Marshall

[Enrico_Misso]

Inspired selection!

Held his own in the ruck but is versatile and athletic enough around the ground to effectively give us an extra player.

It may not work against Melb or Collingwood but looks the way to go against teams with nediocre rucks.

[George27]

I thought he was fabulous today.

[Otiman]

8 tackles, 7 clearances, 86% efficiency.

Got smashed in the hitouts but still beat his opponent for impact in the game.

[guitars4]

I agree he can take a contested mark & works really hard when the ball hits the ground . Probably going to struggle against the bigger guys in the ruck but can't doubt his commitment

[bigcarl]

Probably going to struggle against the bigger guys in the ruck but can't doubt his commitment

Might have to get Pierce or Longer in to give him a chop-out, but Marshall's too good a prospect to leave out. Should play regardless of so-called "team balance"

[Goose is king]

[quote=bigcarl post_id=1781192 time=1553937426 user_id=140]
[quote=guitars4 post_id=1781190 time=1553937251 user_id=23389]Probably going to struggle against the bigger guys in the ruck but can't doubt his commitment
[/quote]

Might have to get Pierce or Longer in to give him a chop-out, but Marshall's too good a prospect to leave out. Should play regardless of so-called "team balance"
[/quote]

Agree big Carl. Marshall plays and other rucks if any get selected around him.

[skeptic]

Amongst our ruck stocks... including when we had Hickey last year, IMO is the only logical choice that should be almost a certainty to play every week.

A competitive ruck that’s good around that ground and at least competitive enough to play as a resting forward. It’s exactly what we need.

Calling him an inspired choice is a bit miffying to me... clearly should have been a lock since about round 12 last year.

Hopefully this puts the issue to bed.

The challenge for the coaching now is how to build support around him that doesn’t involve Bruce playing in the ruck

[Ape_Man]

Marshall has so much upside he should be the default choice.

He may struggle against the biggest and best, but that’s going to the cost of his apprenticeship.

Or, and here’s an idea, bring in Longer or Pierce when we play monsters. Let them do what they are best at and bash and crash.

Then Marshall rucks against the second tier and can play forward or back as required.

He has confidence in his ability, can take a grab and bust his ass at a contest.

Has the potential to be this generations Spider.

[samuraisaint]

Inspired selection!

Held his own in the ruck but is versatile and athletic enough around the ground to effectively give us an extra player.

It may not work against Melb or Collingwood but looks the way to go against teams with nediocre rucks.

Longer will come in if over his injury when we play Melbourne. Longer has absolutely schooled Gawn the last couple of times he's played on him. Marshall should stay in the team as well though.

[bigcarl]

Having to play your No.1 key forward - Bruce - in the ruck at times is far from ideal.

I think you can play two ruckmen if one of them is mobile ... which Marshall is.

The others - Pierce and Longer - may be fairly one dimensional players (though I guess the jury is out on Pierce) but their shortcomings shouldn’t cost Marshall his spot.

On the subject of Bruce, he makes a massive difference to the forward line. We’ve really missed his leadership.

[stonecold]

Having to play your No.1 key forward - Bruce - in the ruck at times is far from ideal.

I think you can play two ruckmen if one of them is mobile ... which Marshall is.

The others - Pierce and Longer - seem fairly one dimensional players, but that shouldn’t cost Marshall his spot.

Marshall is a decent #2, not ready for a full season @ #1 yet!!!!!

He will tire and get belted around as proven tonight, he may not even get up for next week as he had a jab to get through tonight!!!!!

Decent job, however was beaten by opponents overall, has more upside than Pierce!!!!!

[bigcarl]

Having to play your No.1 key forward - Bruce - in the ruck at times is far from ideal.

I think you can play two ruckmen if one of them is mobile ... which Marshall is.

The others - Pierce and Longer - seem fairly one dimensional players, but that shouldn’t cost Marshall his spot.

Marshall is a decent #2, not ready for a full season @ #1 yet!!!!!

He will tire and get belted around as proven tonight, he may not even get up for next week as he had a jab to get through tonight!!!!!

Decent job, however was beaten by opponents overall, has more upside than Pierce!!!!!

He had more of the ball than Longer gets in a month. Billy’s more your tapout specialist.

[Enrico_Misso]

Tom Hickey kicked a clutch goal for WCE today.

[Ape_Man]

Marshall is a decent #2, not ready for a full season @ #1 yet!!!!!

He will tire and get belted around as proven tonight, he may not even get up for next week as he had a jab to get through tonight!!!!!

Decent job, however was beaten by opponents overall, has more upside than Pierce!!!!!

He has some way to go but I don’t think you can say he was beaten by his opponents except in hit outs.

He had 5 more disposals than Bellchambers. 1 more mark. 8 more tackles.

We lost overall clearances by 2, but won centre clearances by 4.

[skeptic]

Marshall is a decent #2, not ready for a full season @ #1 yet!!!!!

He will tire and get belted around as proven tonight, he may not even get up for next week as he had a jab to get through tonight!!!!!

Decent job, however was beaten by opponents overall, has more upside than Pierce!!!!!

He has some way to go but I don’t think you can say he was beaten by his opponents except in hit outs.

He had 5 more disposals than Bellchambers. 1 more mark. 8 more tackles.

We lost overall clearances by 2, but won centre clearances by 4.

This idea about Longer being the #1 is so fascinating to me...

