There's a good reason why Fremantle supporters call him Zac 'The Hack' Clarke. 

 

8 hours ago, AngryAtCasey said:

I think with Clarke, the way I view is, is he the answer? No

But does he help us structurally? Yes

Other then Collingwood in 2010, i can't really think of a team that's won a premiership with only one genuine ruck and one part timer. They may have one who plays more in the ruck then the other, but generally the top sides play two genuine ruckman who are also forward options.

I don't see Spencer as a forward option, but i figure Clarke could at least be servicable for a couple of years until we develop someone else. Whether it's Mitch King or if we draft someone like Darcy Cameron who i'm a wrap for.

The viable alternatives out there to Zac Clarke leave me underwhelmed. Nathan Vardy's an option but injury prone, Majak Daw lacks the footy smarts and i think would cost a bit in a trade. While Ty Vickery is about as useful in the ruck as Chris Dawes. Shaun McKernan could be a cheap option if delisted by a 2nd club.

I just figure as a free agent and only cost being cap space, Zac Clarke is probably as good a short term fix as we have.

I get what you're saying, but I still don't see him as an upgrade on Pedersen.  He is taller which allows him to ruck better, but he hasn't show anything close to being an effective forward, something that Pedersen well and truly has him covered in.  So, in many ways, I don't see any point in getting him to the club.

Given Mahoney's comments today about looking for another ruck who can play forward, but with us not having much to trade with, I suspect the odds of us going after Clarke as a Free Agent have firmed.

Only other options I can see on the cheap would be someone like Luke Lowden (DFA) or Shaun McKernan (possible DFA or very late pick).

Jack Hannath has been delisted. ? Worth a look

7 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

Jack Hannath has been delisted. ? Worth a look

Can he play forward? I honestly don't know.

2 minutes ago, AngryAtCasey said:

Can he play forward? I honestly don't know.

From memory he was a goal kicker. I remember being disappointed when the Dockers took him out from under us. Was well liked and had a great attitude when he trained with us prior to his draft. Still young

12 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

From memory he was a goal kicker. I remember being disappointed when the Dockers took him out from under us. Was well liked and had a great attitude when he trained with us prior to his draft. Still young

He's 25 and has only played 8 games in the last 3 seasons, not sure if he has been injured or not.

10 goals in 17 games in the WAFL for Hannath. He's not a forward. Not athletic or big enough to be a good ruckman at AFL level. He's really just an ok competitor who might be able to back up ruck and bring the ball to ground forward. http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/4956

Darcy Cameron looks a far better option as a forward kicking 36 goals. 

Zac Clarke is a much better tap ruckman with AFL level athleticism but little physicality and without the skills to play forward.

14 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

10 goals in 17 games in the WAFL for Hannath. He's not a forward. Not athletic or big enough to be a good ruckman at AFL level. He's really just an ok competitor who might be able to back up ruck and bring the ball to ground forward. http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/4956

Darcy Cameron looks a far better option as a forward kicking 36 goals. 

Zac Clarke is a much better tap ruckman with AFL level athleticism but little physicality and without the skills to play forward.

I really hope we draft Cameron, but suspect there will be a few clubs into him at the national draft.

2 hours ago, AngryAtCasey said:

Only other options I can see on the cheap would be someone like Luke Lowden (DFA) or Shaun McKernan (possible DFA or very late pick).

I'd rather stick with Watts in the ruck than recruit either of these two.  He is 10 times the forward they are and gives more around the ground.  Both of those guys are list cloggers who wouldn't be in our best 30 players, let alone getting a gig in the senior side.

27 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I'd rather stick with Watts in the ruck than recruit either of these two.  He is 10 times the forward they are and gives more around the ground.  Both of those guys are list cloggers who wouldn't be in our best 30 players, let alone getting a gig in the senior side.

Mahoney said they don't want to use Watts in the Ruck anymore.

Just now, Redleg said:

Mahoney said they don't want to use Watts in the Ruck anymore.

I know - I'm just trying to make a point of how little I rate Lowden and McKernan.  They aren't an upgrade on what we have.

