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Pre-Season & Rookie Drafts All Picks | |
1. | Carl | Cain Ackland | (Saints) | |
2. | Ess | Mal Michael | (BL) | |
3. | Roos | Ben Ross | (GpPwer) | |
4. | Port | Adam Cockshell | (Nrwod) | |
5. | Hawth | Josh Thurgood | (Hawth) | |
6. | Rich | Kent Kingsley | (Geel) | |
7. | Saints | Matthew Clarke | (Adel) | |
8. | Coll | Chris Bryan | (Carl) | |
9. | Carl | Cameron Cloke | (Coll) | |
ROOKIE DRAFT | |
1. | Carl | Sam Jacobs | (WTorr) | |
2. | Ess | Dean Dick | (Perth) | |
3. | Roos | Leigh Adams | (ERang) | |
4. | Lions | Anthony Corrie | (BL) | |
5. | Port | Alexander Lee | (DndStg) | |
6. | Hawth | Brett Collins | (StBds) | |
7. | Geel | Joel Reynolds | (Ess) | |
8. | Rich | Tasman Clingan | (NBal't) | |
9. | Saints | Clinton Jones | (SFreo) | |
10. | Coll | Sharrod Wellingham | (Perth) | |
11. | Dogs | Gavin Hughes | (Nrwod) | |
12. | Melb | Daniel Hayes | (ERang) | |
13. | Freo | Chris Smith | (MtGrvtt) | |
14. | Adel | Andrew McIntyre | (NAdel) | |
15. | Syd | Nicholas Smith | (OkChgs) | |
16. | Egles | Jamie McNamara | (EFreo) | |
17. | Carl | Michael Jamison | (NBal't) | |
18. | Ess | Danny Chartres | (PThund) | |
19. | Roos | Ben Hughes | (GpPwer) | |
20. | Bris | Scott Clouston | (Mnngsd) | |
21. | Port | Gavin Grose | (MtGrvtt) | |
22. | Hawth | Matthew Suckling | (WagTigs) | |
23. | Geel | Liam Bedford | (Clrmont) | |
24. | Rich | Jake King | (CobgTig) | |
25. | Saints | Luke van Rheenen | (Scsby) | |
26. | Coll | Brent Macaffer | (GpPwer) | |
27. | Dogs | Jarrod Harbrow | (MrBshgs) | |
28. | Freo | Andrew Foster | (EFreo) | |
29. | Adel | James Turner | (Sthdel) | |
30. | Syd | Matthew O'Dwyer | (CldCan) | |
31. | Egles | Llane Spaanderman | (EPerth) | |
32. | Carl | Ross Young | (NBllnts) | |
33. | Ess | Adam Ramanauskas | (Ess) | |
34. | Roos | Matt Campbell | (NthAdel) | |
35. | Bris | Daniel Dzufer | (SuncLns) | |
36. | Port | Nathan Batsanis | (OkChgrs) | |
37. | Hawth | Sam Gibson | (BxHlHks) | |
38. | Geel | Jason Davenport | (GeelFal) | |
39. | Saints | Robert Eddy | (GpPwer) | |
40. | Coll | Martin Clarke | (Irlnd) | |
41. | Dogs | Marty Pask | (Lions) | |
42. | Freo | Darren Rumble | (Subi) | |
43. | Adel | Rhys Archard | (SthAdl) | |
44. | Syd | Luke Brennan | (Hawth) | |
45. | Egles | Chad Jones | (Roos) | |
46. | Carl | pass | |
47. | Roos | Tim Hutchison | (Roos) | |
48. | Bris | Haydn Kiel | (SthPort) | |
49. | Port | Peter Hardy | (GeelFalc | |
50. | Geel | Tom Lonergan | (Geel) | |
51. | Saints | James Wall | (Syd) | |
52. | Dogs | Michael West | (Dogs) | |
53. | Freo | Benet Copping | (Freo) | |
54. | Adel | Greg Gallman | (NthAdel) | |
55. | Syd | Matthew Davis | (Syd) | |
56. | Egles | Ben Sharp | (Egles) | |
57. | Bris | Joel Tippett | (SthPort) | |
58. | Saints | Jarryn Geary | (BenPion) | |
59. | Syd | Earl Shaw | (Syd) | |
60. | Egles | Ashley Thornton | (Egles) | |
61. | Bris | William Hamill | (Lions) | |
62. | Saints | Jayden Attard | (Lions) | |
63. | Syd | |
64. | Egles | Beau Wilkes | (Egles) |
Source TheAgeRealFooty (names abbeviated here to fit column)
ALL PICKS - CLUB PAGES HeraldSun
ALL PICKS - ONE PAGE TheAge
ALL PICKS - ONE PAGE AFL
John Beveridge SPORT 927 RADIO
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". . . No, seriously, I thought I was retired and I was amazed there was some interest in me. It was a tough decision to go around again and I ummed and ahh-ed but in the end I realised you're a long time retired. My body still feels good and I had a pretty good year at Adelaide so I thought why not give it a go. It is a risk, and things could go pear-shaped pretty quickly, but it's a risk I'm prepared to take."
