X Clarke!

True Blue Sainter · Tue 02 Sep 2008 3:38pm

My uncle runs a coffee shop on Church St, Brighton, which is frequented by many Saints players/officials as well as others from AFL clubs.

Xavier came in today and told my uncle that he was under the impression he was a big chance to play.

Now, does Xav come in for Dempster? Or do we bring McQualter in for Dempster to play a tagging role, and someone else gets dropped to make way for X? Interesting thoughts at the selection table...

perfectionist · Tue 02 Sep 2008 3:43pm

Good enough for me. He's in! (Didn't happen to mention whether Luke Ball was also 'in' did he?)

4ever_saint · Tue 02 Sep 2008 3:44pm

i hope ross does a straight swap, x for dempster, this weekend. i honestly think we have the team dynamics working for us atm and thats an important part of the game.

aside from injuries, nobody in our side atm deserves to be dropped going into finals, so i hope that its simply a straight swap.

Ralphy · Post: # 634073Post **Ralphy** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 3:44pm

theres a article on afl.com.au staiting he wont play

Eastern · Post: # 634074Post **Eastern** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 3:44pm

perfectionist wrote:Good enough for me. He's in! (Didn't happen to mention whether Luke Ball was also 'in' did he?)

I think X in for Dempster. LB14 won't play this week !!

True Blue Sainter · Tue 02 Sep 2008 3:47pm

Eastern wrote:
perfectionist wrote:Good enough for me. He's in! (Didn't happen to mention whether Luke Ball was also 'in' did he?)
I think X in for Dempster. LB14 won't play this week !!

I'm thinking along those lines as well. But I do reckon we need to try and tag one of Bartel or Ablett out of the game, and I'm not sure if Birss is up to that!

saintbrat · Post: # 634082Post **saintbrat** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 3:48pm

perfectionist wrote:Good enough for me. He's in! (Didn't happen to mention whether Luke Ball was also 'in' did he?)

He's not as ralphy said
announced about an hour ago

just before the pies started the scotty may - scotty might word games

perfectionist · Tue 02 Sep 2008 3:49pm

ralphysaints35 wrote:theres a article on afl.com.au staiting he wont play

It states that Luke Ball has had a setback (bugger) but that X is a chance to play.

iceman · Post: # 634151Post **iceman** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 5:06pm

Mini still looked to be blowing a fair bit on the weekend after the flu, if he is 100% by midweek he might be considered, but will probably see him at Casey again, X has been in good form and really working hard on doing the right things, hasn't yet blitzed it yet, but it is always tough playing a grade below what you have played for quite some years.

Looks to be fit and hungry.

sainter123 · Post: # 634157Post **sainter123** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 5:12pm

the only worrying thing is bringing x back in for a final after only playing 6 or 7 games during the year.
i think some one like mc qualter is the go.
and from reports ive heard he hasnt been the very best in the vfl.

StPeter · Post: # 634170Post **StPeter** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 5:25pm

X before McQualter any day if he is fit.

Otiman · Post: # 634173Post **Otiman** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 5:26pm

StPeter wrote:X before McQualter any day if he is fit.

Can't carry both Birss and Mini in the same side, we would become too defensive.

saintsRrising · Tue 02 Sep 2008 5:30pm

Forward Adam Schneider is expected to recover from an ankle injury sustained in last weekâ€™s win over Essendon, while Xavier Clarke is a chance to return.

I think I might go with X' s own words then that he is chance to play

Mini would be too though...

Zed · Post: # 634289Post **Zed** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 7:31pm

Why wouldnt you play X ?

On raw football talent, X is the best player currently available to come into the 22

the football public expects us to lose, so whats the risk ?

if X breaks down I would rather he breaks down in week 1 than in the middle of the GF. If he doesnt break down then he has gained some valuable game time.

Best case scenario is that X finds his form.

Play X this week !

stinger · Post: # 634290Post **stinger** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 7:32pm

Zed wrote:Why wouldnt you play X ?

On raw football talent, X is the best player currently available to come into the 22

the football public expects us to lose, so whats the risk ?

if X breaks down I would rather he breaks down in week 1 than in the middle of the GF. If he doesnt break down then he has gained some valuable game time.

Best case scenario is that X finds his form.

Play X this week !

amen brother, amen.....

evertonfc · Post: # 634295Post **evertonfc** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 7:41pm

Simply has to play.

Is far too creative and clever to be left out.

If he's anything over 90% fit, he's worth 2-3 goals to us. One of the best delivers of a ball to a player inside 50 - fantastic vision as well.

stkfc1 · Post: # 634413Post **stkfc1** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 10:32pm

And how much do you reckon him and Raph together on the park,playing finals, would mean to them both, and their family, considering their fathers circumstances? We might just see something really special!

maverick · Post: # 634422Post **maverick** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 10:40pm

He could play back, I reckon it might be his best position...much rather Raph and gwilt play further up the field...

rexy · Post: # 634431Post **rexy** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 10:49pm

I reckon C Gardner is very lucky out of all this. IMO preassure was fairly on him but with Dempster going down and really only midfielders in X Ball Armo and Mini being any real chance to play finals (IMO) his spot is starting to look safe.

I would say out Dempster, Birss and In X, Mini

Raph to play back, Mini on Bartell and X in the forward line/ midfield rotation.

Teflon · Post: # 634461Post **Teflon** » Tue 02 Sep 2008 11:24pm

rexy wrote:I reckon C Gardner is very lucky out of all this. IMO preassure was fairly on him but with Dempster going down and really only midfielders in X Ball Armo and Mini being any real chance to play finals (IMO) his spot is starting to look safe.

I would say out Dempster, Birss and In X, Mini

Raph to play back, Mini on Bartell and X in the forward line/ midfield rotation.

no way Birss should even be looked at to be dropped.
Has way more upside than Mcq CAN kick a goal for a start.

X in.

Spewin bout Ball.....with Sellwood for Cats would loved to have seen Ball in.

Furphy · Post: # 634591Post **Furphy** » Wed 03 Sep 2008 3:42am

Bring in the X-Man!!!

Cosmo Kramer · Wed 03 Sep 2008 10:23am

No way should Birss be dropped.
You don't want to be turning the ball over against Geelong and his skills are excellent and he actually looks dangerous when he drifts in the forward line and can take a mark and is a straight kick for goal.
He should not have been dropped in the first place as it had nothing to do with his form and there is a little story on why he was dropped and it was not his fault either but I will not divulge it because I don't want to start any rumblings on here.

mightysainters · Wed 03 Sep 2008 10:54am

Birss dropped McQualter and X in...IMO

Moccha · Post: # 634683Post **Moccha** » Wed 03 Sep 2008 10:59am

I really don't understand all this conjecture. Didn't X play for the Scorps last week? So the only reason why he wouldn't play is because he has been re-injured. So who's jumping to conclusions here?

saintbob · Post: # 635788Post **saintbob** » Thu 04 Sep 2008 3:49pm

IMO X will definitely play.

Remember he was very good in this game earlier in the year, until he was knocked out by a suspect Geelong sheperd.

Will be ready has spent enough time at Casey to be match fit, will add plenty of pace and run.

Dreadful luck for Dempster, but at the same time X will be a very good replacement.