Clint Bartram

[Demonland 72,180]

Hard at the ball midfield tagger and defender who had another consistent season. Was again given some big run with roles and took a few scalps in a role that often goes unnoticed.

Unfortunately, his disposal by foot often lets him and the team down.

Games MFC 2011 15 MFC Total 95 Goals MFC 2011 2 MFC Total 16

Games CSFC 2011 3 Goals CSFC 2011 2

[rpfc 28,415]

Great application and a ferocious tackler.

Played 15 games this year and I wonder what the Neeld FD is thinking about when it comes to Batram.

He is finding it difficult to stay within the areas he is good at, when he ran behind Gysberts and demanded the footy earlier this year and proceeded to kick it out on the full is a case in point.

If he stays he has to get a specific role with defined directions - and he is capable of doing that.

[Deeoldfart 8,030]

For me, the main question in relation to Barty continues to be ....... do the positives that he brings to the team outweigh the negatives? On the one hand his never-say-die attitude and hardness at the ball and contest are fantastic, but on the other his disposal and decision-making must frustrate the hell out of his team-mates and coaches as much as they do us supporters. I suspect that Mark Neeld will really value the positives, but won't tolerate the negatives, leaving Barty's future at Melbourne on a knife-edge beyond next season. One way or the other, 2012 will be a crunch year for Barty imo. I really hope that he and his new coaches can make serious inroads into his weaknesses, because he has a big heart, something we need more of at Melbourne.

[Bang Bang Bang 5,826]

Not up to it IMO.

Sure he has a crack and I respect him for that, but his foot disposal is diabolical. Honestly, his technique is as bad as I've seen at AFL level.

I watched today's game and just cannot envisage someone like Bartram being there when it's our turn, if that ever comes.

Will be interesting to see what Neeld does with him.

[Lutz 76]

His saving grace is that he has a real crack and shows great endeavour and hardness.

Really, with his limitations, it's an indictment on the club that he survives purely by doing what all players should be expected to do

I think he is limited and will be gone soon.

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,765]

He'll flourish if given the right role and specific instruction. I think he's a keeper.

[hoopla 418]

Really, with his limitations, it's an indictment on the club that he survives purely by doing what all players should be expected to do

That just about sums it up

If he remains in our best 22, then we will remain a battling club

There is not a place for him on the list of a club that is serious about playing finals'footy

[Guest The Exorcist]

His turnovers by foot are just team-deflating momentum killers.

Not up to it.

[Demon Disciple 12,122]

Not up to it IMO.

Sure he has a crack and I respect him for that, but his foot disposal is diabolical. Honestly, his technique is as bad as I've seen at AFL level.

I watched today's game and just cannot envisage someone like Bartram being there when it's our turn, if that ever comes.

Will be interesting to see what Neeld does with him.

Gotta agree with you SS. Bartram, whilst he gives it his all, is clearly not up to AFL standard. His decision making is shocking, his disposal is shocking and his so-called pace is a rarity to be seen. I could easily name 8 players that i would trade/cut (obviously we aren't gonna get rid of so many). But if we want to be serious they simply must go, and he is at the top of my list.

[BAMF 4,352]

I really want him to make it. At the moment he is best 22. He owns his role.

I just cant see him improving his disposal. Meanwhile Bail brings a lot more to the table offensively and has shown this year that his tagging skills are coming along in leaps and bounds.

Disappointing seeing as Bailey had spent so much time trying to develop his footskills.

[Kento80 83]

He's a walking conundrum is Barty. His tackling pressure and tagging are absolutely superb. He stitched up quite a few topline players this year, effectively getting them out of the game. On the other hand, every time he takes aim at the sticks I wanna cry. I will be very interested to see what Neeldy makes of him, and whether or not they can find a way to correct his kicking to at least an acceptable level, because if they can, he's a keeper. If they can't........ not quite up to it for mine.

[Lutz 76]

I think his time is up, because the top sides these days don't employ traditional taggers.

Even Ling wins a lot of his own ball, while being exceptional defensively

Neeld, having come from Collingwood, will likely have the same attitude.

[monoccular 17,428]

I would love to be a fly on the wall at the tete-a-tete between Neeld and Clint.

He will make certain demands og Clint, outline what needs to be improved and expect him to work on that ie disposal and decision making, whilst lauding his hardness and endeavour.

I suspect that the times are a passing for a good hard trier with limited skills.

Over to you, Clint. I think most of us would love you to succeed in teh long term but most hve their doubts: doubts are there however for you to disprove.

