Cleve Hughes - Forward or Back?

[BrisTiger24]

He's a hack. Get rid of him. And while we're at it, get rid of Jack Riewoldt too. He hasn't done anything since he's been at the club :

 

[craig]

Cleever can play and is a natural talent and most certainly a natural Key Forward and no doubt the kids probably played all his footy at the sharp end, therefore he wont be used to the work ethic required of a defender, nor does he look to me to even half embrace playing back there.

TW is in the situation with Hughes where he wants to develop some versatilityinto Cleve cos of our lack of talls which is a problem TW is resposible for, and trying to make Hughes a key back wont work imo.
Nothing wrong with trying to develop the boys defensive skills at all however one must be careful to not ruin the confidence of the kid playing him out of position.

Cleve was impressive as a key forward last year and for mine should remain as a forward, had TW drafted some tall backs we wouldnt be in this predicament.

Clever will be ok , he's class, and thats a valuable commodity in short supply at RFC.

All he has to get in his head is that talent is not enough at AFL level, hes got a touch of the Sarges for mine.

 

[AstuteTiger]

He's a hack. Get rid of him. And while we're at it, get rid of Jack Riewoldt too. He hasn't done anything since he's been at the club :

BT, ur comments are a little hard to fathom lets give Cleever a chance as he's only entering his 2nd season and regarding Reitwoldt C'mon that is a ridiculous comment, the season hasn't even started yet and as a big bloke we would be more than happy if he played a few games this year. They are going from under 18’s to elite level so don’t expect them to dominate in their first year or second for that matter.

 

[Harro12]

I think he had his tongue firmly in cheek astute!

 

[BrisTiger24]

I think he had his tongue firmly in cheek astute!

That would be correct. And it amazes me that someone could make any negative comment about Cleve, when he's been around a year and played a handful of games.

 

[The Mighty Wozman]

Should be given more time in the forward line. I went yesterday and (like someone else has mentioned on another thread) the Steamer played a total of 25 minutes for the whole game..... Sure, he didn't do much, but one thing is for sure is that he has put on some good size.... He'll be right.

 

[tha8ball]

He is the least of our worries.......If the coaches want more out of him id be saying to him - ok Clevey for the rest of the year i want you to do every single session with Richo - in the sprints - in all the drills. I want you to aspire to be him...and knowing Richo he will drive CLeve .... Cleve Hughes is going to be a very good FORWARD for the RFC for a long time.

 

[AstuteTiger]

He is the least of our worries.......If the coaches want more out of him id be saying to him - ok Clevey for the rest of the year i want you to do every single session with Richo - in the sprints - in all the drills. I want you to aspire to be him...and knowing Richo he will drive CLeve .... Cleve Hughes is going to be a very good FORWARD for the RFC for a long time.

Too right 8ball but i just wish that they stop mucking around with him in the backline and give him every opportunity as a forward for the whole game, in the two's i think Cleve and reitwoldt will be a nice set up until they both develop and press for senior positions.

 

[geoffryprettyboy]

From what I've seen from Hughes he has displayed potential skill, but he reminds me of the lion from The Wizard of Oz.

Maybe Hughes should visit the Wizard.

 

[Rockster]

Yea but the problem is he might get lost trying to follow the yellow brick road

 

[geoffryprettyboy]

Rock Hudson, I might be taking the *smile* out of Cassanova Boy, but our future structure relies on this kid to make it, big time.

Yea but the problem is he might get lost trying to follow the yellow brick road

Petts had issues, was prescribed to see the Wizard, he found the yellow brick road, and is playing with a bit more ticker these days.

 

[Rockster]

i understand and agree 100% , but the early signs and not promising , but its still early so lets hope he starts to concertrate more on the footy than he does the grooming .

 

[AstuteTiger]

i understand and agree 100% , but the early signs and not promising , but its still early so lets hope he starts to concertrate more on the footy than he does the grooming .

Rockster, he will come good only played a year and only 19, what i have been impressed with this preseason is how much bigger he looks, he's really filled out, ok some might say it'll help in the chicks dept but id like to think its solely for his footy...(im only being cheeky)

 

[geoffryprettyboy]

Plough is providing us with the answers in his latest article on the RFC website, all the answers except for why Hughes gets very little game time.

Hey Jughead, add that to your list of questions next time.

 

[checkside]

I was just checking his date of birth and realised he must have been taken very top age. He was born on the 15 january 1987 compared to Luke McGuane taken in the draft before him who was born on the 12 febuary 1987. So he is 1 month younger than McGuane and almost 1 year older than jon.

 

[Dyer'ere]

Top age recruit. Isn't he a month older than McGuane, Checkers?

He is, as you point out, 20yo. Seems to be maturing physically.

 

[AstuteTiger]

Do we persist with trialing him at CHB, i personally think over this pre season it hasn't worked i know TW wants to educate him but i just think he's a natural forward who should be played close to goal and with 3 and a half weeks for Rd 1 he needs to playing in the forward line in the coming practice matches to gain more confidence.

seems like TW has started listening, albeit almost 1 year since i wrote this post... :hihi
Decided to go back into time and just see what posters thoughts were back then on a future Matrix man ullhair

 

[the claw]

I know we haven't seen a lot of him but the small glimpses that i have seen IE: Against Carlton when he lead well on two occasions and marked in front strongly plus the few goals he put through against the bummers, showed me he has something to offer in our forward line.

I see real potential in Cleve strong over head and will keep maturing in body size admittingly its only his 2nd year and big guys take a few years to develop and we'll give him that time but trialing him in the backline personally speaking im not happy about.

wallace is right in playing hughes down back for reasons are patently obvious im not even going to mention them. all i will say is we dont want another lazy ff who doesnt chase shepherd tackle and generally work for his team mates.far to many of our forwards have been defensively *smile* poor if cleve has to learn a defensive mindset playing chb at coburg so be it.

 

[AstuteTiger]

wallace is right in playing hughes down back for reasons are patently obvious im not even going to mention them. all i will say is we dont want another lazy ff who doesnt chase shepherd tackle and generally work for his team mates.far to many of our forwards have been defensively *smile* poor if cleve has to learn a defensive mindset playing chb at coburg so be it.

we know why he did it to make him accountable, to have a defensive mind set....but claw there were serious talks back then about making him a permanent backmen, i just couldn't see it happening.