- Matthew Clarke
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St. Kilda Confirmed Selections - Rookie and PSD
By '2007' saintsational.com
PRE-SEASON DRAFT:
Matthew Clarke
200cm, 99kg, 33 years old Experienced ruckman who has played at AFL level for fourteen years with the Brisbane Bears and later the Adelaide Crows. Known for his excellent tap-work but can struggle around the ground.
ROOKIES:
Clinton Jones - 183cm, 80kg, 22 years old (Pick 9)
Lightening-fast wingman who has won two B&F awards for South Fremantle. Finished 3rd in the Sandover Medal in 2006 and played well in the club's Preliminary Final win. Evasive with good goal sense, but decision-making can be poor at times.
Luke VanRheenen - 201cm, weight?, 18 years old (Pick 25)
Ruckman who played three matches for the seniors in 2006 and was impressive, polling votes in two matches. Captained the U/18's at Scoresby and shows good mobility for a ruckman.
Robert Eddy - 182cm, 82kg, 18 years old (Pick 39)
Strong midfielder/flanker who wins the ball and was judged MVP for Vic Country in 2006. From Gippsland Power. Has plenty of pace and reasonable skills.
James Wall - 198cm, 80kg, 19 years old (Pick 51)
Mobile key-position player who enjoyed a solid year with the Swans Reserves. Can play at either end of the ground and had several good matches at CHB. Athletic with good endurance. Some question marks over his pace and ability to find the ball.
Jarry Geary - 183cm, 78kg, 18 years old (Pick 58)
Skillful half-forward in the Milne-mould who surprisingly missed Vic Country selection. Great goal-sense and good skills. Played some excellent games in the midfield and won plenty of clearances. From Bendigo Pioneers.
Jaydn Attard - 187cm, 83kg, 20 years old (pick 62)
Fomer Brisbane Lion who was delisted after two years at the club. Originally taken with selection #50 in the 2004 draft, Attard is a quick wingman/flanker with a raking left-foot kick. All-Australian at U/18 level. Question marks over his ability to find the ball, but good skills. Had played five matches for the Lions. Originally from Chelsea.
The Post '2007' saintsational.com - Edit: info saints.com.au
Pics of new players thread 'saints_rule23' et al saintsational.com
James Wall - Rookie List 'LTN16' et al saintsational.com
Teams go for size
League careers were ended, reignited and started in yesterday's pre-season and rookie drafts which were dominated by the selections of big men. The Kangaroos had the first live selection in the pre-season draft after Carlton was already committed to using the No. 1 pick on ex-Saint ruckman Cain Ackland and Essendon had already signed former Brisbane Lions full-back Mal Michael . . . St Kilda bolstered its ruck division with the pre-season draft selection of former Crow Matthew Clarke, who the Saints talked out of retirement. He turned 33 in September. And the Saints also took another tall in the pre-season draft, South African born-teenager Luke van Rheenen who played for suburban club Scoresby this year . . . The Hawks swooped on Haileybury College student Brett Collins -- who played for St Bedes when he was free of school football commitments -- before St Kilda had the chance to draft him. He was coached at St Bedes, which won the premiership, by Luke Beveridge, the son of St Kilda recruiting manager John Beveridge.
