Big Boy Mcevoy

[Saint wagga]

Just had a flick throug the 'in the mix' on the AFL website and it didn't make great reading for Benny Mac...Geez, he must be struggling to get his fitness and form going after a very injury interupted start to the year...actually it extends a faiurly poor run with regards to injury profile for the big man, and doesn't bode great for his future. What do we think...are we seeing the proof in the pudding with regards to him not being rated generally that highly on here, or will he be there in the Hawks best 22 when the whips are cracking at seasons end? I'm still leaning towards him proving he is a capable and solid AFL ruckman and will break into the hawks best, but only time will tell...what do thers feel? I certainly dont' mean him any bad luck as he was traded out, didn't seek out...but it would vindicate a lot of opinions on here that didn't rate him that highly...I fall into that category, that felt he was a limtied ruckman, only ever going to be solid at best...

[stinger]

would have always gone for rioli in the draft.......everything i have since seen only confirms how poor our recruiting team were...worst judges of football talent in the land imho......

[magnifisaint]

would have always gone for rioli in the draft.......everything i have since seen only confirms how poor our recruiting team were...worst judges of football talent in the land imho......

and look how resilient rioli is. Good player but doesn't string more than 4 games

[stinger]

would have always gone for rioli in the draft.......everything i have since seen only confirms how poor our recruiting team were...worst judges of football talent in the land imho......

and look how resilient rioli is. Good player but doesn't string more than 4 games

doesn't change anything...he has won more games off his own boot in one season than big boy would/will accomplish in a life time and a half......

one can play an exciting brand of football...the other is just a plodder.......any fool with half a brain for spotting real football talent can see that.......

[plugger66]

would have always gone for rioli in the draft.......everything i have since seen only confirms how poor our recruiting team were...worst judges of football talent in the land imho......

and look how resilient rioli is. Good player but doesn't string more than 4 games

doesn't change anything...he has won more games off his own boot in one season than big boy would/will accomplish in a life time and a half......

one can play an exciting brand of football...the other is just a plodder.......any fool with half a brain for spotting real football talent can see that.......

You could say the Same about Sam Jacobs and he is the best ruck in the AFL at the moment. We needed a ruckman at the time so we had bugger all choice but to pick him. Freo picked Palmer in front of Rioli and they have bloody good recruiters.

[Junction Oval]

Plugger66 said in part :

We needed a ruckman at the time so we had bugger all choice but to pick him. Freo picked Palmer in front of Rioli and they have bloody good recruiters.

Yes, I agree Plugger. Ben was a plodder in my opinion, with a few good marks around the ground. I think that injury concerns and longer term form meant that we were happy to do the trade and a good one too for the longer term by our recruiters (who I am often critical of).

[stinger]

Plugger66 said in part :

We needed a ruckman at the time so we had bugger all choice but to pick him. Freo picked Palmer in front of Rioli and they have bloody good recruiters.

Yes, I agree Plugger. Ben was a plodder in my opinion, with a few good marks around the ground. I think that injury concerns and longer term form meant that we were happy to do the trade and a good one too for the longer term by our recruiters (who I am often critical of).

i don't agree with that....we had king and gardiner....and a couple of years to look around to draft or trade for a ruckman.....the best policy...stated over and over again...each year..... is that you recruit the best available player......we have ignored that to our detriment on many many occasions......ie, rioli, jack riewoldt and jack darling readily come to mind.....

[plugger66]

Plugger66 said in part :

We needed a ruckman at the time so we had bugger all choice but to pick him. Freo picked Palmer in front of Rioli and they have bloody good recruiters.

Yes, I agree Plugger. Ben was a plodder in my opinion, with a few good marks around the ground. I think that injury concerns and longer term form meant that we were happy to do the trade and a good one too for the longer term by our recruiters (who I am often critical of).

i don't agree with that....we had king and gardiner....and a couple of years to look around to draft or trade for a ruckman.....the best policy...stated over and over again...each year..... is that you recruit the best available player......we have ignored that to our detriment on many many occasions......ie, rioli, jack riewoldt and jack darling readily come to mind.....

They werent the best players otherwise someone else would have taken them. They are the best or close to it in hindsight but you dont recruit in hindsight. Carlton took Kruezer at one. That was an obvious pick back then but looks stupid now.

[desertsaint]

Best of luck to Ben but he was always a plodder and back up ruckman at best. Just never came on like we hoped. The Hawks need a backup ruckman, we don't. We have two and hopefully one or both develop into A grade rucks. Even if Savage was a dud we did well out of the deal, if he continues his recent form we can be very happy.

[thejiggingsaint]

I always thought that Big Ben would be a great player, and was sorry to see him go. I think he has enough time, and (more critically) enough mental toughness to grab his chance at Hawthorn. I have nothing but respect for the bloke both as a quality person and a fine footballer. Folk have some awfully short memories of just how important he was as at times with crucial marks (both up forward AND in defence) I wish the dude well!

[Dr Spaceman]

I always thought that Big Ben would be a great player, and was sorry to see him go. I think he has enough time, and (more critically) enough mental toughness to grab his chance at Hawthorn. I have nothing but respect for the bloke both as a quality person and a fine footballer. Folk have some awfully short memories of just how important he was as at times with crucial marks (both up forward AND in defence) I wish the dude well!

+1

We should be able to appreciate and celebrate what appears to be a positive trade for our club without demeaning Ben or prematurely writing off his AFL career.

[thejiggingsaint]

Nicely said Doc!

[dragit]

Funnily enough I was just having a chat with Marto about this last night on BigFooty.

Apparently he's playing well in the 2's after coming back from injury.

I said that he could potentially win the Box Hill B&F if he can keep his form up.

