Somewhere, Over the Rainbow

Mitch Clark is a gamble, let’s be sure of that.

Disregarding any depression/mental health issues, it’s going to be tough for him to physically step back into the AFL and make an impact after so long out. Plus, we’re all well aware of the delicate nature of Lisfranc injuries (RIP Matthew Egan).

But Hawkins needed help last season, and Nathan Vardy, Josh Walker, Shane Kersten and Mitch Brown were all trialled as second tall forwards with varying degrees of success – varying, that is, from little to none. Like some sort of Wizard of Oz scenario each had their own charms but also a specific flaw to overcome: Vardy needed health, Walker needed polish, Kersten needed confidence and, now, Brown needs a job. (And while the Wizard is at it, let’s see if he can find a functioning knee for Denzel.)

2012 Mitch Clark displayed all the traits you want in a key forward – good size, speed and power, good hands and a reliable kick for goal – as well as being surprisingly agile when the ball hits the ground. They’ll need to be patient but all the tools are there and, importantly, he has runs on the board. If Geelong get anything approaching the 2012 version, he and Hawkins have a chance to form the best tall forward duo in the league.

Rhys Stanley is a gamble for another reason. At this point he’s an excellent athlete but not exactly an excellent footballer. 58 games into his career, Geelong are gambling that he’s ready to flourish as their number one ruck.

Mitch Clark doesn’t want to ruck, the club doesn’t want Vardy to, Blicavs is excellent as spot relief only, Dawson “I stand by my story!” Simpson has had knee and back surgeries in each of the past two off-seasons and the last time Hamish McIntosh played a good game was during the Howard administration.

At 200cm (although I have read a couple of reports putting him somewhere between 202 and 204cm) Geelong must be hoping Stanley’s leap and athleticism and 6 months at “Mark Blicavs school” effectively gives them an extra midfielder who can push forward and outrun other ruckmen: Paddy Ryder-Lite, if you will (Ryder is listed at 196cm).

I mean, they have to be thinking that, right? With the addition of Clark, and with Scarecrow, Lion and Tinman already there, Stanley is just more of the same unless he’s in the ruck full-time. And there’s no way the Wizard Wells effectively just traded Allen Christensen, Geelong’s best non-Selwood midfielder (who admittedly wanted out), for an underdeveloped VFL tall forward who’s biggest achievement is winning the Grand Final half-time sprint, right?

Right?

Click your heels, Big Leaguers.