The Article Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/13Dec06
St Kilda picks Clarke in Pre-Season Draft
St Kilda Football Club today picked Matthew Clarke in the 2006 NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft at pick 7, in Round 1. (Small profile on each player included) . . . St Kilda Coach, Ross Lyon said of the Club's selections, "We are pleased with the Club's picks as it gives us a real mix of rucks, talls and midfielders".
The Article St Kilda FC/saints.com.au/12Dec06
Recent Press Reports on Matthew Clarke | Matthew Clarke
Photo: Sebastian Costanzo/TheAge
Saints grant Geary's wish
Considered extremely unlucky to have been overlooked in last month's National Draft, Bendigo Pioneer midfielder Jarryn Geary now finds himself on an AFL list. Geary was selected by St Kilda with pick 58 in yesterday's AFL rookie draft. "It's pretty exciting - it has been a long time waiting for it, so it's good to know that it's all done and dusted and I don't have to look for another club now, I can just settle in," Geary said. "These past few weeks (since the National Draft) have dragged on because you just want to know what you're doing next year, and it seems to have taken forever to come around." The 18-year-old, who won this year's Neville Strauch Medal as the Pioneers' club champion, found out of his selection via the Internet . . . "It's a job now, so I guess I have to look at it that way and just work hard, prove myself and try to get on to the senior list next year." I just want to play well in the VFL (with St Kilda's affiliate Casey Scorpions) and see what happens."
The Article BendigoAdvertiser/13Dec06
Jarryn Geary Pic Bendigo Advertiser
Jones continues to rise
Jones had a stellar season in 2005 winning the Hughes Medal in a premiership year. While South Fremantle couldn't quite repeat the premiership success Jones took his game to another level. He had an astounding 306 handballs for the season - 54 more than anyone else in the WAFL while his 620 disposals placed him second in the competition. The 22-year-old wingman's ability to get his hands on the ball comes as the result of a simple philosophy. "If you don't run you're not going to get hold of the footy," he said, "running has always been a strength of mine and I try to run as hard as I can in every game." After his success in 2005 Jones was the object of greater attention from opposition teams and he found the best way to break tags was to cover plenty of ground. Hard running often sent him well forward and he kicked 14 goals for the season and had a hand in many more.
The Article australianrules.com.au/13Dec06
Clinton Jones Pic Les Everett - Australian Rules
Flying south
St Kilda gave the AFL's push into South Africa another small nudge with its second choice in the rookie draft. Luke van Rheenan, 18, is a developing 201-centimetre ruckman from Scoresby in the Eastern District League, who was born in South Africa.
Crows punt on jockey TheAgeRealFooty/13Dec06
Small Roo's big plans
Standing only 176cm and sporting spiky blond locks, Kangaroos new boy Ben Ross fits the stereotype of football's feisty little man. Maybe he has mimicked cheeky St Kilda goalsneak Stephen Milne while training at Moorabbin for the past two weeks. Asked to describe his style, Ross replied: "I'm sort of a flashy player, I run and carry and I'm pretty quick. I can kick goals and I'm pretty hard working." Coach Dean Laidley didn't even blink standing beside his latest acquisition. But he knows that, like Milne, the Gippsland Power teenager must retain confidence with his small stature to cut it at AFL level. The Kangaroos surprised by grabbing Ross with their pre-season draft pick just as St Kilda prepared to rookie list him yesterday. A glowing report on Ross by under-18s teammate Lachlan Hansen, pick No. 3 in the national draft, prompted the Roos to extend their youth policy. They also threw a rookie lifeline to Vic Metro captain Leigh Adams.
