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Zac Clarke & Jon Griffin

MadAsHell
MadAsHell
in Melbourne Demons

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Posted

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-06/freo-talls-clarke-and-griffin-among-five-dockers-delisted

With the departure of Spencer and still relatively raw experience/development of Mitch King & Filipovic, what would be to happen if Max does his knee and then Pedo does a hamstring the following week? 

I think picking up one of these two for peanuts as a DFA is imperative on a 2 year deal just to allow King & Filipovic the time they need.

Clarke's the younger of the two, 28 at the start of next year and has been used forward on occasion for Freo, reasonably agile also. Missed all of 2017 with a knee issue however and maybe doesn't fit the competative mould we're after.

http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/player-profile/zachary-clarke

http://www.aflplayerratings.com.au/Ratings/Player/114741/Zac-CLARKE

Griffin will be 32 at the start of next year and probably isn't quite as agile as Clarke or played forward as much. However he is a much more competative ruckman and has played senior football to good level this this in the AFL.

http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/player-profile/jonathon-griffin

http://www.aflplayerratings.com.au/Ratings/Player/110457/Jonathon-GRIFFIN

Whichever way the club goes, if they were to go down this path. I think it's important the player was aware they were coming in as support only and that if we were having a good injury run they were be forced to play permanent forward or off the bench at Casey to ensure King & Filipovic were getting the required minutes in the ruck.

I know Griffin is a WA local as opposed to Clarke (Oakleigh Chargers), so it may be more difficult to entice him across as opposed to Clarke. However due to his competitiveness and the fact he's played decent AFL football this year, my pick would be to entice Griffin across for 2 years.

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    I wouldn't pick up either, especially Clarke, he is a spud. Would prefer Spencer over both Griffin & Clarke, A No from me

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    I seem to remember Clarke killing us one year at the G, and that convinced me he was good. No longer.

    Griffin might be a little too old.

    Probably a no to both, unless we struggle to find better prospects for mature, back up rucks.

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    I would look to rookie one of these if their are no better options, we do need some experienced back up.

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    No to both 

    Griffen is cooked

    Clarke is not up to it

     

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    Our ruck stocks are light on, but I'm happy to roll the dice on who we have rather than sign someone who will be of no use in 18 months time.

    I think King looked ok in the VFL, he has heaps to work on but could end up being a player. If Pedo and tmac couldn't ruck if gawn went down, perhaps king could step in.

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    8 minutes ago, Adzman said:

    Our ruck stocks are light on, but I'm happy to roll the dice on who we have rather than sign someone who will be of no use in 18 months time.

    I think King looked ok in the VFL, he has heaps to work on but could end up being a player. If Pedo and tmac couldn't ruck if gawn went down, perhaps king could step in.

    See for me this would be the appeal.

    I like the look of both King & Filipovic, however reckon they're still at least a year or two away from being ready should we need them at senior level.

    Why someone like Griffin I think suits needs for the now.

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    Don't need either. 

    Will only fill the list with someone who won't be there in 12 months.

    Pedersen was given another year to fill exactly this role, and he can play forward as well.  Watching King this year, I would think he was already a better ruck than Spencer ( at least he jumps and taps the ball) and could warrant playing a couple of games as cover in 2018, if needed.

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    zac clarke had a day out against us in his second or third year when sandi went down and my first thought was 'how come we can't find blokes who play like this?'

    seems freo can't either - only cameos since then, and it must've been five or six years ago; i can't seem to think of him having another match like it

    griffen is as slow as spencer

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    4 hours ago, DemonAndrew said:

    zac clarke had a day out against us in his second or third year when sandi went down and my first thought was 'how come we can't find blokes who play like this?'

    seems freo can't either - only cameos since then, and it must've been five or six years ago; i can't seem to think of him having another match like it

    griffen is as slow as spencer

    You see this is where Richmond's Relton Roberts was very unlucky. He was knocked out in Rd3 2010 Vs Sydney and couldn't get up for the match the following week. Rd4 2010 was Melbourne Vs Richmond, and in true Demon form we would've made him look like a [censored] Brownlow Medalist. He may well have gone onto being their premiership captain, rather than 'Careful or my missus will belt ya' Trent. But alas he missed that game and the Dees ran out 55 point winners. A spud like Roberts would've undoubtedly been the difference.

    Zac Clarke no thanks. I hear Kent Kingsley is coming out of retirement though? Or was it Beau what's his name this week?

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    Retain Watts as a back-up ruck!

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    I'd be open to Clarke if he really is healthy and cheap.

    He rarely got to play as the number 1 ruck for Freo and played injured a fair bit. He's not a forward at all and was played there quite a bit.

    He has (or had) the size and athleticism to play as a mobile ruck and that's still a rare commodity.

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    On 07/10/2017 at 8:57 AM, Luther said:

    I seem to remember Clarke killing us one year at the G, and that convinced me he was good. No longer.

    Griffin might be a little too old.

    Probably a no to both, unless we struggle to find better prospects for mature, back up rucks.

    All teams struggle for mature back up rucks that can hold their own at AFL level, that's why Zak needs consideration

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