Welcome to the Kennel - Charlie Clarke

[AshMac]

Charlie and Buss were the two I had my fingers crossed for. We are crying for a crumbing small forward with a bit of cheeky mongrel about him. Now we have two annoying mosquitos in our forward line. Between Cody and his short but plays like a medium forward with a good leap and Charlie being a genuine crumber both getting in the faces of oppo defenders, good chance Sicily could be banned for life this season

He has a Steven Milne or Ballantyne wire about him IMO. God I hated those two but would have loved them in our jersey.

[mjp]

He has a Steven Milne or Ballantyne wire about him IMO.

Yeah...but those guys are out and out crumbers and I'm not really sure he plays like that.

[Bigdog]

Does anyone have any recollection of Cody Weightman?s 2021 vfl form in the preseason?

I have a feeling he was at better afl level. Wonder how Clarkes game will translate to the level above.

Fitness my major concern. Feel we still have a number of players that can?t properly run out games. I?m a pessimist about the close one this year.

[GVGjr]

Does anyone have any recollection of Cody Weightman?s 2021 vfl form in the preseason?

I have a feeling he was at better afl level. Wonder how Clarkes game will translate to the level above.

Fitness my major concern. Feel we still have a number of players that can?t properly run out games. I?m a pessimist about the close one this year.

For Cody in 2021 he played 16 senior games and was subbed out twice. He only played 4 VFL games that year and two of them were good games, one of them I think he was injured and went off early and the other one was a bit quiet.
His preseason was apparently a bit up and down with continuity due to some niggling injuries.

Regarding Charlie, last year was a write off as he couldn't stay on the park.
This year his fitness has really improved (along with Buss and Gallagher) and he even finished about 6th in one of the 2km time trials. A jarring knee in a practice game impacted him for a few weeks but he's put in a good block over the last 10 weeks or so.

Hope that helps.

[Bigdog]

In 2021 I recall he came in vs port in SA in the middle of the year. He must missed games at the start to the year hence I can?t remember.

I recall Cody was a long way off in his first year outside his first game.

Hope Clarke goes well. He will be a fan favourite if he does.

[Hotdog60]

I feel a little sorry Chook was up for the banter and not for the game.
He's two kicks was the worst possible scenario that could happen.
He was a natural replacement for Cody even though he really hasn't earnt his spot going on VFL form.
I like to give him another go to see if it was just nerves and wanting to do well or if he can't handle the pace of senior football.
I have my doubts but he deserves another shot while Cody is out.
Jones isn't setting the world on fire and missed 4 easy set shots at goal in the VFL.
Scott could get a recall and I wouldn't touch McNeil because he couldn't hit the side of a barn if he was standing right in the middle of it.
Thank God West is back.

[Bullies]

I feel a little sorry Chook was up for the banter and not for the game.
He's two kicks was the worst possible scenario that could happen.
He was a natural replacement for Cody even though he really hasn't earnt his spot going on VFL form.
I like to give him another go to see if it was just nerves and wanting to do well or if he can't handle the pace of senior football.
I have my doubts but he deserves another shot while Cody is out.
Jones isn't setting the world on fire and missed 4 easy set shots at goal in the VFL.
Scott could get a recall and I wouldn't touch McNeil because he couldn't hit the side of a barn if he was standing right in the middle of it.
Thank God West is back.

He needs to preserve his energy and concentrate on the ball. Gob off and be a pest when you've nailed a spot in the team. Sicily got in his head.

[mjp]

Thank God West is back.

I mean, where would we be without those 12 touches per game...

Clarke is NOT READY. I get why we picked him but man oh man...the moment was just a bit much for him wasn't it.

[Hotdog60]

I mean, where would we be without those 12 touches per game...

Clarke is NOT READY. I get why we picked him but man oh man...the moment was just a bit much for him wasn't it.

West may not get a ton of it but things seem to happen when he's around and at least he has a go.
It is slim pickin's in the pockets.

[kruder]

I mean, where would we be without those 12 touches per game...

Clarke is NOT READY. I get why we picked him but man oh man...the moment was just a bit much for him wasn't it.

Clarke may never be ready, he hasn't stood out at VFL level not too sure what's his one wood?

Do you think JOD is ready? I'm still shocked that we rushed him back because we were coming top against a tall forward line in a few weeks. He hasn't even proven himself at VFL level.

[mjp]

Clarke may never be ready, he hasn't stood out at VFL level not too sure what's his one wood?

Do you think JOD is ready? I'm still shocked that we rushed him back because we were coming top against a tall forward line in a few weeks. He hasn't even proven himself at VFL level.

Someone around here started a "What's the big deal about JOD" thread...

Oh yeah. It was me.

No chance he's ready.

[Grantysghost]

Someone around here started a "What's the big deal about JOD" thread...

Oh yeah. It was me.

No chance he's ready.

Keath must be wondering.

It can't be good for morale to have a slew of influential senior players disgruntled. (Keath, Caleb, Macrae, Lobb).

[bornadog]

Someone around here started a "What's the big deal about JOD" thread...

Oh yeah. It was me.

No chance he's ready.

He really is being fast tracked

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Someone around here started a "What's the big deal about JOD" thread...

Oh yeah. It was me.

No chance he's ready.

Begs the question why we are playing him week after week.

The interesting thing is we've shown we'll be patient with some players and play them when they aren't ready (English and JOD as recent examples) but not others (Marra, Busslinger, Sanders).

Every case is different, but still..

[angelopetraglia]

I heard this from Popa (Melbourne Victory Coach).

"Players can't get an A-League appearance based on being young. It is not enough. You have to have quality. You have to have charachter. You have to have determination. Willingess to put in the hard work. Just being young is not enough to play."

"You have to work, nothing is just given to you."

"We can't just hand out appearances, here you are young have an appeareance. You have to earn it."

Worth a watch of the whole one minute clip. https://x.com/DeanRosario/status/1787093937079067097