The Article TheAustralian/13Dec06
Roos, Port surprise with teenage signings
. . . The Saints did not surprise anyone in picking up former Adelaide ruckman Matthew Clarke. Clarke retired at the end of the season, but decided to nominate for the draft after being approached by at least two clubs. St Kilda will be Clarke's third club in the AFL after stints at Adelaide and Brisbane. "I'm happy with the way it all went through, so i'm looking forward to it," he said. "I'm a little behind the eight-ball as far as fitness is concerned, but I'll spend the next month or so getting back up to speed."
The Article ABCSport/12Dec06
Surprises in AFL draft Sportal/12Dec06
Draft revives seven AFL careers Nikki Tugwell/TheAustralian/13Dec06
Some thoughts on the Rookie Draft
The club has had a number of potential rookies as well as former rookies training with us. However personally I would be disappointed if our 6 rookie selections were all made from players already training at the club . . . With all the possible players that could be picked from throughout Australia, if all 6 are from those already training at the club it would mean in my estimation that we have not picked the best possible 6 rookie players. If we want to milk the rookie system for all it is worth and exhibit AFL best practice in this regard we need to look a lot deeper than than that.
The Thread 'saintsRrising' et al saintsational.com
Draft Eligibility - Official AFL
Players must be 18 on or before April 30 the year following a National Draft. Players who are not 18 before December 31 of a draft year (17 and a half) must be contracted for a minimum of two years.
AFL Draft Page afl.com.au
Clarke ready for new year
Matthew Clarke has played only a handful of his 247 games on Victorian grounds, but doesn't expect any adjustment issues to accompany him to St Kilda. The ruckman is, as he puts it, an "elderly" 33, and already knows a little about life in Melbourne. Before he spent seven years in Brisbane, and seven more in Adelaide, Clarke was on Richmond's list, and spent a year in its under-19 team. "We had quite a good team that year," Clarke said, of the 1991 team that included former Tigers Duncan Kellaway and Nick Daffy, as well as one-time Hawk Rayden Tallis and Bulldog Paul Dimmattina. "The opportunity to come back, and be involved in the footy culture of Melbourne, was a bit of an attraction."
The Article Emma Quayle/TheAgeRealFooty/14Dec06
Matthew Clarke Pic Border Mail
Clarke pledges his all
The last time St Kilda recruit Matthew Clarke set foot on Moorabbin it was playing for Richmond in the last year of the old VFL under 19's competition way back in 1991. Now some 15 years later the veteran ruckman will finally experience life in the AFL epicentre of Melbourne after agreeing to a one year contract with the Saints just weeks after having announced his AFL retirement at Adelaide. But while Clarke's change of heart sounds similar to the Mal Michael situation at Essendon, there is none of the bitterness that came with Michael's defection from Brisbane to the Bombers after having announced his retirement.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/13Dec06
Matthew Clarke Pic saints.com.au
Saints beckon Clarke
Matthew Clarke says he has not been guaranteed anything in Tuesday's AFL pre-season draft. "You are never guaranteed anything in these sort of things, history shows you that," former Crow Clarke said yesterday after lodging his draft nomination form before the 1.30pm deadline. "Obviously there has been some interest in me - I wouldn't have nominated if there wasn't - but clubs are very hesitant to guarantee anything because they just don't know who is going to be available when they have their draft pick. So I guess I'm taking a bit of a punt, I could end up looking a bit silly if I'm not picked up." That is unlikely to happen. When the draft is done, 33-year-old Clarke is almost certain to find himself in a St Kilda jumper.
