Hard for Longer now!

[Linton Lodger]

It’s hard to tell what Marshall’s ideal position is at this stage. He’s raw but mobile, hard at it & talented.

Agree that he could have been a useful forward option in that last Q when we were bombing it 20 metres from goal and we couldn’t pluck that pack mark.

Its obvious, he's a ruckman and a potentially a very good one. He just needs to learn the craft and build his tank.

[Doctor Two]

Marshall was good, but can't run out games, needs help!!!!!

Problem is Richo seems reluctant to play two rucks.

interesting dilemma for next week. Hawks play McEvoy & Ceglar

Rowan needs a chopout so do we play Pierce?
I cringe every time with throw Bruce into the ruck. I think he does too
Even worse Acres into the ruck

[whiskers3614]

Whole ruck situation is aggravated when you see how well Big Ben and Stanley are doing at their new homes!

And Hickey

Hasn't set the world on fire, has he?

[stonecold]

Whole ruck situation is aggravated when you see how well Big Ben and Stanley are doing at their new homes!

And Hickey

Yeah really missing him, not, $600k a year off our books has allowed us to keep decent players!!!!!

Tom Hickey should live in Thorpy!!!!!

[bigcarl]

The trouble with playing 2 rucks is that we will lose our forward defensive pressure which has been awesome. We cannot do it.

Battle could go forward (in place of Kent) without diminishing our forward pressure. I'd do that and bring Joyce in to play back.

Yeah, I’m not sold on Kent so far either. But Battle has been really good as a defender and i suspect that is where he will stay.

Marshall is mobile enough to provide defensive pressure if he rests forward.

[skeptic]

Whole ruck situation is aggravated when you see how well Big Ben and Stanley are doing at their new homes!

And Hickey

Yeah really missing him, not, $600k a year off our books has allowed us to keep decent players!!!!!

Tom Hickey should live in Thorpy!!!!!

If they were really paying him $600k then I think our list manager is the one that needs to be moved on.

We won’t ever agree on Longer v Hickey but geeeeeeez $600k is warped if true

[bigcarl]

Whole ruck situation is aggravated when you see how well Big Ben and Stanley are doing at their new homes!

And Hickey

Hasn't set the world on fire, has he?

Well he’s holding down a spot in the ruck for the reigning premier. I think he’s doing okay

[Linton Lodger]

The trouble with playing 2 rucks is that we will lose our forward defensive pressure which has been awesome. We cannot do it.

Battle could go forward (in place of Kent) without diminishing our forward pressure. I'd do that and bring Joyce in to play back.

Yeah, I’m not sold on Kent so far either. But Battle has been really good as a defender and i suspect that is where he will stay.

Marshall is mobile enough to provide defensive pressure if he rests forward.

Nah, he hasn't got the speed and running power of the others in there.

[bigcarl]

The trouble with playing 2 rucks is that we will lose our forward defensive pressure which has been awesome. We cannot do it.

Battle could go forward (in place of Kent) without diminishing our forward pressure. I'd do that and bring Joyce in to play back.

Yeah, I’m not sold on Kent so far either. But Battle has been really good as a defender and i suspect that is where he will stay.

Marshall is mobile enough to provide defensive pressure if he rests forward.

Nah, he hasn't got the speed and running power of the others in there.

I’d dispute that, but in any case look at the positives. He’s a good mark and if the opposition don’t have a good player on him, he’ll do some damage up forward. We could have done with an extra marking target in that last quarter today.

[saintbob]

The trouble with playing 2 rucks is that we will lose our forward defensive pressure which has been awesome. We cannot do it.

Battle could go forward (in place of Kent) without diminishing our forward pressure. I'd do that and bring Joyce in to play back.

Marsh in and Battle goes forward.

[stonecold]

Whole ruck situation is aggravated when you see how well Big Ben and Stanley are doing at their new homes!

And Hickey

Yeah really missing him, not, $600k a year off our books has allowed us to keep decent players!!!!!

Tom Hickey should live in Thorpy!!!!!

If they were really paying him $600k then I think our list manager is the one that needs to be moved on.

We won’t ever agree on Longer v Hickey but geeeeeeez $600k is warped if true

It's true!!!!!

Earns nearly as much as Gawn and Grundy, still, even @ West Coast!!!!!

[Shaggy]

I still think that for the time being Marshall should start as a forward and alternate in the ruck with one of Pierce / Longer.

He’s the only guy on the list that can play both positions and with Paddy down we’re short a key forward.

Certainly this idea is a step up from a Bruce / Acres playing relief ruck.

Bingo, he's first half was good, then really tired!!!!!

I think just about everyone but our coaches can see the need for a second genuine ruck in the team.

