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CLARRY IS NOT A TAGGER

picket fence
in Melbourne Demons

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5 minutes ago, picket fence said:

But we LOST the game!

Us losing the game had absolutely nothing to do with coaching or Clayton Oliver being a tagger. Clayton is a bigger liability for the midfield as a non-tagger turning the ball over with every possession than he is as a tagger.

We lose that game because of very simple set shots and snaps (Fritsch, Windsor, Gawn, Chandler, Spargo, Langdon) which should have had us 5 goals up at 3qt. We are then unfit because Selwyn Griffith is not good enough at his job.

The gameplan gave us the opportunity to win and our players aren't good enough to take it. I am as a big an advocate for sacking Goodwin as anyone, but this isn't on him or Clarry tagging.

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    1 minute ago, picket fence said:

    Agree, but he still does his best work as offence not as a tagger, thats the role for his predecessor Jordy Mc Kensie, not 4 Time B&F AND all Australian midfielder!

    ...but he hasn't been doing it.

    We need to get him back to that, we would all love to see that.

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    12 hours ago, monoccular said:

    Probably a one off experiment IMO.

    Doubt it. Viney out again this week

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    The list of things that Clarry is not at the moment is already lengthy and is growing by the week. A tagger is one of the few remaining roles he may be able to play in his current condition. At the very least, the Newcombes of the world will take him to the ball.

    However, the bigger issue is that most opposition midfields are much deeper than ours. Many coaches would be happy to sacrifice one of their gun mids to a nil-all draw with Oliver, and let the others feast on our B grade midfielders (as happened with Worpel this week).

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    On 10/05/2025 at 21:44, Sir Why You Little said:

    I think a tagging role is great for Clarry this year. Give him a set job to focus on, whilst still working on his fitness

    How long has he been "working on his fitness"? We've been saying this for almost 2 years now!

    He looked completely shot on the weekend. He did a good job on Newcombe but it will be an absolute disaster if he has to tag this weekend against better running midfielders in Neale, Ashcroft, McCluggage and even Dunkley. He won't be able to keep up

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    2 hours ago, Roost it far said:

    Oliver tags Newcombe who's ineffective, Dee's smash Hawks at clearance, fans call for coach to be sacked. Right, got it.

    Quite amazing really. Everyone expects Clarry, Tracc etc to be their 2021 selves every week.

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    1 hour ago, dice said:

    How long has he been "working on his fitness"? We've been saying this for almost 2 years now!

    He looked completely shot on the weekend. He did a good job on Newcombe but it will be an absolute disaster if he has to tag this weekend against better running midfielders in Neale, Ashcroft, McCluggage and even Dunkley. He won't be able to keep up

    Your right on both counts….

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    On 10/05/2025 at 20:27, picket fence said:

    This was a disgrace, one of the most creative players of all time used as a Tagger!?? Can we please show whoever was responsible for this mind numbing decision the door!? Shocking player management yet again!

    So, you’re suggesting we show Clarrie the door?

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    1 minute ago, Ghostwriter said:

    So, you’re suggesting we show Clarrie the door?

    Not for one minute, but surely the coach sets the team up NOT the players!

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    Just now, picket fence said:

    Not for one minute, but surely the coach sets the team up NOT the players!

    They work together.

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    Ghosty I played 11 years of Ammo footy and not once did I ever request to play in a particular position. Worked well coz we won 3 premierships!

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    36 minutes ago, picket fence said:

    Ghosty I played 11 years of Ammo footy and not once did I ever request to play in a particular position. Worked well coz we won 3 premierships!

    You likely also smoked cigarettes at halftime and partied ‘til 3am the night before a match. Times have changed, PF.

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    Based on their season average Player Ratings pre and post this match vs their Player Rating on the day, in simple terms (based on statistically weighted averages) a net loss for us on the day of 24.4%

    Bottom line, we turned a fairly minor 5.3% differential prior to this match into a massive 29.7% one in sending Clarry to Newcombe.

    image.png

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    Stats courtesy of footwire.com & wheeloratings.com

    Edited by Demon Dynasty

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    1 hour ago, Ghostwriter said:

    You likely also smoked cigarettes at halftime and partied ‘til 3am the night before a match. Times have changed, PF.

    NEVER 🤯

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    6 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    Not sure I'd be calling someone that's recently averaged 21 brownlow votes a year a spud.

    Yeah you’re right there, was probably comparing him to prime Clarry 2018-22

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    22 hours ago, Wrecker45 said:

    I've said it in so many posts previously I can't work out what Sparrows role is.

    He is a deceivingly good over head mark, big bodied and a reasonable kick but doesn't get much of the footy. He is no ANB or now Sharp than run all day and block opposition attacks. He is not damaging and involved in score involvements.

    He is an automatic selection every week but I often wonder why. He is obviously doing whatever he is instructed to do but what is it?

    Sparrow first in sprints, first in repeat sprints, first in distance at high speed.

    Routinely makes position across half forward both in defending and attacking.

    He hasn’t made it as a mid. Just doesn’t make decisions in tight quick enough. But he’s a solid worker across half forward and right now he’s well clear of Sharp who is very unreliable at the contest, no better with the ball and doesn’t have good defensive awareness despite his work rate. And Kolt who has the scope for more but isn’t in good touch.

    Kynan Brown is working his way towards another go and I’d like to give Jack Henderson another shot now he’s starting to get some VFL form. Back it’s pretty slim pickings.

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    1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

    Sparrow first in sprints, first in repeat sprints, first in distance at high speed.

    Routinely makes position across half forward both in defending and attacking.

    He hasn’t made it as a mid. Just doesn’t make decisions in tight quick enough. But he’s a solid worker across half forward and right now he’s well clear of Sharp who is very unreliable at the contest, no better with the ball and doesn’t have good defensive awareness despite his work rate. And Kolt who has the scope for more but isn’t in good touch.

    Kynan Brown is working his way towards another go and I’d like to give Jack Henderson another shot now he’s starting to get some VFL form. Back it’s pretty slim pickings.

    Confirming my gut feel that he's a much better alternative as the lock down 'go to' IF needed.

    Absolutely no need to use Clarry who is much better suited in the extractor / distributor / link up, at and around stoppage.

    Edited by Demon Dynasty

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    9 hours ago, FearTheBeard said:

    Us losing the game had absolutely nothing to do with coaching or Clayton Oliver being a tagger. Clayton is a bigger liability for the midfield as a non-tagger turning the ball over with every possession than he is as a tagger.

    Incorrect

    The turnover king in the middle for us is Vines, averaging a hefty 5.9 turnovers per game in 2025.

    Ranked No.1 in the team overall as well.

    Clarry coming in at No.10 for us @ 3.1 per game and behind a number of other mids including Tracc in 2nd place (overall) with 4.7, Pickett (part time mid) in 3rd with 4.3 and Rivers (part time mid) with 3.8

    Clarry has also reduced his average turnovers per match by approx 30% vs 2024 this season while increasing his effective disposals by 26%. Leading to a 4% increase in his disposal efficiency from 65.9% in 2024 to 70.1% so far.

    Across the AFL (vs other mid-fielders) Clarry is sitting in equal 99th spot for turnovers.

    On Saturday he posted the same average turnover numbers as he had done for the seven weeks prior to playing on Newcombe. He was no better or worse in a turnover sense vs his usual role.

    At No.1 for mids and the turnover king across all lines in the AFL is Merrett, averaging 6.1 turnovers per game so far.

    Vines sitting in 5th place.

    Edited by Demon Dynasty

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