The Article Andrew capel/AdelaideAdvertiser/09Dec06
Clarke in the draft
Veteran Adelaide ruckman Matthew Clarke has nominated for the 2006 NAB AFL pre-season draft and seems set to join his third AFL club next week . . . The Saints will have just one selection despite the fact they had room on their playing list, but not in their salary cap, for three selections. Carlton has already agreed to take ex St Kilda ruckman Cain Ackland with pick one while Essendon has agreed to take Michael at pick two . . . But it is Clarke who shapes as the prized catch next Tuesday . . . it would be a major surprise if a player that nominated for the draft just weeks after retiring was not picked up. The Saints will have first chance to grab Clarke at pick seven ahead of Collingwood at pick eight while mystery surrounds the Kangaroos' and Port's intentions.
The Article Sportal/08Dec06
Saints to draft one player
. . . St Kilda has been cleared to participate in next week's pre-season draft after the AFL examined the club's total player payments. St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser confirmed last night, however, that the Saints were set to draft only one player, and would have a list of 38 with six rookies, instead of 40 with four rookie-list players. Ruckman Matthew Clarke is expected to be their pick. The Saints could have a list of 40 if Robert Harvey and Max Hudghton were designated as veteran list players, but the club is instead opting to keep the duo "inside" the primary list of 38, a decision that allows it to draft more rookies.
Cometti follows AFL back to 7 Allen Newton/PerthNow/08Dec06
Matthew Clarke Image source AdelaideAdvertiser
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Clarke in the draft mix
Veteran Adelaide ruckman Matthew Clarke has nominated for the 2006 NAB AFL pre-season draft and seems set to join his third AFL club next week. Clarke, who announced his retirement at the end of the 2006 season after 247 games in 14 years with first Brisbane and then Adelaide, has been linked to both St Kilda and Collingwood . . . The Saints will have just one selection despite the fact they had room on their playing list, but not in their salary cap, for three selections . . . Other players to nominate for the draft on Friday besides Ackland, Clarke and Michael were Chris Bryan (Carlton), Anthony Corrie (Brisbane Lions), Ben Eckermann (Port Adelaide), Tim Hutchison (Kangaroos), Kent Kingsley (Geelong), Tom Lonergan (Geelong) and Brad Murphy (Western Bulldogs).
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/08Dec06
Clarke opts for draft
'Retired' Crows ruckman Matthew Clarke has nominated for Tuesday's AFL pre-season draft. Clarke is likely to be picked up by St Kilda . . . Only nine players will be picked up in the draft, with half of the league's 16 teams - including Adelaide - not taking part. The order for the draft is: Round 1 - Carlton, Essendon , Kangaroos, Port Adelaide, Hawthorn, Richmond, St Kilda, Collingwood . Round 2 - Carlton. The rookie draft will be held on the same day. Clarke's decision to nominate will be a major blow to Glenelg, which had been looking forward to having the veteran leading its rucks in 2007.
The Article AdelaideAdvertiser/08Dec06
MATTHEW CLARKE PROFILE
Clarke was drafted by the Richmond Football Club from Mount Gambier in 1991 but did not play a senior game, spending the year playing for the Richmond under-19s. He was delisted at the end of 1992, but was picked up by the Brisbane Bears at pick 43 in the 1993 pre-season draft. Debuting in 1993 with the Bears, "Doc" Clarke was a promising young ruckman under coach Robert Walls and was particularly decisive with his tap work. After being runner-up in the Brisbane Bears Club Champion award in 1994 and 1996, he took out the Merrett-Murray best and fairest award in 1997 for the Brisbane Lions and consolidated his position as one of the league's best ruckmen. In 2005 in the absence of suddenly-emerged number one ruckman Ben Hudson, Clarke was surprisingly recalled from the South Adelaide side in the SANFL to play a part in the Crows' run to the finals. He showed he was still an effective player, being labelled as one of the most effective "tap ruckmen" by commentator Robert Walls . . . Clarke is a qualified Veterinarian (like his father) and is currently studying for an MBA.
