Clark and Dow

[B.M]

Are playing in the role of inside mids

Both are nice players but yet to show they can win enough footy to be AFL midfielders

Clark 16 vs Brisbane
Has 17 & 18 in his other 2 games

Paddy 13 vs Brisbane
Has 15, 21, 22, 20 prior

Mids need to be getting their hands on the ball 25-30 times
Guns average 30+

Previously
Brad Crouch, Seb Ross and Jack Steele (or Sinclair if he goes inside) are high production mid - they find the ball

Clark and Dow need their numbers to elevate to AFL mids numbers

[nostalgicsaint]

Both young and coming off injury interruptions.

Our midfield since they've both been in have won clearances for the first time this year.

Agree they need to continue to improve but they're off to a good start.

[B.M]

Young?

They were drafted in 2017

They are halfway through their careers

[nostalgicsaint]

Young?

They were drafted in 2017

They are halfway through their careers

Yes young.

25 and 24 respectively.

Typical peak is somewhere between. 26 and 29.

Dow lacked opportunity at top level early in his career, Clark injury interruptions.

Reason enough to believe both young players have significant upside.

[Life Long Saint]

Mids need to be getting their hands on the ball 25-30 times
Guns average 30+

There are about five players in the comp that average 30+
Treloar, N Daicos, Serong, Flanders, M Crouch

N Martin averages 29.77 and Sheezel 29.9

Flanders, Martin, and Sheezel don't play in the middle much if at all.
Cheap uncontested half back possessions.

The On ball guns like Anderson, Green, Merrett, Laird, Cripps, Neale, Gulden, etc only average high 20's (27-28)

[spert]

Clark has been in the system for a while now, and disappointed me last night. Played well in the third, but in the last, he looked like he was running in mud, and his man got a few crucial possessions. Dow did some nice linking things, but needs better players around him.

[shrodes]

Clark 56% TOG (62% last week), less than Cordy who was subbed out, and Dow 63% TOG (77% last week)
Both building to full game tanks

[perfectionist]

Both need to get bigger and stronger all over - arms, legs and chest. Sydney players seem to have the magic pill these days.

[StPeter]

Both are playing restricted minutes (around 60% game time) so naturally their stats are not going to match those mids playing high% game time.

[B.M]

Warner and Gulden are far smaller than Dow and Clark

Heeney is 185 and strong

It’s about ability and running power

Not size

[Lennylegs]

Clark 56% TOG (62% last week), less than Cordy who was subbed out, and Dow 63% TOG (77% last week)
Both building to full game tanks

Pretty good stats for just over half game time. Unfortunately BM doesn't check the facts before he dribbles onto his keyboard.

[Brunswicksainter]

Mids need to be getting their hands on the ball 25-30 times
Guns average 30+

There are about five players in the comp that average 30+
Treloar, N Daicos, Serong, Flanders, M Crouch

N Martin averages 29.77 and Sheezel 29.9

Flanders, Martin, and Sheezel don't play in the middle much if at all.
Cheap uncontested half back possessions.

The On ball guns like Anderson, Green, Merrett, Laird, Cripps, Neale, Gulden, etc only average high 20's (27-28)

Yeah spot on inside mids typically average in the 25 range. Funnily enough Clarke and Dow would be comfortably averaging this but their average TOG is still quite low as both are being nursed back to 100% fitness. So OP’s point here is completely redundant.

[saintsRrising]

Clark 56% TOG (62% last week), less than Cordy who was subbed out, and Dow 63% TOG (77% last week)
Both building to full game tanks

Clark was also being checked for a collision by our medical staff during the game. So that will have cost him some TOG.

[Jacks Back]

Clark 56% TOG (62% last week), less than Cordy who was subbed out, and Dow 63% TOG (77% last week)
Both building to full game tanks

Clark was also being checked for a collision by our medical staff during the game. So that will have cost him some TOG.

That Brisbane guy bumped Clark in the head. He'll obviously spending a week or two on the side lines.

[Banger9798]

They're not young, but they also aren't at full fitness yet.

Have a look at Sinclair just hitting his straps the last few games.

Takes 4 weeks of seniors to get decent match fitness back

[Otiman]

Need a group of solid players, with two at the elite level, to challenge for a flag.

Don't think Clark or Dow will get to that next level but will be a core part of our midfield for years.

[Yorkeys]

Need a group of solid players, with two at the elite level, to challenge for a flag.

Don't think Clark or Dow will get to that next level but will be a core part of our midfield for years.

May not be fair to make the judgement until both have had full preseasons and haven't copped interupting injuries? Both seem more than handy. Clark is really skillful and would fit into the current Sydney side quite well. Dow seems quietly effective and building. Unfortunately it would be arguable both are injury prone.

[B.M]

We are nursing guys back to AFL fitness in the AFL seniors

Come on!

Both players played a number of VFL games prior to playing AFL and have played multiple AFL games

If they haven’t got the tanks to play midfield- that’s another discussion

[Sanctorum]

You're a bit premature to condemn Clark and Dow based on just 3 and 5 games respectively in the firsts following injuries BM.

As someone else pointed out, St Kilda has won the clearances in the last 2 games which suggests the midfield is winning a fair bit of the ball.

[B.M]

1/ winning clearances is only one part of playing in the midfield

2/ I don’t think I ‘condemned anyone

Don’t be alarmist

[Otiman]

The stoppage game as we knew it a few years ago is dead. Games are won by turnover and ball movement.

Unfortunately we have a few too many one dimensional players who are too focused on stoppage.

[Yorkeys]

Clarke & Dawe?
always teamed great.
Whereas
Our guys still working on timing and delivering their lines. Both deadpan, but.