McEvoy

[saintsRrising]

Considering that Ben was up against Jolly (who destroyed him last Year), I would rate this as Ben's best every game for us.

Prior to last night I would have been concerned that Pies had a real edge in the ruck....and given their "Roman " Press on the ball carrier this is a vita part of combating the Pies.

Ben was better than Jolly last night.

...and Ben's contested marking around the ground is now actually the best in the AFL...no mere feat for one so young.



Why we lost last night was poor ball use:
* a lot of shoddy kicks
*some poor decisions on where to kick too

More specifically the Pies has Davis and Daisy being very creative out of their backline, whereas we had Gilbert and gram literary kicking it to the Pies rather than to some advantage to a St Kilda team-mate.

How often did we see Gram on the fly...with a team-mate in space upfield ....only to see Gram pass the ball over his team-mates head to a Pie opponent.

Congrats also to Peake who time and time again last night ran and created space and and option to pass too.
Peake could have racked up 10-15 more disposals if his team-mates could have passed better to him.

[mohannair]

Any chance he will be All Australian this year? Cox & Goldstein just appear to be a bit in front but not by much.

[Junction Oval]

McEvoy has come on in leaps and bounds over the past 6 months.
Early in the year his centre square ruck work was so abysmal, he was relegated to Sandy.

I wonder how much of a part Steven King has played in helping him along with his centre square technique? Love his around the ground marking

[Dr Spaceman]

Is already very, very good.

And given his age will only continue to improve.

Ben's from Mt Beauty - and he sure is a "Bewty"

[duckduckduckgoose]

i thought Kosi was towelled up in the ruck last night.
But big ben is a ripper, excellent below his knees too

[Bardon Saint]

Ben has been great this year. His workrate is superb. His marking is exceptional. His ruckwork is improving. I love the little (un ruck lick things) he does, strong in the 1%ers and tackles.

Gardiner, and i do remember how good he can be, will just provide a back up to Ben this year.

[Megsie]

BEN a shining light !!!!!

Our tomorrows look safe in Ben's hands.

[SaintPav]

Was it my imagination because I thought he out leaped Jolly a couple of time last night? It looked like he was getting a decent leap at the centre bounces.

[skeptic]

historically our club is guilty of destroying players like Ben by pushing them too hard

we really need to re-stock our ruck at years end

Currently all we've got is:
McEvoy
Gardiner (on last legs trying to get fitness up)
Stanley (appears a long way off)
Archer (appears even further behind that)

Kosi + Blake to pinch hit

IMO we really need to move heaven and earth to get a player that could take Ben's spot if he went down or force his way into the team to be his partner

Would love to get Mitch Clarke

[saintly]

McEvoy contract is up at the end of theyear, and has not signed as yet. I wonder when he wil. Hope GWS is not into him!

[Stillwaiting]

McEvoy contract is up at the end of theyear, and has not signed as yet. I wonder when he wil. Hope GWS is not into him!

well if that's the case, I hope he is signed up asap. I would be very suprised if he left. Ben along with Jack have been big improvers.

[Dan Warna]

He's going to be a top 3 ruckman, we can't afford to lose him unfortunately. I expect the club to fight to protect our ruck future.

[duckduckduckgoose]

He's going to be a top 3 ruckman, we can't afford to lose him unfortunately. I expect the club to fight to protect our ruck future.

but he hasn't won a brownlow?

[dcstkfc]

I'd be heartbroken if we lost him. Probably more than any other player on the list at the moment.

[Winmar7Fan]

He's really surprising me. Has already turned out better than I expected and I now think he can even get better.

Well done Big Mac

[BigMart]

Outstanding game

Good three month period.....sometimes all kids need is extended opportunity...

Steven also....

If lynch, armo would get a similar opportunity to be bad, they would get better too...