[deanox 9,915]

I think with Bartram it is important that he knows his role and sticks to it. I'm not saying he needs to go to the ruckman school of" give off a handball instead of kicking, at every opportunity", but he needs to have a framework to describe his role. If his job is hard running, tight tackling, defensive player, he needs to shut his player down, work for the team and give it off. He also needs to take easy options when available and make sure that his 15 possessions a game are solid if not spectacular.

If we have 22 better players than Clint, AND we have enough players who are as tough in the clinches, and do the team things right, then Clint will struggle to get a game.

But I think one of the important shifts with the new regime will be that it doesn't matter how good you are, the team thing and the game plan, are more important. We will have 22 blokes playing as one team, not individuals flashing around doing their own things.

Edited October 2, 2011 by deanox

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,819]

Ended the season ok tagging the likes of Kerr and Ablett and keeping them below average in disposals. Tagging is his only hope.

Who remembers the second game V Carlton. Three kicks in a row he did the following:

1) kicked into the man on the mark

2) kicked into the man on the mark

3) kicked out on the full.

Stuff like the above suggests to me that next year will be his last at MFC...

Maybe a trade could be facilitated next

week? Bartram to Hawthorn or Carlton (who have a history of picking up our duds) for a 5th round draft pick upgrade?

[drdrake 3,163]

Bartram is our best defensive small we have. I thing there is a spot for him but he needs the right players around him. His kicking skills are poor , we know this so we need to limit his kicking and thats were Grimes, Blease, Tapscott need to be work for the handball.

Where does he play in 2012, I still think he gets the back pocket for now but we need to put good kickers around him. You would use Bail, Nicholson and McKenzie as you defensive midfielders.

[Guest The Exorcist]

If Bartram is the 'best defensive small we have' then we need to go recruit or develop a better one.

I challenge anyone to name a single starting 22, under 6ft 1 player at any of Geelong, Collingwood or Hawthorn who has Bartram's capacity for consistent, heart-in-your-mouth skill errors.

The answer is ... they don't.

[drdrake 3,163]

If Bartram is the 'best defensive small we have' then we need to go recruit or develop a better one.

I challenge anyone to name a single starting 22, under 6ft 1 player at any of Geelong, Collingwood or Hawthorn who has Bartram's capacity for consistent, heart-in-your-mouth skill errors.

The answer is ... they don't.

Bartram is the only player currently on our list that can stop small dangerous forwards. I will back him against Betts, Milne, Rioli and other dangerous small forwards before any other player we have.

[Striker475 696]

Bartram is the only player currently on our list that can stop small dangerous forwards. I will back him against Betts, Milne, Rioli and other dangerous small forwards before any other player we have.

I'd back Bennell in against the same any day of the week.

[drdrake 3,163]

I'd back Bennell in against the same any day of the week.

Would love for this to be true and hopefully in 2012 it is but right now Bartram has Bennell covered, Bartram runs straight lines and hits the contest hard, Bennell still has the skirt around the outside and attack the ball with one hand. A couple of games late Bennell was OK but as a pure defensive player Bartram has Bennell well covered.

[DemonWA 3,934]

Jeez alot of people writing Barty off.

Seems like there arent many who think he can improve on any aspect of his game?

Give the guy a break - will be around for a few seasons yet

[hoopla 418]

Give the guy a break - will be around for a few seasons yet

I hope you are wrong ... because If you are right , we won't be moving far up the ladder

[Carlos Danger 380]

He is purely a tagger who offers little else and in today's game, players who can only tag are redundant. Poor disposal and the most kicks out on the full this year by a country mile if memory serves correct. He's the only player I can't watch when having a shot at goal and sadly enough, I haven't missed anything.

If Adelaide couldn't find a place for Robert Shirley, I don't see why MFC can find one for Bartram.

[beelzebub 23,369]

Unfortunately, his disposal by foot often lets him and the team down.

I find it hard to ignore or gloss over this. He plays invariably as a negating defender so when HE murders the pill and allows the opposition a freebie it really hurts us. He either has to fix this or is moved on. Just cant afford these flaws in our game.

[beelzebub 23,369]

Jeez alot of people writing Barty off.

Seems like there arent many who think he can improve on any aspect of his game?

Give the guy a break - will be around for a few seasons yet

DWA...I really hope he can as his tagging ability is excellent. Hes just too costly in other areas and ruins his balance sheet. , destroys it actually. If ha can attune this area of his game hell be invaluable, if he cant he be valueless. No in between .

Edited October 6, 2011 by belzebub59