Clay back on the track

[soupman]

Re: Clay back on the track

I had Pearce as someone who won't rotate through the middle, so would take one of the pure defenders spots, like Wood and Fuller. I do rate him.

[Twodogs]

Re: Clay back on the track

Where have you got Darley?

[soupman]

Re: Clay back on the track

Darley is someone who could spend some time on the wing and higher up the field. Based on my limited knowledge of him he is someone who could provide more natural run and be a good receiver than Pearce who appears more solid defensively.

I see Pearce as hopefully being a better version of Picken in defence. Someone who can annoy the hell out of a small forward but is less of a liability coming out of defence and is capable of backing himself in with the footy.

[westdog54]

Re: Clay back on the track

Its only in the game he got injured against Essendon when I really got a chance to sit and watch him closely. I said at the time he is just such a smart footballer, can just do little action here or there, whether its a hand on the ball at the right time, or a quick shimmy to avoid a tackle, that buys him the one or two seconds he needs to win a contest, and his decision making appears extraordinarly sound for a player of his age.

I'll second Marcov's call. He'll win us a final one day.

I can picture it in my head. 30 seconds to go, we're 4 points down. Ball is bombed deep into our 50, spills from the pack, Clay wins a solid 1-on-1 with an opponent, wins the ball and in the one movement handballs to an open Jarrad Grant who snaps a miracle goal from the boundary line.

I haven't overthought that, have I?

[wimberga]

Re: Clay back on the track

Given that Clay played the intraclub match, is it safe to assume he is up for senior selection as soon as match fit?

Are we predicting a round 3-4 return?

[soupman]

Re: Clay back on the track

I know I have heard BMac mention in the past that he is glad his kicking style is so awkward, otherwise he would have been a top 5 pick. The rest of his game is top shelf.

[Ozza]

Re: Clay back on the track

Given that Clay played the intraclub match, is it safe to assume he is up for senior selection as soon as match fit?

Are we predicting a round 3-4 return?

I think Round 3-4 is about right. Although Clay looked very comfortable in the intraclub...I would guess he would be 'managed' along a little bit until everyone is 100% convinced he is ready for senior footy.

[Mofra]

Re: Clay back on the track

Having said that, I wonder how we'll fit in all these mids? It's a good problem to have on paper, but in 12 months time one of Hrovat/Bonts/Clay/Stevens will probably play more VFL than AFL, and yet I really rate all of them. Hopefully we find a way to fit them all in.

B-Mac always seemed to play a "tough contested forward" in the front six which meant we were ahead of the league average in scoring from stoppages (hence DFA forward, I suspect Stringer will also help in this regard).

Clay plays liek an inside mid with goal sense yet his tank was pretty good pre-injury, he has quite a few strings to his bow although his ball drop when drafted is still possibly the ugliest I've ever seen.

[Twodogs]

Re: Clay back on the track

although his ball drop when drafted is still possibly the ugliest I've ever seen.

That's a pretty simple fault to fix though in the overall scheme of things.

[Twodogs]

Re: Clay back on the track

I think Round 3-4 is about right. Although Clay looked very comfortable in the intraclub...I would guess he would be 'managed' along a little bit until everyone is 100% convinced he is ready for senior footy.

Didn't you just wince though every time he tackled an opponent? There was one in particular in the second quarter where Clay pulled someone down from behind and ended up on his back with his opponent on top of him. Then he pinioned him with his legs so that he had him in a full body clamp.

[1eyedog]

Re: Clay back on the track

That's a pretty simple fault to fix though in the overall scheme of things.

I think it's actually pretty difficult to change. Once an ugly ball dropper always an ugly ball dropper. Nick Riewoldt has been struggling with this problem his whole career. While Riewoldt is slightly different in that he releases the ball too high (and slightly both hands off too early) he has never been able to change it. Michael Johnson is another from Freo who has an awkward ball drop and his field kicking often suffers because of it. There have been many others in the past, even full forwards like Capper.

[Happy Days]

Re: Clay back on the track

I think it's actually pretty difficult to change. Once an ugly ball dropper always an ugly ball dropper. Nick Riewoldt has been struggling with this problem his whole career. While Riewoldt is slightly different in that he releases the ball too high (and slightly both hands off too early) he has never been able to change it. Michael Johnson is another from Freo who has an awkward ball drop and his field kicking often suffers because of it. There have been many others in the past, even full forwards like Capper.

The GOD Ablett II has a pretty ugly ball drop too, although no ones going to argue that it affects his kicking adversely; him and the above examples prove its not a death knell.

Clay's strengths more than marginalise this "supposed" weakness, and honestly, as long as he doesn't try to push too far beyond his limitations (see: Boyd, M), I don't think it'll be an issue. I'm more concerned with Talia's kicking anyway.

[Maddog37]

Re: Clay back on the track

Interesting turn of phrase; ugly ball dropper!

[Greystache]

Re: Clay back on the track

The GOD Ablett II has a pretty ugly ball drop too, although no ones going to argue that it affects his kicking adversely; him and the above examples prove its not a death knell.

Ablett's ball drop is a bit unique, but he manages to drop the ball very straight and extremely closely to his foot. Clay's problem is he's right handed and left footed. He wants to drop the ball with his right hand, but needs to use his left as well, which leaves him in a tangle. From a set shot and snapping around the corner it's not an issue at all, it's just when trying to kick on the run he has problems. I think he's improved quite a bit already, but it's going to be a very difficult thing for him to overcome.

If he can get his field kicking to the level of adequate he will be elite.

[Maddog37]

Re: Clay back on the track

He needs to teach himself to kick right foot to the level that it becomes his preferred.