wikipedia.org
St Kilda: Permission to train list - Jayden Attard, Brisbane Lions; Cathal Corr, St Kilda; Chais Dunne, Casey Scorpions; Ben Fraser, Casey Scorpions; Ed McDonnell, St Kilda; Alister Neville, Coburg; Tom Roach, Richmond; Ben Ross, Gippsland Power; James Tyquin, St Bedes Mentone; Luke Van Rheenan, Scoresby
Permission to train - All Teams Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/29Nov06
St Kilda '07 jumper numbers allocated 'Bono' saintsational.com
Time Trial 'Go Sretnias Go' et al saintsational.com
Fans pick Saints best 22 '3:16' et al saintsational.com
Fergus Watts Role in 2007? 'coffssaint' et al saintsational.com
PRE-SEASON DRAFT
St Kilda has up to three vacancies on its list but seems certain to select no more than two players, the final number depending on salary-cap considerations. Interest in ruckmen including Clark Keating and Tristan Cartledge. Stephen Rielly/TheAgeRealFooty/28Nov06
Pre - Season Draft 'locoplayaz' et al saintsational.com
Ruck swaps tipped to dominate AFL draft
Tuesday's AFL pre-season draft is expected to be a ruckman's merry-go-round, with as many as five of the league's big men tipped to be given new homes . . . The Blues, which have the first pick, have committed to drafting ex-St Kilda ruckman Cain Ackland to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Barnaby French. The Saints, in turn, are expected to fill the gap left by Ackland's departure by drafting ex-Adelaide big man Matthew Clarke. The Crows will be left vulnerable in the ruck after losing Clarke and Rhett Biglands, who is expected to miss the 2007 season with a knee injury, but they do not have a pick on Tuesday. The Saints had already strengthened their ruck division by trading with West Coast for Michael Gardiner, before Ackland's decision to join the Blues prompted them to also pursue Clarke . . .
The Article AAP/TheAge/11Dec06
Rookies to play a vital role
There may have been a number of youngsters disappointed at missing a place on an AFL list after November's NAB AFL Draft, but potentially another 64 players could gain an opportunity to kick-start or revive an AFL career via Tuesday's NAB AFL Rookie Draft. Although two players have already been locked into selections - Essendon will redraft 2000 premiership player Adam Ramanauskas at No.33 and Collingwood has secured international rookie Martin Clarke (County Down, Ireland) at No.40 - there will still be 62 'live' selections in this draft. But it is unlikely that every selection will be utilised. Every AFL club has a selection in this meeting. Four clubs have six picks (Brisbane Lions, St Kilda, Sydney and West Coast), while Melbourne has just one choice as it has retained three 2006 rookies - Jace Bode, Daniel Hughes and Shane Neaves - for 2007.
The Article Matt Burgan/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/11Dec06
Paul Roos query on rookies Karen Collins/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/11Dec06
Now for the Rookie Draft
When previous NAB AFL drafts have been completed, invariably there have been a number of players surprisingly overlooked and without an AFL club. Last November, two players Ryan Jackson and Alan Toovey were overlooked to the surprise of many. Yet it was no coincidence that in last December's NAB AFL Rookie Draft, the first two players selected were Jackson (No.1) by Carlton and Toovey (No.2) by Collingwood. Both players have been retained for the 2007 season, with Jackson remaining a second-year rookie with the Blues, while Toovey has been promoted to Collingwood's senior list.
The Article Matt Burgan/AFL/saints.com.au/27Nov06
Clarke may return a Saint
Former Adelaide ruckman Matthew Clarke is poised to follow Mal Michael out of retirement and into the AFL pre-season draft. Clarke, 33, is understood to be considering a nomination for the pre-season draft by next Friday's deadline in the hope of joining St Kilda. The Saints, in desperate need of a ruckman after losing uncontracted Cain Ackland to Carlton - he will be taken with the No.1 pick at the pre-season draft - are understood to have talked Clarke into playing. He retired from Adelaide at the end of last season after a 14-season, 248-game career with the Crows and Brisbane Lions . . . New Saints coach Ross Lyon is believed to have head-hunted his former Brisbane teammate Clarke as Ackland's replacement, telling him he will be one of the club's lead ruckman next year.
