Raph Clarke as a forward

[SydneySainter]

The concept has been brought up before, but does anyone think that Raph can cut it as a forward? I still think he can be a liability as a rebounding defender.

[stinger]

i do...always have......anybody who ever saw him cutting through the half forward lines in n t would also agree.....

[chook23]

Whenever he has had a chance of set shot at goal.......

has almost always looked very very shaky.............almost shitting himself

unless with a bit of maturity.....things might change but I doubt it from my observations.

[Teflon]

Im not sure he has the aggressive defensive fwd mindset we need up there...

Speaking with Cat fans....they reckon Gamble has this so will be interesting to see how he goes at it.

[stinger]

Im not sure he has the aggressive defensive fwd mindset we need up there...

Speaking with Cat fans....they reckon Gamble has this so will be interesting to see how he goes at it.

gamble is a pretty good footballer......i had lunch with a guy yesterday who has been involved with the cats over the past few years..........i asked him about gamble.....he said that he was never given enough game time by the cats to really shine.....and that he was looking forward to seeing him excel at the saints....

[stinger]

Whenever he has had a chance of set shot at goal.......

has almost always looked very very shaky.............almost shitting himself

unless with a bit of maturity.....things might change but I doubt it from my observations.

true...but that has only developed since he joined the saints.....he often kicked goals in the territory....

[evertonfc]

Speak no evil on Saintsational re RC still applies, so I'd answer the opening by saying we have better options on the half-forward line already.

Crucially, you need to be able to win the ball at ground level, think quickly, be a good shot for goal, a strong tackler, a hard worker and a real eye for goal.

It's why Raph won't cut it in that role - and some of the above mean it will be very hard for Sam Gilbert to convert as well.

Ryan Gamble, in my view, is a better option in the forward half. Gilbert and Clarke are better suited to the back half where, like Jason Gram, their less-than-ideal footskills can be covered when they break lines and kick long.

[skeptic]

i love Raph but I doubt his body is capable of playing the explosive, sudden change to quick intensity required for the forward line

idea has merit though

[saintlee]

The concept has been brought up before, but does anyone think that Raph can cut it as a forward?

Not in my opinion.

[Bardon Saint]

no


at times he has shown brilliance up back. His role would also lessen the need for players like Gilbert or Goddard to go back.

[jack]

I think moving Raph to the forward line would be a good move.

I also thought that moving Gehrig to the forward line was one of the most stupid idea's that I ever heard.

Don't think Ross will be listening to my opinion.

[GrumpyOne]

Whenever he has had a chance of set shot at goal.......

has almost always looked very very shaky.............almost shitting himself

unless with a bit of maturity.....things might change but I doubt it from my observations.

true...but that has only developed since he joined the saints.....he often kicked goals in the territory....

I think his natural kicking and running style often makes him look like a deer in the headlights.

Thinks somewhat outside of the box sometimes playing in defence. That could be an asset in attack.

I always thought he could be a Mickey O type in attack.

[Spinner]

Raph and Gilbo on the HFF's would be ineresting... Ironic we have been lackig HFF's in recent years....

[maverick]

Speak no evil on Saintsational re RC still applies, so I'd answer the opening by saying we have better options on the half-forward line already.

Comments like these are unnecessary.
Some factual unemotional analysis doesn't go astray whether it's praise or constructive criticism

IMO his hands are not strong enough in marking contests to play forward and he falls over too much.

Defensive winger maybe

[suss]

One of Raph, Gilbert or Gwilt will have to play forward from time to time this year, and only one of them has the finishing skills to do the job...guess who?

[thejiggingsaint]

I think the idea of Gilbert in the forward line is a joke! Just refer back to his goal "efforts" in the GF replay! As a matter of fact the guy should be traded for his role in the facebook affair!

[hAyES]

Raph is bad enough at half back, I couldn't begin to imagine how bad he'd be at half forward. We've got Gilbert and Gamble going to half forward so Raph can focus on doing a hammy which is what he's best at.

[bobmurray]

I think Raph should be tried as a forward.....


At Sandringham..................

in between injuries....

[Eastern]

How about Raph on a wing ? !!

[SainterK]

I think the idea of Gilbert in the forward line is a joke! Just refer back to his goal "efforts" in the GF replay! As a matter of fact the guy should be traded for his role in the facebook affair!

Can you really simulate match day though TJS, he may of pushed forward at match practice, or in a NAB cup game....

Nothing like GF day really, pretty big stage to kind of debut as a key forward?

I think he has shown he has potential in the role, think it's worth trying.

[SaintPav]

Im not sure he has the aggressive defensive fwd mindset we need up there...

Speaking with Cat fans....they reckon Gamble has this so will be interesting to see how he goes at it.

Raph has laid some excellent bumps and tackles in his time. In fact, he has taken a couple out with some top bumps. I wouldn't underestimate this aspect of his game but I don't think he is a forward.

For those who insist that he is a liability, go look at the 2009 Prelim DVD. His rebound was one of the reasons we won that game. I think we missed him last year. It's all in the head with him. He needs to play with his instinct and take the first option.

[bergholt]

One of Raph, Gilbert or Gwilt will have to play forward from time to time this year, and only one of them has the finishing skills to do the job...guess who?

are you implying jimmy? because you might remember that his first thirty games were forward and he looked lost down there, generally. i love the kid too much in defence to waste time trying him forward again.

[DWOODROW]

Well I had a dream about Raph handballing in the backline last night in the back pocket. It was intercepted and kicked through for a goal by the opposite team. Can't quite work out who the team was though.

I hope raph doesn't see this cause i will be staying with him next week. Hi.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

How about Raph on a wing ? !!

+1. That's where I've always thought he is ideally suited.
He does pretty well generally, down back, but his mistakes are very costly there and I wouldn't be confident of him getting it done up forward.
Wing is surely his best position. He can just run around without worrying about someone kicking goals on him, or being responsible for kicking goals himself and that could do wonders for him.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

I think the idea of Gilbert in the forward line is a joke! Just refer back to his goal "efforts" in the GF replay! As a matter of fact the guy should be traded for his role in the facebook affair!

Can you really simulate match day though TJS, he may of pushed forward at match practice, or in a NAB cup game....

Nothing like GF day really, pretty big stage to kind of debut as a key forward?

I think he has shown he has potential in the role, think it's worth trying.

Exactly and it's not as though his shots for goal in GF2 were absolute shockers or anything. One missed by a Dal's dick and one of the other two only missed by a couple of feet. And it's not as if the 3rd went out on the full or anything.
Mick Malthouse made it very clear after the game that stopping Gilbert became a major priority, as he was kicking their ass (without finishing), in case he started hitting the target (which he did in GF1, lets not forget, from a difficult shot).