Whatever it’s based on, it’s not reality.

This idea that he could come in and suddenly turn it on after 5 years is just hopeful wishing.

The simple fact is that he has never produced the kinds of games that we want from him and he doesn’t demonstrate elite qualities.

Not to say that he can’t get better but McEvoy by comparison always had great endurance and always demonstrated an ability to take a pack mark. In his formative years with us he consistently showed those qualities whilst getting monstered in the hit outs.

When he went to the Hawks yes he got a little better at taps but his elite qualities were the top feature of his game.

What are Longer’s?
Endurance - no
Marking - no
Hitting the contest - no
Kicking goals - no
Hit outs - for a few games a year.

His best quality if this forum is to be believed is blocking in contests.
Even his games against Gawn which are spoken on here as though they were like the second coming of the messiah were ok or just good at best and Marshall’s best is far better.
Heck Pierce’s one good game was better too.

It should be Marshall resting in the forward line btw stints (in Paddy’s spot) rotating with one of Pierce and Longer.

[saintbob]

Marshall is a decent #2, not ready for a full season @ #1 yet!!!!!

He will tire and get belted around as proven tonight, he may not even get up for next week as he had a jab to get through tonight!!!!!

Decent job, however was beaten by opponents overall, has more upside than Pierce!!!!!

He has some way to go but I don’t think you can say he was beaten by his opponents except in hit outs.

He had 5 more disposals than Bellchambers. 1 more mark. 8 more tackles.

We lost overall clearances by 2, but won centre clearances by 4.

This idea about Longer being the #1 is so fascinating to me...

Whatever it’s based on, it’s not reality.

This idea that he could come in and suddenly turn it on after 5 years is just hopeful wishing.

The simple fact is that he has never produced the kinds of games that we want from him and he doesn’t demonstrate elite qualities.

Not to say that he can’t get better but McEvoy by comparison always had great endurance and always demonstrated an ability to take a pack mark. In his formative years with us he consistently showed those qualities whilst getting monstered in the hit outs.

When he went to the Hawks yes he got a little better at taps but his elite qualities were the top feature of his game.

What are Longer’s?
Endurance - no
Marking - no
Hitting the contest - no
Kicking goals - no
Hit outs - for a few games a year.

His best quality if this forum is to be believed is blocking in contests.
Even his games against Gawn which are spoken on here as though they were like the second coming of the messiah were ok or just good at best and Marshall’s best is far better.
Heck Pierce’s one good game was better too.

It should be Marshall resting in the forward line btw stints (in Paddy’s spot) rotating with one of Pierce and Longer.

You’ve absolutely nailed it, Skeptic

[stonecold]

Your opinions, your intitlded to them, let's see what the 'real experts' do when Billy comes back and is fully fit!!!!!

Let's see who they agree with?????

[BackFromUSA]

At this stage Billy should be #1 ruck but Marshall is going to be special once he gains more strength / weight for centre bounces which is where he falls down at the moment. He is essentially Grundy / Gawn prototype but missed key development years and will hit his straps ina year or two. Billy needs to improve his around the ground work with harder running to retain the #1 spot.

[The_Dud]

Whatever we do, Bruce should never be played in the ruck, such a waste!

[stonecold]

At this stage Billy should be #1 ruck but Marshall is going to be special once he gains more strength / weight for centre bounces which is where he falls down at the moment. He is essentially Grundy / Gawn prototype but missed key development years and will hit his straps ina year or two. Billy needs to improve his around the ground work with harder running to retain the #1 spot.

As previously stated, Marshall is not ready yet to hold down #1, nice to see a little common sense from others on the subject, well done!!!!!

[skeptic]

It’s one thing to say Marshall isn’t ready to be no1 ruck...

It’s another to suggest Longer is that man and not having an alternative doesn’t justify that POV.

The reality is that over the last 3 years Hickey was ahead of Billy for the majority of the time. And despite the fact that Longer has played 50 games more than Marshall, the reality is that everyone except the biasly stubborn can see that Marshall is clearly the better prospect of the two and will definitively end the conversation in time.

I do and have always agreed that we need a second ruck though... the question is Longer v Pierce to support Marshall. Not who to play with Longer.

Even the blind can surely see that by now.

[bigcarl]

I do and have always agreed that we need a second ruck though... the question is Longer v Pierce to support Marshall. Not who to play with Longer.

Yep

[SemperFidelis]

He is a beauty. He should be in the team every week unless there’s a good reason why not.

But I don’t want him as first ruck. We look too short (imagine us against the Weagles, as just one example). But we seem to be allergic to playing two talls and it drives me nuts.

Marshall is at his best around the ground, especially in the forward half, but also gives massive support on the wing and down back where we can be undersized.

If we would use Marshall like this it could be a great battle between Longer and Pierce for the #1 spot.

[Freebird]

Tom Hickey kicked a clutch goal for WCE today.

Hickey was against poor ruck opposition last night..last week he was belted and got 2 possessions and 1 mark. Ranked 3rd last on ground.

[kosifantutti]

Tom Hickey kicked a clutch goal for WCE today.

Hickey was against poor ruck opposition last night..last week he was belted and got 2 possessions and 1 mark. Ranked 3rd last on ground.

I’m not sure where you got 3rd worst from but he was 4th best last night according to AFL fantasy points.
He took as many marks and kicked more goals in the first half as Billy did in five games last year.