1 - Why is he running around in the number 3 jumper?

2 - Why is he running around at all?

Cos he was given that number.

Cos he gets picked in the side.

Don't forget after his first year there was big wraps on him.

Because he beat stanton on the weekend...

BEcause its a number, doesnt make a difference what number anyone wears really..

Don't forget after his first year there was big wraps on him.

In his first year, Bartram was pretty good for a late draft pick tagger playing in his first season.

Unfortunately, he is still playing at the same standard but he is now a fourth year player.

1 - Why is he running around in the number 3 jumper?

2 - Why is he running around at all?

Played ok Friday night. You want to answer those questions yourself?

1 - Why is he running around in the number 3 jumper?

2 - Why is he running around at all?

Haha, love it biffinator. I dont understand how someone so glaringly not up to the standard of afl footy still gets a game - it says a lot about how far behind melbourne are from ther est of the competition. He wouldnt be in any other afl sides top 27 players.

i would argue that clint bartram is the sort of player that always wins the coaches award. From a fans perspective, most of us are unable to see why he consistently gets picked. However, I read this on the website. He played "21 games in 2008. Finished in the top 10 in the best and fairest and had double-figure possessions in all but two games."

I watched the vfl game last week and noticed that he is not afraid to consistently do the team thing. It doesnt get noticed by the fans but he is constantly sheparding and constantly laying a bump and cleary it is being noticed by the coaching panel. He did a great bump on the weekend that set up an entire play by freeing the ball up for his teammate. However, he does not receive any accolade for this. Rather, people get frustrated by his kicking.

he gets a game because while he is on our list bailey will reward form, and he was amongst the best (if not the best) for casey vs werribee a couple of weeks ago.

i would argue that clint bartram is the sort of player that always wins the coaches award. From a fans perspective, most of us are unable to see why he consistently gets picked. However, I read this on the website. He played "21 games in 2008. Finished in the top 10 in the best and fairest and had double-figure possessions in all but two games."

I watched the vfl game last week and noticed that he is not afraid to consistently do the team thing. It doesnt get noticed by the fans but he is constantly sheparding and constantly laying a bump and cleary it is being noticed by the coaching panel. He did a great bump on the weekend that set up an entire play by freeing the ball up for his teammate. However, he does not receive any accolade for this. Rather, people get frustrated by his kicking.

Yes. Bartram does do the things you mention, yes, they do go unnoticed. Some teammates would do well to take note and implement these things in their own game. He's not the best kick, he's not a world beater but he can beat his opponent and you know he'll be doing his best out on the park for the team.

People should think about Bartram's effort and role in the team before they comment. He isn't in the team to be the flashy midfielder that racks up 30 possessions and dominates. He's in there for his toughness, his commitment to the task (which was to tag Stanton, which he did well) and his consistent effort. Gave much more to the team on Friday than others (e.g. Whelan, Robertson, Jetta).

Not sure exactly how he beat Stanton, considering Stanton had 26 touches with 7 inside 50's (most for Essendon, equal most in the game with Sylvia). Compared to Bartram 16 disposals, 3 i50's.

well i was at the game and all the essendon supporters really giving it to stanton because of his inaccurate kicking, they really dont like him, though my reason was bartram was near him quiet often and forced him to get rid of it under pressure.

I do like bartram as someone mentioned his one percenters the hard stuff, he has heart. As for his disposal well its not that bad he does turn it over and his kicking isnt his best asset though thats the story of a majority of the team.

Watching him play for casey he really well i recon, his run and carry and his ball delivery wasnt to bad.

well i was at the game and all the essendon supporters really giving it to stanton because of his inaccurate kicking, they really dont like him, though my reason was bartram was near him quiet often and forced him to get rid of it under pressure.

I do like bartram as someone mentioned his one percenters the hard stuff, he has heart. As for his disposal well its not that bad he does turn it over and his kicking isnt his best asset though thats the story of a majority of the team.

Watching him play for casey he really well i recon, his run and carry and his ball delivery wasnt to bad.

Disagree. His kicking is the worst in the side and below AFL standard. He competes well and was brought in as McDonald and Jones were out, effectively leaving us with few back up midfielders.

I would much rather blood Maric than hang onto a bloke who gives 100% but is not quite up to it.

Stanton beat Bartram in my book.

Not sure exactly how he beat Stanton, considering Stanton had 26 touches with 7 inside 50's (most for Essendon, equal most in the game with Sylvia). Compared to Bartram 16 disposals, 3 i50's.

Bartram played on Stanton for the first half, in which Stanton gathered 8 possessions, none of which did anything. He picked up the rest of the stats in the second half of the match (11 in the last IIRC).

