Well said. Just remember he is younger than Zac Smith. Still just a kid in ruck terms...Legendary wrote:Ben McEvoy had the most hitouts last year of any St Kilda ruckman since Peter Everitt.
He also averaged more hitouts per game than Michael Gardiner ever did in any period of time with the Saints.
McEvoy's efforts in 2011 included 37 hitouts against Brad Ottens and 29 against Darren Jolly.
Instead of crucifying a bloke based on 1 half of a pre-season match, perhaps you should look at his outstanding form in 2011 when he carried the ruck load solo for the entire year as a 21-year old.
Vs Eagles he was up against the best combo in the AFL. Was obviously struggling after that hit, where was Roo's awareness/talk? He basically went at it alone in that heat against two guns used to those conditions. We also played an intraclub last week in soggy, heavy conditions. While that wasnt the real stuff it still would have affected them.
There is no point highlighting Stanley and comparing both. While he was encouraging, he got those hitouts when Cox was on ice and Niknat was going half assed with the game already won. Also as another poster said, that 3m rule is stupid and wont be there in the season proper.
So the sky is not falling, Ben will be fine so long as Kos n Rhys can give him adequate support.