I'm sure he will be back for Hawthorn soon enough.

[thejiggingsaint]

I may have been super-optimistic about his potential when I nominated him as a future captain and AA Ruckman, but still feel that his best is yet to come. As I say, I wish the Dude well.

[Bunk_Moreland]

I always thought that Big Ben would be a great player, and was sorry to see him go. I think he has enough time, and (more critically) enough mental toughness to grab his chance at Hawthorn. I have nothing but respect for the bloke both as a quality person and a fine footballer. Folk have some awfully short memories of just how important he was as at times with crucial marks (both up forward AND in defence) I wish the dude well!

+1

We should be able to appreciate and celebrate what appears to be a positive trade for our club without demeaning Ben or prematurely writing off his AFL career.

Agree with both of you.

McEvoy is a fine reuckman, and both the hawks and Saints have benefitted from the trade, Dunstan, Acres and Savage seem to be all going to make it. Just how far Dunstan and Acres go is amyones guess.

[dragit]

I wish the Dude well.

Absolutely, seems like a great bloke.

[Old Mate]

Good bloke aside I believe the Hawks overpaid for Ben. I personally never rated him that good a ruckman, too inconsistent and too many holes in his game to make it as a first choice ruck. Hawthorn got Ben not for what he was with us but what they think he can become with them. Backing their development and he's entering his prime. He has time on his side so he could prove me wrong and I hope he does.

[stinger]

Good bloke aside I believe the Hawks overpaid for Ben. I personally never rated him that good a ruckman, too inconsistent and too many holes in his game to make it as a first choice ruck. Hawthorn got Ben not for what he was with us but what they think he can become with them. Backing their development and he's entering his prime. He has time on his side so he could prove me wrong and I hope he does.

the writing was on the wall for him in the last two games of 2013....hickey did well rucking the majority of the time in at least one of those games whilst big boy was subbed out of the game......

[St Chris]

Both the guys we have now are better ruckman than Big Mac was or will be. He always seemed undersized & struggled to leap in the centre, and got pushed around a bit too much around the ground

However, McEvoy is a much better footballer than the 2 guys we have now. He provided a lot more with the ball in his hand, and reads the play better also.

We've obviously made a decision that getting first hands on the ball was more important than what McEvoy offered around the ground, hence the change. Hickey is progressing pretty well right now, I think Billy will take a bit Longer (sorry couldnt help myself), he'll be more like the traditional big man that matures beyond 25 y.o.

[ChelseaGuy]

I always thought that Big Ben would be a great player, and was sorry to see him go. I think he has enough time, and (more critically) enough mental toughness to grab his chance at Hawthorn. I have nothing but respect for the bloke both as a quality person and a fine footballer. Folk have some awfully short memories of just how important he was as at times with crucial marks (both up forward AND in defence) I wish the dude well!

Yeah would be nice to have a ruck dropping back into defensive hole to clunk marks at the moment. Might still be losing, but maybe not so hideously painful.

[Freebird]

would have always gone for rioli in the draft.......everything i have since seen only confirms how poor our recruiting team were...worst judges of football talent in the land imho......

and look how resilient rioli is. Good player but doesn't string more than 4 games

doesn't change anything...he has won more games off his own boot in one season than big boy would/will accomplish in a life time and a half......

one can play an exciting brand of football...the other is just a plodder.......any fool with half a brain for spotting real football talent can see that.......

You could say the Same about Sam Jacobs and he is the best ruck in the AFL at the moment. We needed a ruckman at the time so we had bugger all choice but to pick him. Freo picked Palmer in front of Rioli and they have bloody good recruiters.

A bit hypocritical 66...you have always advocated taking the best avail player with your first 2 draft picks....

We needed a ruckman at the time but I watched Ben in the under 18 comp and he was no stand out. If we start overlooking talent for need then we deserve to be where we are.

Bad choice but not as dumb as taking Howard at pick 26.....HTF was responsible for that

[plugger66]

would have always gone for rioli in the draft.......everything i have since seen only confirms how poor our recruiting team were...worst judges of football talent in the land imho......

and look how resilient rioli is. Good player but doesn't string more than 4 games

doesn't change anything...he has won more games off his own boot in one season than big boy would/will accomplish in a life time and a half......

one can play an exciting brand of football...the other is just a plodder.......any fool with half a brain for spotting real football talent can see that.......

You could say the Same about Sam Jacobs and he is the best ruck in the AFL at the moment. We needed a ruckman at the time so we had bugger all choice but to pick him. Freo picked Palmer in front of Rioli and they have bloody good recruiters.

A bit hypocritical 66...you have always advocated taking the best avail player with your first 2 draft picks....

We needed a ruckman at the time but I watched Ben in the under 18 comp and he was no stand out. If we start overlooking talent for need then we deserve to be where we are.

Bad choice but not as dumb as taking Howard at pick 26.....HTF was responsible for that

I actually didnt say we should have taken him. I said why we took him. Unlike others I hardly ever watch the under 18's carnival so i doubt you will see me saying it is the right or wrong pick after they are drafted. By the way Emma Quayle rated ben between 6 and 15 for that draft. If it was up to me I would never waste a first round on a ruckman in todays footy unless they can at least play 50% forward.

[SainterK]

Think it was a good time to trade Ben.

Had stalled IMHO.

Nobody more shocked than him that he wasn't top 10 in last years B&F

[Sainternist]

Tough break for the big fella. Oh well, more than happy for Hawthorn to deal with it than us.

[Freebird]

My bad..thought your statement "We needed a ruckman at the time so we had bugger all choice but to pick him" meant we should have taken him.

But I do agree with you...do not use early pick on a ruckman unless he is son of god