Get physical, Ben!

[supersaints]

I just hope he does a Minson- just when they look like trade stocking-stuffers he comes good. I like big mac but I wish he won more hit outs to advantage.

Totally agree Minson was a dud until he turned 27 years of age . I'm sure Ben will develop over the next three years . I think he is a keeper.....
The majority of ruckmen don't hit their prime in their early years

[plugger66]

I love people who hope our players arent good so they can say I told you so. I love people who work on just one game. I then realise thay actually have no idea. Hi blind deer.

Poor pluggs. Ive been telling you all year but somehow you bring up this one game crap and you also bring up Warnock. Sounds like you have a bout of amnesia or watching something else

But you would rather he prove you right by being no good. Sorry but as A saints supporter I would have thought you would rather be wrong but some people just dont want to say they were wrrrr so they hope one of our players fail.

And just for your information the one game is you trying to prove Warnock is better than Ben because of stats for one game.

[ROLS-LEE]

So instead of accepting that your wrong you question my support which is poor form by you. I suppose in life you victimize yourself too.
Unfortunately I dont sugar coat things and call it how it is and do far Ben is a gop.

[plugger66]

So instead of accepting that your wrong you question my support which is poor form by you. I suppose in life you victimize yourself too.
Unfortunately I dont sugar coat things and call it how it is and do far Ben is a gop.

How am I wrong having an opinion that ben is a good ruckman and will get better? yes im questioning your need to be proved right that Ben isnt a good ruckman and your interest in proving you right even if it hurts our side. And I dont sugar coat things either. I just have a certain opinion about Ben as a ruckman.

[ROLS-LEE]

So instead of accepting that your wrong you question my support which is poor form by you. I suppose in life you victimize yourself too.
Unfortunately I dont sugar coat things and call it how it is and do far Ben is a gop.

How am I wrong having an opinion that ben is a good ruckman and will get better? yes im questioning your need to be proved right that Ben isnt a good ruckman and your interest in proving you right even if it hurts our side. And I dont sugar coat things either. I just have a certain opinion about Ben as a ruckman.

So good ruckmen only play 2 good games for the year.

[plugger66]

So instead of accepting that your wrong you question my support which is poor form by you. I suppose in life you victimize yourself too.
Unfortunately I dont sugar coat things and call it how it is and do far Ben is a gop.

How am I wrong having an opinion that ben is a good ruckman and will get better? yes im questioning your need to be proved right that Ben isnt a good ruckman and your interest in proving you right even if it hurts our side. And I dont sugar coat things either. I just have a certain opinion about Ben as a ruckman.

So good ruckmen only play 2 good games for the year.

I doubt it but if thats your opinion then go for it.

[bigcarl]

Lay off him guys. The guy is 23, FFS a toddler in rucking terms. Let's see how he goes 1) once he reaches puberty and 2) with some decent midfield depth around him.

It says something about the state if our list that probably he and Steven are the only two who would have any currency in the market place. Other clubs can see what you are not seeing. A developing ruckman who will be a good footballer.

Luckily, the club seems to agree.

[dragit]

Lobbe who is the same age had 59 hitouts yesterday… averages the same disposals as Mac.

McEvoy might be young, but if he is not improving still (which is the case this year) we are in trouble.

[bigcarl]

Lobbe who is the same age had 59 hitouts yesterday… averages the same disposals as Mac

Guys develop at different rates and Lobbe has the benefit of a half decent midfield around him.

Hitout stats are overrated anyway and often bare no correlation to who wins the game.

[White Winmar]

My intention in starting this thread was not to label Ben a dud. He's far from that. His skills around the ground are testament to his ability, and the fact he will have currency in the trade market reinforces this notion. It's just he doesn't have much of a physical presence around the stoppages, and that is hurting us. I just want him to show more aggression, like his predecessors and former mentors, King and Gardiner. If it doesn't come naturally, you'll always struggle with it. Get some angry pills into him!

[bigcarl]

I just want him to show more aggression, like his predecessors and former mentors, King and Gardiner. If it doesn't come naturally, you'll always struggle with it. Get some angry pills into him!

So long as he doesn't get himself rubbed out, too right.

I think he's going to benefit from Hickey in the team also. Their skills complement each other.

[sunsaint]

... Get some angry pills into him!

I get where you are coming from, but the problem with threads about ben is you give the "hack-haters" a voice
He is the best we have, & most likely too intelligent to be a footballer, especially one that plays ruck.
That said, run through our list & you find you are going to need a bucket of the angry pills to hand out
Uncontrolled agression: Armitage, Kosi
Controlled agression: Hayes
Hardbody players: Dempster, Jones,
Future hardbodies: Steven, Ross, Newnes, Murdoch
Then we have big bodies that could be utilised a bit better: Maister and Lee
then there's the rest

[dragit]

Lobbe who is the same age had 59 hitouts yesterday… averages the same disposals as Mac

Guys develop at different rates and Lobbe has the benefit of a half decent midfield around him.

Hitout stats are overrated anyway and often bare no correlation to who wins the game.

I'm not a hater… but he's still at a point where he needs to improve each year… and this year I don't think he has.

Hopefully a glitch and he continues progressing next year and beyond. His current level isn't going to help take us up the ladder.

Hitout stats might be over-rated, but it's still the main reason we have ruckmen running around… not to play loose in defence.

[BigMart]

Easy fix for Ben