Sean Darcy (Freo)...is 23 and has only really got going this season.Sanctorum wrote: ↑Thu 07 Oct 2021 12:13pmLuke Jackson (Melbourne) drafted in 2019 and has cemented a spot in the ruck with Max Gawn in only his 2nd year.Life Long Saint wrote: ↑Thu 07 Oct 2021 9:49am How many 20yo ruckmen ever hit their straps? When was the last one?
Gawn didn't hit his straps until he was 23.
Nic Nat, who is a freak, was still struggling for consistency at 21/22.
Grundy didn't hit his straps until he was 22/23.
I think we need to be extremely patient with Heath.
I am confident Max Heath will break into the seniors at some stage in his 1st year and believe he will be like Luke Darcy (Freo) and become #1 ruckman in his 4th year latest!
Next year's ruck stocks will be Ryder, Marshall, Xerri and Heath (assume Hunter will be delisted) which looks pretty good to me.
Peter Ladhams would have been a good "in" but obviously beyong St Kilda's means to meet the asking price.
The interesting thing about ruckmen is that clubs can really only have a maximum of 3 good ones on their list because unless they can get a regular game they're going to seek to go elsewhere where they can.
Luke Jackson was a #2 pick and is clearly an outlier.
Expect Heath to have good, long stints in the VFL in 2022/23.