2012 Player Review - # 3 Clint Bartram

[Demonland 72,178]

Clint played the first eight rounds, and was very consistent.  He was able to defend, he was able to play long minutes, and his ball use was effective in that period of time.  He succumbed to a knee injury which is taking a long time to rehabilitate, but he’s a very popular member amongst the group, highly respected and part of our leadership group. - Jade Rawlings (backline coach) melbournefc.com.au

Games MFC 2012 8 MFC Total 103 Goals MFC 2012 1 MFC Total 17

MFC 68 kicks 42 handballs 110 disposals 40 marks 29 tackles

Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 119 votes

[Rolling Stone 157]

There are some big queries about whether Clint can come back from his injury which is a tough one.

Good luck.

[Guest José Mourinho]

I'm not optimistic of his return, but I hope he sticks around the club in any case.

In the quest to forge a strong uncompromising culture, he would be an asset.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

Ready hope he comes back from his injury. Love this bloke.

[jane02 3,748]

I am also a big Clint fan. He goes in very hard and gives it 100%. I have also enjoyed many of his tackles over the season.

I was so disappointed for him when I heard about his injury.

I sincerely hope this radical treatment works and he is back in the red and blue.

[Whispering_Jack 30,065]

Hope that radical treatment helps his disposal by foot as well and that we see him back on the ground sooner rather than later.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

I for one love Barty, and in the last couple of years he really did play some fantastic games. His attitude is reflected in his position in the leadership group. He is one of only 8 on the list who have notched up 100 games. 2 seasons were ruined by injury but in the others he averaged a consistent 19 games a year.

The last I saw about him was this, 2 months ago:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/143431/default.aspx

"In what is thought to be an AFL first, the procedure will initially involve Bartram having fat extracted from his body through liposuction."

"It is expected that scans taken three to four months after the procedure will be able to give a good indication as to the success or otherwise of the treatment."

"It was felt if Bartram's injury was left untreated, it could not only end his career but diminish the quality of his life in the future."

I really hope to see him out there again, does anyone know anything more about how he is tracking?

[monoccular 17,427]

Of course I would love to see him out there on the red and blue, but more so I would like to see him preserve / restore his knees to enable him to enjoy the rest if his life.

Haven't heard anything.

[Bingo 305]

Does anyone think that if Clint can't make it back from his injury, that maybe Jacob Surjan could be a good replacement?

Still only 27, former vice captain, would fill the small defender role allowing Nicholson to play as a mid and would be able to pick him up as a delisted free agent.

[Miles from Nowhere 199]

I just don't get the love for Bartram. He brings the absolute bare minimum - in that he tries. The knock is he is not much good. A dire disposal is magnified by the lack of urgency in moving the ball on. If he still gets a game on a regular basis in 2013 then he will have improved dramatically or this club is going nowhere.