Raph Clarke

[bigcarl]

always been a defender of raph's and i actually rate him very highly for natural ability, but from what i saw of the first half he struggled.

he's not a close-checking defender and never will be and to ask him to play that role is asking for trouble. he's more of a play-maker ... a winger or half forward ... a talented one, who will be down on confidence after tonight.

i generally don't give up on players with ability and i don't intend to start now. i just really hope the kid can be as good as he can be.

[Milton66]

Well, going by RL's presser, he seems more concerned about effort, and he was happy with the 2nd half.

Reading between the lines, he prefers effort over skill to a certain degree as he thinks you can iron out the skill issues.

So despite the clangers, if Raph put in, then he ain't going nowhere.

[Griggsy]

Well, going by RL's presser, he seems more concerned about effort, and he was happy with the 2nd half.

Reading between the lines, he prefers effort over skill to a certain degree as he thinks you can iron out the skill issues.

So despite the clangers, if Raph put in, then he ain't going nowhere.

Unless he has Milnes spot.

[st_Trav_ofWA]

On the basis of the idiot comments here Hayes should be dropped and never return.

Why?

Because when the ball fell to the favour of a Melbourne player between Hayes and Clarke, and the Melbourne player took off with the pill it was Raph who gave chase - Lenny dropped off the chase.

So on the basis of what you idiots (racist no doubt because the same names bag X. Clarke calling for him to be de-listed and bag Gwilt - funny about that) put here on Clarke, Hayes should go before Clarke because Clarke is by far a quicker player than Hayes who did not even chase.

I would suggest that R. Clarke was a long way from our worst performer tonight.

And he was not the only one who had disposal clangers in the conditions - which also included Melbourne playing with one player forward to contain the scoreboard damage.

No doubt their tactics resulted in them only kicking 6 goals (2 after quarter time) but our defence also did its bit in achieving that outcome.

Can you know alls name one St Kilda player who did NOT turn the ball over tonight?

Perhaps we should consign the Captain to the VFL for missing that left foot shot from 10 metres?

i dont think Race has anything to do with it the fact is Raph had a dirty day out there and im sure he knows it himself... as for dropping lenny in that incedent Lenny actually handpassed the ball to Raph , he dropped it the Melbourne player got it .. Raph was right next to the melbourne player lenny was at least 10 meters away from the contest yet Lenny and raph both missed the tackle at the same time so i think you will find Lenny actually worked a crap load harder in that situation

[joffaboy]

Well just watched the first quarter and unless Raph had the worst game in the history of football in the 2nd qtr - I dont know whay you blokes are on about

He ran well off HB he ran well through the middle and defended pretty well.

From what i saw it was Gilbert who dropped an easy mark resulting in a Melbourne goal.

Where is the vitriol toward Gilbert? Where is the drop Gilbert thread.

I will watch qtr2 but if Raph doesn't have an absolute shocker - my suspicions toward the usual Raph haters will be confirmed.

[Saint Bev]

Raph spoke at the after match and apoligised for the shocking game he played. Hats off to him, would not have been easy to go and face the fans.

[Devilhead]

He was playing on Bate

Either way he wasn't alone tonight he had lots of friends

2nd game back probably still a bit rusty and will improve with game time

Is suspectible under pressure and could well be an MCG specialist where he has loads of space to move in

Carrara is as big as the MCG. Raph was absolutely crappola tonight. He cannot be defended on the performance he put in tonight

It is 10m less in width (same length)

Melbourne put loads of pressure on us in the first half and as it has been pointed out Raph wasn't the only one who made mistakes - according to the HS stats he had 1 clanger (Goddard had 6, Monty 4 & Bally 3)

As usual though with this site (win or lose) we need a weekly whipping boy and this week it is Raph (cue champagne corks popping)

I remember once when a 6 goal win gave St.Kilda players and supporters an excuse to have a 3 week party - I guess a 6 goal win doesn't cut it anymore instead we treat like a loss and condemn players who make a few mistakes

[Harvey To Hayes]

Well just watched the first quarter and unless Raph had the worst game in the history of football in the 2nd qtr - I dont know whay you blokes are on about

He ran well off HB he ran well through the middle and defended pretty well.

From what i saw it was Gilbert who dropped an easy mark resulting in a Melbourne goal.

Where is the vitriol toward Gilbert? Where is the drop Gilbert thread.

I will watch qtr2 but if Raph doesn't have an absolute shocker - my suspicions toward the usual Raph haters will be confirmed.

Dude watch the rest of the game. I love Raph but I was at the game and he was abysmal tonight. Absolutely terrible. Sometimes he just seems to freeze in the spotlight, could be a real liability in a pressure cooker finals scenario. Right now has no place in our best 22 if we're serious. Sorry Raph...

[Harvey To Hayes]

I remember once when a 6 goal win gave St.Kilda players and supporters an excuse to have a 3 week party - I guess a 6 goal win doesn't cut it anymore instead we treat like a loss and condemn players who make a few mistakes

Yeah they were great days weren't they...

[Devilhead]

I remember once when a 6 goal win gave St.Kilda players and supporters an excuse to have a 3 week party - I guess a 6 goal win doesn't cut it anymore instead we treat like a loss and condemn players who make a few mistakes

Yeah they were great days weren't they...

Unfortunately they were

[starsign]

He was playing on Bate

...and Bate mastered him!!

now it's time for the selectors to take him in hand and put the Zebra stripes back on

[starsign]

Well, going by RL's presser, he seems more concerned about effort, and he was happy with the 2nd half.

Reading between the lines, he prefers effort over skill to a certain degree as he thinks you can iron out the skill issues.

So despite the clangers, if Raph put in, then he ain't going nowhere.