1 minute ago, Wiseblood said:

I know - I'm just trying to make a point of how little I rate Lowden and McKernan.  They aren't an upgrade on what we have.

Ok.

1 hour ago, Wiseblood said:

I'd rather stick with Watts in the ruck than recruit either of these two.  He is 10 times the forward they are and gives more around the ground.  Both of those guys are list cloggers who wouldn't be in our best 30 players, let alone getting a gig in the senior side.

Fair enough. Part of the reason why I think the odds of us taking Zac Clarke have probably firmed even though he hasn't really proved himself as a forward.

1 hour ago, Wiseblood said:

I'd rather stick with Watts in the ruck than recruit either of these two.  He is 10 times the forward they are and gives more around the ground.  Both of those guys are list cloggers who wouldn't be in our best 30 players, let alone getting a gig in the senior side.

 

43 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Mahoney said they don't want to use Watts in the Ruck anymore.

 

42 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I know - I'm just trying to make a point of how little I rate Lowden and McKernan.  They aren't an upgrade on what we have.

Mahoney said in an ideal world they don't want Watts to ruck against the monsters...

Agree with 'Wise', neither of these 2 represent an ideal world.

Lets hope we turn something up in the draft/trade period.

I haven't seen much of Zac. Can he ruck effectively and take marks around the ground? With teams using the third man up against Max he might be a bigger asset spending time forward? He is pretty agile and a great mark. It would give him the chop out he needs and Also stretch any defence

two seasons ago I was so keen to get Griffin or Clarke across, out from under sandilands. After this season... really nothing to note from either. Not sure what's happened.

Bit of a wobbly giraffe to be honest. Not worth the spot on the list when we have good rookies to upgrade.

51 minutes ago, Brayshaw Self said:

Bit of a wobbly giraffe to be honest. Not worth the spot on the list when we have good rookies to upgrade.

Which rookies are we upgrading to play the 2nd Ruck/Forward role?

On 4 October 2016 at 7:23 PM, Wiseblood said:

I'd rather stick with Watts in the ruck than recruit either of these two.  He is 10 times the forward they are and gives more around the ground.  Both of those guys are list cloggers who wouldn't be in our best 30 players, let alone getting a gig in the senior side.

 

On 4 October 2016 at 7:49 PM, Redleg said:

Mahoney said they don't want to use Watts in the Ruck anymore.

Seriously, worst case scenario, if Max missed some games who in their right mind would have JW playing as our main ruck?

We MUST find or develop a forward / ruck who is big enough to take the mail role if needed.  Meanwhile Pedersen is our next best option, unless Spencil steps up.

1 hour ago, Brayshaw Self said:

Bit of a wobbly giraffe to be honest. Not worth the spot on the list when we have good rookies to upgrade.

Who??

On 6 September 2016 at 8:02 AM, AngryAtCasey said:

According to Freo supporters, likely to be delisted.

Posters were screaming at Neeld for letting this 'champion' slip through our fingers....

I'm not rofling at Clarke...I reckon he'll be okay. New environ....

1 hour ago, Brayshaw Self said:

Bit of a wobbly giraffe to be honest. Not worth the spot on the list when we have good rookies to upgrade.

I disagree, Michie likely to be delisted, Max King highly likely to be delisted, White is medium sized defender who isn't quick but has a thumping kick, wouldn't be upgrading him and possible delisting, Wagner 1st year rookie, looked OK but should stay on the rookie list for another year.

Unless someone has managed to hold a spot in the best 22 while on the rookie list there isn't any real need to upgrade them.

According to the below from the AFL website, we may not get Clarke either:

Ruckman Zac Clarke appears more and more likely to turn his back on free agency and play on with Fremantle despite rival interest.

Clarke and the Dockers have yet to work out the terms of a new deal, but the 26-year-old has a great opportunity over the next few years to establish himself as Freo's No.1 ruckman once club great Aaron Sandilands retires.

Clarke's manager, Jason Dover of Stride Sports, told NAB AFL Trade Radio his client would decide his football future in the next couple of days after a "very positive" exit interview with the club on Tuesday.