Marshall

[B.M]

Look, just like coaches, I think unless you get monstered and the other team are getting it on a platter, hit outs are massively overrated.

Coaches matter when they implement a basic strategy and it works or doesn’t work - this is generally whether they create a spare, where they have the spare or whether they equalise

As far as the ruck goes, all you need to do at CB or boundary thrown in is compete so opposing mids don’t get a clear advantage

Last night Nank cleared the area with his ruck work and tigers mids got on the move and got a clear advantage
The numbers were actually even at around the ground stoppage but at CB we were belted.

Marshall is a very good ruckman (a very average forward) he wins a lot of footy around the ground and competes well

He is however not great at CB
He is not overly big at 201, not overly strong and doesn’t jump.

Therefore against the bigger or stronger ruckman he gets beaten easily.

Darcy and Nank are actually shorter than Marshall but are absolute beasts. Then you’ve got the giants like Witts, Gawn, Hawthorns ruck and English.

Marshall has a point of difference- he’s not just playing AFL because he’s tall - if he was 190cm he’d be an AFL midfielder as he
He finds the ball and has good footy iq and skills

But to be a complete ruckman he needs to get 20% stronger to compete at CB

Last night he was out muscled

[Saintmike65]

I went to the Carlton v Gold Coast game Sunday & was really impressed with TDK’s all round influence against a monster ruckman in Witts.
Apart from his pack marking, his body work at ball ups & boundary throw ins was also very strong, matching Witts on most occasions.
Added to this he has a tremendous leap, which he uses at centre bounces.

[The_Dud]

Unfortunately Marshall is not a great tap ruckman (Ryder), not a great contested mark (McEvoy) and not a great set shot for goal.

Can get a lot of the ball around the ground, but the above is holding him back from being a dominant elite player.

[Otiman]

Still ranked in the top 10 players at the club.

23 coaches votes this year.

8th (ish) for contested marks by ruckmen
7th most hitouts in the comp this year
2nd in tackles by ruckmen
2nd in disposals by ruckmen
2nd in contested possessions by ruckmen
2nd in clearances by ruckmen
1st in free kicks for ruckmen

And whilst all these stats back up his good side, I agree he is a poor ruckman when it comes to hitouts to advantage. For two reasons.

1. When he wins a ruck contest, the ball almost always falls at his left ankle.
2. He is out muscled in boundary throw ins and around the ground ball ups. Witts and Nankervis are the two that come to mind.

[Viscount Jeremiah]

Still ranked in the top 10 players at the club.

23 coaches votes this year.

8th (ish) for contested marks by ruckmen
7th most hitouts in the comp this year
2nd in tackles by ruckmen
2nd in disposals by ruckmen
2nd in contested possessions by ruckmen
2nd in clearances by ruckmen
1st in free kicks for ruckmen

And whilst all these stats back up his good side, I agree he is a poor ruckman when it comes to hitouts to advantage. For two reasons.

1. When he wins a ruck contest, the ball almost always falls at his left ankle.
2. He is out muscled in boundary throw ins and around the ground ball ups. Witts and Nankervis are the two that come to mind.

I totally agree his actual ruck craft isn't his strength but also want to point out we don't have any elite clearance mids to make him look good like some other sides have.

If we had a Lachie Neal, Libba, Bont, Oliver type, etc Ro's ruck work would look better than it does.

Overall my point is that he's a good player and he may be unfairly criticized due to our lack of any A-grade mids

[Yorkeys]

Could never criticise him. He's our rock.

[desertsaint]

He'd look a damn sight better if we had the mids to back him up. They play with him weekly, know how he works, which sides he favours, and still get second to his taps.

[saintkev]

Wrestling when out of his depth is a waste of effort.

[Banger9798]

Struggles against the big ruckman.
Nank monstered him and so did the Big O.

Terrible tactics having him play a kick behind play....at one stage we had Hill in the ruck

[SaintDippa]

Needs Campbell as a foil. Hit outs are like gold when mids know where the ball is going. Smashed last night, O did what he liked. We kicked one, then they cleared putting D50 pressure 6 on 6. Not sure why Campbell can't play and go 1:1 around the ground when opposition we're playing has a lumbering ruck. More than competent tapper.

[terry smith rules]

Was absolutely smashed in the ruck duels

The big O set up the game early with his clearances and tap work

No questioning Roma’s marking around the ground, but we need to restructure the ruck set up

[B.M]

Marshall is an outstanding player!

And a very good ruckman - he just needs to get a lot stronger to compete with the big boys

Big O is a huge man - 206 and 108

To compete with players of that size, you need to be able to jump or wrestle

Rowan would be the smallest ruckman in the AFL

[realdeal]

Unfortunately 'the Prospect' is turning 28 this year. Whilst not old, he's also not at all young, he is what he is.,
slightly undersized ruckman who
gets some hitouts but not really to advantage,
gets out bodied but bigger ruckman,
is great at rushed clearances and around the ground,
a nice mark
is a poor kick for goal.
Fantastic teammate and clubman.

Against most ruckman he's fine/awesome one out but there are 4-5 teams (like bris and Rich) when Ro really needs some additional help. Some flexibility to bring in another ruckman.

[axcellence]

Perhaps bring someone else in and get Marshall to be a tall winger. The wingers St kilda aren't good marks. So this can be a point of difference

[BadRossco]

Marshall was recruited as a forward and this might still be his best position, forget Campbell he is backup only time to give Heath a chance he seems to be developing fairly well at Sandy. Keebler could be another option down the track but is a lot slighter and a good way behind Moose at the moment.

[Life Long Saint]

Marshall was recruited as a forward and this might still be his best position, forget Campbell he is backup only time to give Heath a chance he seems to be developing fairly well at Sandy. Keebler could be another option down the track but is a lot slighter and a good way behind Moose at the moment.

Campbell's last game for the seniors (Round 23 v Sydney).
12 disposals (10 contested)
5 marks
17 hit outs
4 tackles
5 clearances
4 inside 50's
6 Frees For
3 contested marks

Not too shabby for someone who is only a back up.
Also...He's been killing it in the VFL.

[wally]

Ok so if Campbell played in the ruck against big O and folllowed around the ground one on one and Marshall played forward against Andrews or Sicily the other week would we be worse off?

[SAINT-LEE]

I think Rucks have it tough.
They all have a style, a set routine to jump, push off, defend, tap, etc.

Once that gets figured out a smart opponent can ensure as much as possible the opposition is out of position for optimal routine.

It seems like the ball regularly falls out of 'favour' for Marshall. As if he is outsmarted and has to push, jump and tap out of his preferred routine resulting in either a lost ruck or tap to minimal if any advantage.

I wonder if this can be strengthened, adjusted, etc? It seems he has just one style of doing his role...where as the truly great rucks use 3-4 methods with excellence.