I am the opposite. If you want two rucks it sacrifices a mid.

[Shaggy]

.

[WellardSaint]

Whole ruck situation is aggravated when you see how well Big Ben and Stanley are doing at their new homes!

And Hickey

Yeah really missing him, not, $600k a year off our books has allowed us to keep decent players!!!!!

Tom Hickey should live in Thorpy!!!!!

where is Thorpy,
please explain, as Pauline Hanson would say

[minneapolis]

.

Thanks Shaggy. I was wondering what you were thinking.....

[Crossy66]

I still think that for the time being Marshall should start as a forward and alternate in the ruck with one of Pierce / Longer.

He’s the only guy on the list that can play both positions and with Paddy down we’re short a key forward.

Certainly this idea is a step up from a Bruce / Acres playing relief ruck.

Bingo, he's first half was good, then really tired!!!!!

I think just about everyone but our coaches can see the need for a second genuine ruck in the team.

I am the opposite. If you want two rucks it sacrifices a mid.

Funny thing is that if Paddy was fit we would play 3 talls. Roma can play forward and he also tackles and he can play ruck leaving Bruce at home - no brainer really.
Pretty sure that will be our preferred option, but just not with Pierce as first ruck. I think Billy comes in when they think he is ready and the rest is up to him.

[Toy Saint]

Perhaps we can hope that Longer has improved as a footballer since last year.

[SemperFidelis]

Desperate to try us with a genuine ruck and use Roma wherever needed around the ground. He's got enormous endurance, is a beautiful kick for goal and has taken some pretty handy marks around the ground. We're moving the ball better by foot this year and I'd like to see the 2 ruck option

[takeaway]

The Age this morning. Marshall has been good, but imo we need to add Billy, even this week with Hawks having two rucks, but he may not be ready.

"Wait a little Longer

Despite winning their two opening games, St Kilda took a battering in the ruck. They went in to Sunday’s game on the wrong side of a 57-101 hit-out ledger.

Some support was on its way, in the form of Billy Longer, who returned to the VFL on Friday night after a hamstring injury sustained over summer.

And he was good too, with 47 hit-outs and 13 touches in Sandringham’s loss to Footscray.

But the Saints may be able to give Longer more time in the seconds before returning him to AFL action. Rowan Marshall was terrific against the Dockers Rory Lobb."

[Shaggy]

I still think that for the time being Marshall should start as a forward and alternate in the ruck with one of Pierce / Longer.

He’s the only guy on the list that can play both positions and with Paddy down we’re short a key forward.

Certainly this idea is a step up from a Bruce / Acres playing relief ruck.

Bingo, he's first half was good, then really tired!!!!!

I think just about everyone but our coaches can see the need for a second genuine ruck in the team.

I am the opposite. If you want two rucks it sacrifices a mid.

Funny thing is that if Paddy was fit we would play 3 talls. Roma can play forward and he also tackles and he can play ruck leaving Bruce at home - no brainer really.
Pretty sure that will be our preferred option, but just not with Pierce as first ruck. I think Billy comes in when they think he is ready and the rest is up to him.

Max King will be our 2nd ruck option later half of this year.

There is no position for Roma as a key forward when Max starts playing. Roma needs to be played as ruck to learn the game and he is doing really well. He is elite.

[Crossy66]

I still think that for the time being Marshall should start as a forward and alternate in the ruck with one of Pierce / Longer.

He’s the only guy on the list that can play both positions and with Paddy down we’re short a key forward.

Certainly this idea is a step up from a Bruce / Acres playing relief ruck.

Bingo, he's first half was good, then really tired!!!!!

I think just about everyone but our coaches can see the need for a second genuine ruck in the team.

I am the opposite. If you want two rucks it sacrifices a mid.

Funny thing is that if Paddy was fit we would play 3 talls. Roma can play forward and he also tackles and he can play ruck leaving Bruce at home - no brainer really.
Pretty sure that will be our preferred option, but just not with Pierce as first ruck. I think Billy comes in when they think he is ready and the rest is up to him.

Max King will be our 2nd ruck option later half of this year.

There is no position for Roma as a key forward when Max starts playing. Roma needs to be played as ruck to learn the game and he is doing really well. He is elite.

Whilst that's hopefully the script, Max hasnt played AFL or VFL and at this stage is another big kid that dominated junior footy. I hope they dont rush him, in fact would be happy to see him just play VFL this year
in the mean time we have to pick a winning team for each week of 2019. Marshall is certainly flying, but his tap work is not where it needs to be just yet, and we do need to play two ruckman. He can still develop his ruck craft with say 30% ruck time each game. Would rather that than using Bruce and Acres.