Bailey obviously realised others were killing us, hence Bartrams move onto Davey and Lonergan.

Therefore, for the time he was playing on him, Bartram beat Stanton.

I like 'Barty', he is honest, and works hard. While parts of his game sometimes let him down (yes, we all know I mean his kicking), he supplies nothing but 100% commitment to his role each and every week. He is also giving us some run of half back, similar to what Doggy Brown did.

He proved to everyone a few months back the size of his heart, and his courage.

Deserves to wear the #3 as much as Bizzell did.

Great courage, does the team think and always gives you a 100%.

He is doing a useful job for us at the moment but the reality is that with his poor skills he can't be part of our future beyond the end of his current contract (whenever that is).

He's a guy many fans will like, but I think CB makes a decent point regarding his improvement since his debut.

I'm not writing him off, but he'll have to improve if he wants to be around in a few years.

Disagree. His kicking is the worst in the side and below AFL standard. He competes well and was brought in as McDonald and Jones were out, effectively leaving us with few back up midfielders.

I would much rather blood Maric than hang onto a bloke who gives 100% but is not quite up to it.

Stanton beat Bartram in my book.

Its definetley disputable weather his the wors kick in our side. IMO his not.

He reminds me so much of Godfrey

Were we watching different games on Friday night?

I thought he was impressive, and more importantly he is the sort of player that will become much better in a good team.

He still needs to do some work on his disposal, but to compare him to Godfrey is plain and simple rude and wrong. He is much faster and has far better skills than Dudfrey. The only thing he does llike Dudfrey is the 1%ers which is a good thing.

to compare him to Godfrey is plain and simple rude and wrong. He is much faster and has far better skills than Dudfrey.

I disagree. You are right about his pace, but other than that, he is VERY similar to Godfrey.

Barty gives his absolute all every week, but has major skill and decision-making deficiencies, and this ultimately will hold him back from being anything more than solid at best. I understand he has a role in the team and on the list, but i honestly can't see him being a regular player when the club has it's next flag tilt, unless he can dramtically improve his use of the ball.

That said, there were a couple of hard team things he did on the weekend that impressed me. But then again Simon Godfrey used to impress me regularly with his courage and selfless team acts.

With his indiscriminate kicking he is going to struggle to stay in the best 22 from next year on, however the thing that gives him a chance is that you need a good stopper, and he is that.

Unless we can find another dedicated shut-down player with better skills and vision, Clint Batram will be at the MFC.

There is no doubt that Bartram is not good enough to be part of a premiership assault with his poor disposal and decision making.

However, given where we are as a team right now, we could do worse than having Clint in the side to do those things that really, everyone should be doing, but very few actually do.

I'm talking tackles, blocks, 1%ers. He has the speed to play on many small forwards and midfielders, and right now he is not so much of a liability purely because his work on gameday helps those around him.

Plenty others will go ahead of him.

was he tagging stanton?

there were two passages of play - the kicking clanger through the middle...

but the getting knocked off the ball so easily by stanton was embarrassing!!!

needs to do a lot of hard work!!!

I disagree. You are right about his pace, but other than that, he is VERY similar to Godfrey.

Barty gives his absolute all every week, but has major skill and decision-making deficiencies, and this ultimately will hold him back from being anything more than solid at best. I understand he has a role in the team and on the list, but i honestly can't see him being a regular player when the club has it's next flag tilt, unless he can dramtically improve his use of the ball.

That said, there were a couple of hard team things he did on the weekend that impressed me. But then again Simon Godfrey used to impress me regularly with his courage and selfless team acts.

I have to second that.

Love the way he goes about it. The block for Grimes on Friday night was fantastic.

But as it stands he is just a rich man's Godfrey. And any man's Godfrey is not going to get us far enough.

He'll survive list culls for a few seasons now though, might even still scrape on there when we become a contender, but he won't be in the best 22.

Shame.

I would much rather blood Maric than hang onto a bloke who gives 100% but is not quite up to it.

they're not gunning for the same spot so the comparison is invalid. maric doesn't do a job, bartram does. maric in fact is the forward that opposition put their running defender on. the anti-stopper if you may.

With his indiscriminate kicking he is going to struggle to stay in the best 22 from next year on, however the thing that gives him a chance is that you need a good stopper, and he is that.

Unless we can find another dedicated shut-down player with better skills and vision, Clint Batram will be at the MFC.

He has the speed to play on many small forwards and midfielders, and right now he is not so much of a liability purely because his work on gameday helps those around him.

exactly right. his role in the team is playing a role. no-one else in our team does this. jmac and dunn are arguably the only other guys that are given such roles. all 3 have their limitations.