My reading between the lines is that RL knows full well there is no need to get concerned over issues like the 2nd half where you have very little or no control on that which is forced apon you
Obviously by placing 2 extra men in defence the Dees were in self preservarion mode from 1/2 time on , content to forgo any real chance of scoring and avoid a big blowout
They could tell as Q2 progressed they were not going being able sustain that type of pressure game , and we were more than adequately matching it , indicators that we would eventually run all over them in the second half

I think Raph did enough in the first half to "knock down the door" to the Zebras jumper wardrobe next week

[Winmar7Fan]

Yeah I know all the protective St Kilda supporters are going to jump to his defence but this guy Is an absolute dud. My wife who hasn't been following the game that long even keeps asking me for the past 3 years how he keeps getting a game?

Very Slow, Indecisive and poor disposal. At best he only plays average but the majority of his games are terrible.

[JEANLUCPICARD]

Raph was great in last years finals series.

I didn't see the game last night and it's disappointing to hear it was a shocker. It's been a while since he played though.

[plugger66]

Raph was great in last years finals series.

I didn't see the game last night and it's disappointing to hear it was a shocker. It's been a while since he played though.

Only 6 days.

[starsign]

Good for Jack Steven being named best for the Zebs in todays cakewalk win

How would he go if Milney doesn't come up in place of Raph?

Raph is still a dilemma for mine!

and I just think he needs to return to the Zebs and work on his game
Its a bit of a Catch 22 because it seems the pace of the big game, and Raphs timing, awareness, decision making and turnovers etc are again the problem , and I guess they don't get honed to the same extent back in the VFL
He may just fit that category of the squillion before who were absolute stars in AFL but just didn't quite cut it on the big stage
Having said that, we saw he can do it to a certain degree last September but he seems to have dropped back again
What do you do ?
Keep playing him and hope he can gain some confidence and regain the skill necessary to make a viable contribution in our 09 campaign , and in the process wear the glaring clangers/turnovers which can be bloody costly
To his credit he did look a bit better in the last Q , but the pressure was off and we were going through the motions
I know a few others had ordinary games last night , and thats the mark of a good side I guess , but he was glaringly not up to it for the first 3 quarters when the game was there to win

Ok I guess its a question of do we carry him , in the hope he regains it , or does someone else deserve a go now???

[iwantmeseats]

yeah good argument. Hayes ...jeez.

[Bernard Shakey]

Yeah I know all the protective St Kilda supporters are going to jump to his defence but this guy Is an absolute dud. My wife who hasn't been following the game that long even keeps asking me for the past 3 years how he keeps getting a game?

Very Slow, Indecisive and poor disposal. At best he only plays average but the majority of his games are terrible.

Raph must be a dud if your wife, who you say basically knows nothing, is questioning his selection.

[Baldock Rules]

So on the basis of what you idiots (racist no doubt because the same names bag X. Clarke calling for him to be de-listed and bag Gwilt - funny about that..

[/quote]

Nothing remotely funny about that inference...frankly find that very offensive...my judgements of players based on performance not the colour of their skin..the old race card adds nothing but insult

[iwantmeseats]

I was there as well and thought he put in a shocker..

BUT if he plays next week, Ill be getting behind him again. I feel I should, as hopefully the rest of you do. I will trust that the footy dept know more than I do (of course,not hard!), and if he is out there, they must have faith. I will try and do the same.

I dont think playing across half back is his bag at all.

[JEANLUCPICARD]

Delete this post.

[saintsRrising]

In the finals last year Raph was one of our best....

However his first game back he looked out of it.....ok..first game back..

But Dees game he looke dreadful....
With guys in the second putting their hands up for agame standatrds need to ne maintaine.

I know RL seems to like tp show faith in players...but Raph has not looked at all good in both his last two games.

So perhaps time to slot Max back in.

[Spinner]

On the basis of the idiot comments here Hayes should be dropped and never return.

Why?

Because when the ball fell to the favour of a Melbourne player between Hayes and Clarke, and the Melbourne player took off with the pill it was Raph who gave chase - Lenny dropped off the chase.

So on the basis of what you idiots (racist no doubt because the same names bag X. Clarke calling for him to be de-listed and bag Gwilt - funny about that) put here on Clarke, Hayes should go before Clarke because Clarke is by far a quicker player than Hayes who did not even chase.

I would suggest that R. Clarke was a long way from our worst performer tonight.

And he was not the only one who had disposal clangers in the conditions - which also included Melbourne playing with one player forward to contain the scoreboard damage.

No doubt their tactics resulted in them only kicking 6 goals (2 after quarter time) but our defence also did its bit in achieving that outcome.

Can you know alls name one St Kilda player who did NOT turn the ball over tonight?

Perhaps we should consign the Captain to the VFL for missing that left foot shot from 10 metres?

That can't be serious can it.....Pathetic bow to draw.

And to sway the debate back to football, didn't the instance you describe eventuate because Clarke fumbled the pill in the first place???

[bigcarl]

Raph has not looked at all good in both his last two games. So perhaps time to slot Max back in.

i agree he's struggled, but with all of these things you have to think structure.

do we swap a stopper (admittedly one of the best) for a runner (admittedly one who is out of form)?

i'm not saying don't drop raph or don't bring in max, just be careful about upsetting the structure (where we must have been doing something right to get to 10-0).

[saintsRrising]

Raph has not looked at all good in both his last two games. So perhaps time to slot Max back in.

i agree he's struggled, but with all of these things you have to think structure.

do we swap a stopper (admittedly one of the best) for a runner (admittedly one who is out of form)?

i'm not saying don't drop raph or don't bring in max, just be careful about upsetting the structure (where we must have been doing something right to get to 10-0).

Quality is quality...and Max is quality.

I also think people have forgotten how versatile Max is.