[stonecold]

I still think that for the time being Marshall should start as a forward and alternate in the ruck with one of Pierce / Longer.

He’s the only guy on the list that can play both positions and with Paddy down we’re short a key forward.

Certainly this idea is a step up from a Bruce / Acres playing relief ruck.

Bingo, he's first half was good, then really tired!!!!!

I think just about everyone but our coaches can see the need for a second genuine ruck in the team.

I am the opposite. If you want two rucks it sacrifices a mid.

Funny thing is that if Paddy was fit we would play 3 talls. Roma can play forward and he also tackles and he can play ruck leaving Bruce at home - no brainer really.
Pretty sure that will be our preferred option, but just not with Pierce as first ruck. I think Billy comes in when they think he is ready and the rest is up to him.

Max King will be our 2nd ruck option later half of this year.

There is no position for Roma as a key forward when Max starts playing. Roma needs to be played as ruck to learn the game and he is doing really well. He is elite.

Max King is not ready to play ruck for any % of time, he won't have even played a game at any level for 18months, by the time he finally comes back, is not a ruckman (don't be fooled by he's size), is coming off an ACL injury and most importantly has an underdeveloped body!!!!! It would be crazy to even look at playing him in that position at this point!!!!!

No offence intended Shag's, but your theory has no merit!!!!!

Pierce or Longer will be required to give Marshall a spell at some point when he's body starts getting smashed around, which will be very soon as he is still very lightly framed!!!!!

Mark my words, Marshall will be 'managed' in the next few weeks at some point!!!!!

Longer or Pierce will come in depending on who is in better form of the two, which after Friday is Billy at the minute, however, that could change!!!!!

Max King is not a ruck option this season, full stop!!!!!

[Moods]

I was rapt with Marshall's game yesterday, but disappointed with his last contest of the day. With 8 sec to go we really needed to win the clearance out of the centre. He taps the ball into an area where literally no saints players were and 2 x Freo guys run onto it and pound the ball fwd. Game over.

This aside we definitely need to get the kid some assistance. Bruce is ineffective as a ruckman and it hurts our fwd line when he has to go in there. Really makes no sense at all.

[To the top]

6 kicks

7 handballs

0 marks

1 tackle

47 hit outs

In a side that was thrashed - despite a ruck “dominance”

We should have beaten Hawthorn late last season

Hawthorn rely on possession, players running from behind into space and numbers around the contest then chipping short to open up their opponent

We had them playing ring a rosy last year - but unable to score

Against such an opponent (and I would say any opponent) you can just not have a player who lacks mobility and can not impact on a game (and if Longer is so dominant in the hit outs, putting the ball down the throats of our mids why our win/loss record - simply as much as Longer brings is to contest hit outs and past that a liability - imagine throwing him forward v Hawthorn, they will run off him and set up scoring at will

Longer is one dimensional - and that is the problem

Past that, some seem attracted to goals being kicked as the measure and not the build up

So kicking 2 goals in a VFL thrashing = promotion

No

There is far, far more to assess than the goal kickers - and to me Long dines out on one goal So has a long (excuse the pun) way to go

Battle will stay in defence

I am reminded of Carlisle rucking v Melbourne in the game we won late last year and doing very well

Mc Cartin is missed because he releases Membrey to the third “tall” noting Membrey is mid fielder size

So Steven if available for Sinclair

The VFL result indicates no pressure from the lesser level

[stonecold]

6 kicks

7 handballs

0 marks

1 tackle

47 hit outs

In a side that was thrashed - despite a ruck “dominance”

We should have beaten Hawthorn late last season

Hawthorn rely on possession, players running from behind into space and numbers around the contest then chipping short to open up their opponent

We had them playing ring a rosy last year - but unable to score

Against such an opponent (and I would say any opponent) you can just not have a player who lacks mobility and can not impact on a game (and if Longer is so dominant in the hit outs, putting the ball down the throats of our mids why our win/loss record - simply as much as Longer brings is to contest hit outs and past that a liability - imagine throwing him forward v Hawthorn, they will run off him and set up scoring at will

Longer is one dimensional - and that is the problem

Past that, some seem attracted to goals being kicked as the measure and not the build up

So kicking 2 goals in a VFL thrashing = promotion

No

There is far, far more to assess than the goal kickers - and to me Long dines out on one goal So has a long (excuse the pun) way to go

Battle will stay in defence

I am reminded of Carlisle rucking v Melbourne in the game we won late last year and doing very well

Mc Cartin is missed because he releases Membrey to the third “tall” noting Membrey is mid fielder size

So Steven if available for Sinclair

The VFL result indicates no pressure from the lesser level

All your opinion of course!!!!!