So W.A people,what do we have in Clarke?
New āRuleā is interesting, ā¦ and odd.
UPDATE: Dons close to recruiting ex-Docker under new rules - AFL.com.au
Marc McGowan and Jason Phelan Nov 13, 2018 8:17PM
3-4 minutes
Ex-Docker Zac Clarke is expected to join the Bombersā ruck division
ESSENDON is closing in on a back-up for No.1 ruckman Tom Bellchambers, with former Docker Zac Clarke planning to sign under new AFL rookie rules.
Both parties are waiting on the AFL to give the arrangement the green light ahead of Fridayās second list lodgement deadline, because there is still confusion around how the rule works.
It could be the same situation for fellow ruckman Shane Mumford, who is set to come out of retirement for Greater Western Sydney but wants to avoid the draft.
Neither Clarke nor Mumford qualifies as a delisted free agent because theyāve each had a season out of the AFL.
However, as players who were previously on an AFL list they could sign as Category A rookies between December 1 and March 15 if League headquarters gives approval.
That will depend on how the AFL officiates the rule, given it was originally reported as being introduced to help clubs cover a footballer who retires or suffers a serious, long-term injury.
Clarke, who played 101 games and kicked 46 goals for Fremantle, will have to nominate for the draft if AFL decision-makers deem him ineligible to sign that way.
The 203cm giant underwent a medical at a different club to the Bombers and was set for another one with a third club this week, so Essendon would face competition in a draft scenario.
The Dockers cut Clarke at the end of the 2017 season after two surgeries and related complications with the patella in his left knee ruined his last year there.
But the 28-year-old bounced back this year to star with eventual WAFL premier Subiaco and would fill the void at the Bombers left by the surprise retirement of Matthew Leuenberger.
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The Leuenberger situation may help Essendonās case, with his decision to call it quits ā despite having a contract in front of him ā leaving it with only 20-year-old ruckman Sam Draper behind Bellchambers.
Clarke made 20 WAFL appearances and kicked 28 goals in the 2018 season, while averaging 15.7 disposals, 4.6 marks and 39 hit-outs.
He had at least 50 hit-outs in his last three matches this past season, including the Lionsā Grand Final triumph over West Perth, and managed the feat twice more before that.
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The Bombers also conducted a medical on delisted Western Bulldogs big man Tom Campbell, but his search for a fresh AFL start looks set to continue.
There are other options for Campbell, with North Melbourne, Richmond, the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide among the clubs potentially on the hunt for an experienced back-up.
Helping the 42-game former Dogās cause is the thin ruck depth in this yearās draft market, with a little-known 205cm rugby convert, Jack Blair, surging into calculations.
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Blair, 23, is training with Sydney and AFL.com.au understands at least one Melbourne club has held discussions with his management.
West Perth lost the GF? Haha diggers
The rule complication is the afl want the giants to be able to use it but not us
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I did wonder if the Mummy coke video made our chances of being able to use the new rule less likely. FFS its SOOOOOOO AFL to have these ambiguous rules they can exploit.
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Rules are only ambiguous to allow for exceptions to be made for Hawthorn.
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If clarke can offer something close to what leuenburger did then Iāll be satisfied with that.
Good for draper to have some competition and youād hope Clarke is able to at least compete.
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First bounce gives you an ideaā¦
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Hereās the first bounce of the SANFL GF for comparison
LOL
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good to see Jackets does not think Clarker is a hack
Which is what we pretty much do already.
OTOH Draper 2016, Nyuon in 2015?, SMack 2014, Thurlow 2013, Josh Jenkins 2010.
Iām not convinced thereās anything to be gained by worrying about ātrade valueā.
Jenkins, who was seen as surplus, got us from pick 40 to pick 30 or so.
Zac Clarke is not a physical ruckman. Heās an athletic one.
His injuries have reduced how athletic he could be but he still shies away from physical contact.
If Iām not mistaken, the other ruckman (Lourey) is the full forward who used to play for Frankston. Heās not a full time ruckman but he loves being physical.
We should target an adequate backup ruck at some point (whether in the draft or leave a spot open to sign someone before JLT).
If Bellchambers goes down with a season ending injury in JLT, weād have McKernan, Draper and Lavender to rely on until the mid season draft where we can get a better replacement. By that time, our season could be gone. If Looney didnāt retire, we could handle the risk.
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I agree we need to target someone, and Clarke might be our best option, just we need to be aware that in spite of the WAFL stats heās still the same player he was at Freo. Thatās ok, but we have to know that and be prepared for there to be games when he gets bullied by the opposition ruck if we are forced to rely on him.
Hopefully Bellchambers status fit, and Draper comes on, and then it doesnāt matter.
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Heās always looked like a dandelion.
So thereās 2 rucks in the ādraft machineā database (as far as I can tell)ā¦
Time for a Dodoro special I reckon. The Clarke story is surely spreading disinformationā¦
I used to trust the media to tell us the truth (tell us the truth)
But now Iāve seen the pay offs everywhere I look,
Who do you trust when everyoneās a crook?
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This is my understandingā¦
But the media is stuffing you all around. That rule to take Clarke after the drafts only applies if he nominates and nobody drafts him.
- Firstly, in that case why on earth wouldnāt we draft him in the rookie draft?
- Secondly, why would other clubs pass? The article even says heās having medical elsewhere. If they nominate him he canāt then play for anyone if he declined, so either way we donāt get him.
Iām getting more confident of Williams at 34
We will pick up ruckman thatās delisted currently, the fact Xavier Campbell has been open with the ruck recruitment tells me itās not through the draft