The Article Andrew Capel/TheAustralian/30Nov06
Matthew Clarke a Saint!!?? 'skeptic' et al saintsational.com
TS40 Rumour '3:16' et al saintsational.com
Let them play - if wanted
I hope Matthew Clarke does get drafted by St Kilda. I hope Ben Hart gets drafted by, well, anyone really (the ultimate irony would be Port Adelaide). I really hope Romario played well last night for Adelaide United. All three have one thing in common in that they are in the twilight of their respective careers. In Romario's case, he's probably closer to midnight. But why shouldn't they play if someone will have them? . . . But performance is expected of Romario, as will be expected of Clarke and Hart. How strange that the much maligned Clarke, the least naturally talented of the trio, is the one most in touch with career-best form.
The Article Graham Cornes/AdelaideAdvertiser/30Nov06
Clarke back in mix as Saints look to fill ruck
Intrigue continues to surround the intentions of former Brisbane and Adelaide ruckman Matthew Clarke, who has considered reversing a brief retirement to join St Kilda. The Saints have spoken to the 33-year-old, whose 14-year career appeared to have ended when he was delisted by Adelaide after last season, but Clarke had still not nominated for next week's pre-season draft as of last night. Nominations close on Friday. The Saints have three selections available, although they may only use one of them, and there remains the desire to recruit another ruckman after losing Cain Ackland to Carlton . . . Tristan Cartledge, the former Essendon follower who has been training with Hawthorn, is likely to come into St Kilda's thinking if Clarke chooses not to nominate for a draft shaping as one dominated by recycled ruckmen.
The Article Stephen Rielly/TheAgeRealFooty/06Dec06
Pies cold on Clarke
. . . Despite virtually ruling out the chance of Clarke landing at Victoria Park, (Collingwood recruiting manager Noel Judkins) said he presented St Kilda with value given the Saints' situation. "He played some good footy this year," Judkins noted of Clarke. "Someone like St Kilda might look at him because they believe they are pretty close (to winning a premiership) and he (Clarke) might just tip them over the line."
The Article Zac Milbank/AdelaideAdvertiser/06Dec06
Primus supports Clarke comeback
Port Adelaide ruck coach Matthew Primus has thrown his considerable weight behind the likely comeback of Matthew Clarke . . . Even with Cain Ackland's sudden departure to Carlton, the Saints could finish with an experienced ruck tandem of Clarke and All-Australian Michael Gardiner. "I think he can (have an impact) for sure. Along with Gardiner he would make a pretty good combination," Primus, a dual All-Australian, said. "I was obviously surprised that he did (consider it) but some clubs are pretty persuasive in talking players back as we've seen over the last couple of weeks. If he (Clarke) thinks his body is good enough and St Kilda think they need one (ruckman) then good luck to them. He had a pretty good year, the one just gone." Primus added that recent rule changes, which reduced the body-on-body contact between ruckmen, were allowing players like Clarke, 33, to extend their careers. "No doubt, I think it's added a couple of years to most of the ruckmen," Primus said.
The Article AdelaideAdvertiser/06Dec06
Ask not what the club can do for you . . . . . . but what you can do for the club
With all the hype around how Collingwood and Essendon seem to get all the breaks with regard to the draw and right to play on the MCG you ask yourself why is this so . . . I believe it comes down to the size of the membership that gives these two so called super clubs the cream when it comes to the afl.
I ask myself how can we get our membership numbers to compete or even over-take the Victorian power house's of the bumbers and the filth . . . How do we as a club try to convince every occasional fan and bandwagon jumper to sign up? What can we the fans do to help us get more members?
The Post & Thread 'st_Trav_ofWA' et al - saintsational.com
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