wish I could...

One thing ive noiced since he's been back in the side is his size... He looks like he has grown up and sideways, and is now much stronger than even a few months ago..

He has a great frame and is filling out... its only going to get better for Raph..

[bigcarl]

Massive Raph fan... Plays the game the way I wish I could...

One thing ive noiced since he's been back in the side is his size... He looks like he has grown up and sideways, and is now much stronger than even a few months ago..

He has a great frame and is filling out... its only going to get better for Raph..

people are saying kosi's the wildcard going in to september and that might be true, but i reckon it's more so for raphael.

a very good player (potentially a very, very good player) that the competition has written off and will pay scant respect.

i'd bring in his older brother X for dempster and free raphael up to create ... loose across half back or on the wing or even on the ball for a bit.