The best ruckman in a generation

[saynta]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ ... 6081f76a59


"St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall takes game to another level after early-season lesson from Max Gawn

Rowan Marshall highlighted his emergence as one of the AFL’s best young talents with a strong performance against fellow breakout ruckman Reilly O’Brien on Saturday. Is he the AFL’s most improved player?
Tim Michell, Herald Sun
August 4, 2019 2:08pm


April 20, 2019 won’t be a date which means much to St Kilda supporters.

The Saints celebrated a 40-point win over Melbourne, but were left with major doubts about who their No. 1 ruckman was after Max Gawn had a field day against Rowan Marshall.

Gawn finished with 20 disposals and 32 hit outs, while Braydon Preuss had 16 and kicked two goals.

In comparison, Marshall battled to 14 hit outs in his fourth game of the year after Lewis Pierce was preferred by then coach Alan Richardson in Round 1.

After Reilly O’Brien won the ruck duel 36 hit outs to 24 against Billy Longer in Round 6, Marshall returned the following week with a point to prove.

In St Kilda’s return clash against the Crows on Saturday, one of the AFL’s break out stars of 2019 highlighted just how far he had come.

The 23-year-old shaded the hit outs 32-31 against O’Brien, but dominated around the ground with 20 disposals to 12.

“I think through adversity, we found out about (Rowan),” caretaker coach Brett Ratten said.

“You had Longer there and Pierce and co. to ruck. Then because of injury he gets the chance and he’s led from the front. He’s been outstanding.”

The sudden emergence of O’Brien, who has assumed the No. 1 mantle at Adelaide from Sam Jacobs, has been one of the stories of the season.

However, Marshall is the ruckman who has announced himself as the heir apparent to Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn.

Since he was dominated by Gawn and Preuss in Round 5, Marshall has averaged 117.3 Champion Data ranking points.

While that average is more than 10 points behind Grundy (135.4) and Gawn (130.6), it puts Marshall in the upper echelon of players.

“I was speaking to (Crows ruck coach) Matty Clarke before the game and he was talking about Adelaide’s ruckman and our ruckman, how young they are,” Ratten said.

“In ruck terms they are just babies really, 23 years of age.

“You should get into your prime around 26, seven, eight, even at 30 for ruckmen. Those boys have done a very good job.”

St Kilda’s faint hopes of a top-eight finish were extinguished by a 22-point loss to Adelaide, however Ratten said “we never threw up the finals word”.

The Saints are optimistic Dan Hannebery, Jimmy Webster, Jack Steven and Blake Acres will feature in the last three rounds after missing the Round 20 defeat."

[B.M]

Yep
you’re right, best young talent we’ve seen since Jack Steven. JB has loads of talent, but doesn’t put it together as consistently as Rowan has this season.
Gresham has a lot of highlights, but also is not consistent high level performer.

But he isn’t Spider Everitt just yet

[takeaway]

Yep
you’re right, best young talent we’ve seen since Jack Steven. JB has loads of talent, but doesn’t put it together as consistently as Rowan has this season.
Gresham has a lot of highlights, but also is not consistent high level performer.

But he isn’t Spider Everitt just yet

Agree, I think a few posters are going a bit early on Rowan, fair way to go yet.

[Spinner]

Marshall is a great player. His numbers are elite atm.

[Ape_Man]

One thing I noticed on Saturday night was just how physical he was at boundary throw ins.

Gawn showed him in the first half last week how physical you could be without conceding a free kick. Marshall stepped up in the second half to match Gawn and looks like he his going to continue with it.

Not often you see a player learn on the job so quickly.

[Scollop]

“I think through adversity, we found out about (Rowan),” caretaker coach Brett Ratten said.

So it was sheer luck and good fortune that RoMa was in the seniors

It wasn't through Richo identifying talent early and giving him opportunity

Brandon White says hello

[saintsRrising]

Yep
you’re right, best young talent we’ve seen since Jack Steven. JB has loads of talent, but doesn’t put it together as consistently as Rowan has this season.
Gresham has a lot of highlights, but also is not consistent high level performer.

But he isn’t Spider Everitt just yet

And hopefully he will never be.

Spider had great talent, maybe even more than Roma has.

But Roma just radiates a fierce competitive spirit, and attitude, to go with his talent and that is why I think that he will become better than Spider.

[skeptic]

“I think through adversity, we found out about (Rowan),” caretaker coach Brett Ratten said.

So it was sheer luck and good fortune that RoMa was in the seniors

It wasn't through Richo identifying talent early and giving him opportunity

Brandon White says hello

It’s interesting that that this is still up for debate with some...
History showed that Roma’s only sustained patches of games under Richo occurred when Hickey and Longer were injured badly.

Injured/restricted Longer played ahead of him
Mediocre Hickey and Longer played ahead of him
Pierce was preferred ahead of him

IMO there’s is no doubt that if Longer was fit at the start of the year, he’d have played 19 mediocre games and Marshall would have been lucky to get a look in.

Marshall got a chance... pbly realised it would be his last opportunity for months and in this rare instance of being under pressure, took his opportunity and ended the debate

[The Fireman]

Marshall is the highlight of the year for me...second only to the Cho exit.

[B.M]

Spider was a two time AA and best & fairest and won the Goalkicking and played 280 games
Multiple Vic Rep


Hope Rowan CV reads something similar when he retires.

[Ghost Like]

Yep
you’re right, best young talent we’ve seen since Jack Steven. JB has loads of talent, but doesn’t put it together as consistently as Rowan has this season.
Gresham has a lot of highlights, but also is not consistent high level performer.

But he isn’t Spider Everitt just yet

Agree, I think a few posters are going a bit early on Rowan, fair way to go yet.

It's not like there was any danger of going early on Longer or Pierce.

[Ghost Like]

Spider was a two time AA and best & fairest and won the Goalkicking and played 280 games
Multiple Vic Rep


Hope Rowan CV reads something similar when he retires.

His trajectory is pretty special. If he were shares you'd take a loan out.

His first B&F may just be 2019.