St Kilda's major concern for 2025

[Sanctorum]

Following the delisting of Tom Campbell, and the aborted attempt to bring Ivan Soldo to Moorabbin, St Kilda's ruck stocks are at an all-time critical level - just Rowan Marshall and Max Heath, and the latter has yet to play a game!

They've used Jack Hayes (when fit), Michito Owens, Cooper Sharman and Anthony Caminiti to pinch hit in the ruck but they're not the long term answer, and why would you risk any of them in the bruising ruck contests for any length of time, they're far more useful elsewhere on the park.

Other than Heath there is only Isaac Keeler (20 - 198 cm) in the reserves who is a chance, but that is an unknown quantity right now.

It has always been the hallmark of teams coached by Ross Lyon to have at least three or four recognised ruckmen in the squad, so I expect he'll be losing a fair bit of sleep over this major problem.

Of all of the uncontracted players right now, only Rhys Stanley is a recognised ruckman, but gauged on the way he pulled up at the end of the prelim against Brisbane at 33 he's not the answer either.

You'd think the list management team will be scouring the minor comps to see if they can identify a stop gap solution heading into next season.

[bobmurray]

ST KILDA – DAVID MISSON said..

“We’re looking at our processes and being really strong from a medical point of view is one of those processes. There was just enough there with the medical stuff that came out, we felt it was a risk. Ivan (Soldo) will probably turn around and play some footy next year and good luck to him. We just felt there were some flags that we weren’t comfortable with.

“He was pretty keen to come to the club and was probably disappointed. We feel pretty confident in our medical processes and the decisions that were made off the back of that.

“(Ruck plans for next year) is something we’ll need to sit down in the next couple of days and have a look at. We’re a little bit thin there, but we’ve obviously got Rowan Marshall, Max Heath and Isaac Keeler is on our list as well.”

[skeptic]

To be honest…
It’s pbly time to see a bit of Heath and Keeler stepped up towards the end of the season.

Neither are obviously close to Marshall but both could only do a game or two

[Saints58]

I think we might still look for a delisted player to trial on our SSP allocation or look to the Pre season draft a few teams are delisting players now as picks have been sorted out so might find a player like Kruger, has been injured or someone else.

[chook23]

Ruck plans for next year) is something we’ll need to sit down in the next couple of days and have a look at. We’re a little bit thin there, but we’ve obviously got Rowan Marshall, Max Heath and Isaac Keeler is on our list as well.”


Mission did not mention Hayes

Odds appear that he will be delisted

[Saints58]

Ruck plans for next year) is something we’ll need to sit down in the next couple of days and have a look at. We’re a little bit thin there, but we’ve obviously got Rowan Marshall, Max Heath and Isaac Keeler is on our list as well.”


Mission did not mention Hayes

Odds appear that he will be delisted

If Hayes is delisted do we get a pick for him from the team that picks him up and the same with Membery

[meher baba]

I think we might still look for a delisted player to trial on our SSP allocation or look to the Pre season draft a few teams are delisting players now as picks have been sorted out so might find a player like Kruger, has been injured or someone else.

I reckon that's what we'll do but, if so, why didn't we sign Campbell up for another year? He's both an accomplished ruckman and a good club man.

I can't help feeling that the club let Campbell go because they had prematurely decided that Soldo was the answer to all their prayers. Which, if true, represents something of a stuff-up IMO.

[bobmurray]

Ruck plans for next year) is something we’ll need to sit down in the next couple of days and have a look at. We’re a little bit thin there, but we’ve obviously got Rowan Marshall, Max Heath and Isaac Keeler is on our list as well.”


Mission did not mention Hayes

Odds appear that he will be delisted

If Hayes is delisted do we get a pick for him from the team that picks him up and the same with Membery

No more picks given out for players, especially delisted ones.

[saynta]

Ruck plans for next year) is something we’ll need to sit down in the next couple of days and have a look at. We’re a little bit thin there, but we’ve obviously got Rowan Marshall, Max Heath and Isaac Keeler is on our list as well.”


Mission did not mention Hayes

Odds appear that he will be delisted

If Hayes is delisted do we get a pick for him from the team that picks him up and the same with Membery

No more picks given out for players, especially delisted ones.

Don't you get the same number of picks that you have vacancies.

[bobmurray]

Ruck plans for next year) is something we’ll need to sit down in the next couple of days and have a look at. We’re a little bit thin there, but we’ve obviously got Rowan Marshall, Max Heath and Isaac Keeler is on our list as well.”


Mission did not mention Hayes

Odds appear that he will be delisted

If Hayes is delisted do we get a pick for him from the team that picks him up and the same with Membery

No more picks given out for players, especially delisted ones.

Don't you get the same number of picks that you have vacancies.

Yes.
Saints58 was asking, do the teams that pick up Hayes or Membrey have to give the Saints one of their picks and that is a NO.

[Killa]

My view is that Campbell’s papers were marked v Port Adelaide at Docklands

And correctly so

That Melbourne have listed him as back up to Gawn is a commentary on Melbourne

[Otiman]

We have had it good on backups for too long and it has stunted the growth of Heath.

IMO Heath must play Fwd/Ruck AFL next year and Keeler plays VFL ruck.

[St Dave]

We have had it good on backups for too long and it has stunted the growth of Heath.

IMO Heath must play Fwd/Ruck AFL next year and Keeler plays VFL ruck.

Yep, even if it is coming off the bench, they need to be taking that next step or they aren't going to make it.

Fingers crossed for them.

[Yorkeys]

My view is that Campbell’s papers were marked v Port Adelaide at Docklands

And correctly so

That Melbourne have listed him as back up to Gawn is a commentary on Melbourne

Maybe Campbell's main team role will be to keep Oliver on the straight. He's charming, persuasive and very big/strong.

[repta]

Massive gamble going in with no plan B. .
I hope Max Heath can fill the gap, otherwise hope Rowan stays on the park.

Otherwise it will be Max King into the ruck. ...

[Stian]

Doesn't that just mean that the club has to keep Hayes as a back-up ruck? Then any other roles that he pays through the year (and we know that he has a few) would just be a bonus.

[Nick DalSanto Claus]

I think we might still look for a delisted player to trial on our SSP allocation or look to the Pre season draft a few teams are delisting players now as picks have been sorted out so might find a player like Kruger, has been injured or someone else.

The name floated for the solution to this problem is Lachlan Blakiston from East Fremantle. He's a mature ager at 25 years old, and was playing reserves earlier this year.

He was given an opportunity when Teakle went to Norf in the mid season draft, and he has grabbed it with both hands, becoming a leading player in the sharks' premiership.

He is 204 cm tall, weighs 96 kg, with a strong physique. He dominated in HO to advantage, and got plenty of the ball around the ground, averaging 21 possessions.

I haven't seen his highlights but my source assures me he is Roma-like in athleticism. The only downside is he doesn't seem to be a goalkicker but that is probably because he spends all his time on the ball.

He could be our surprise late pick gem, al a Hugo Garcia last year. The bad news is that Geelong are also right into him. Is there a Cotton On franchise in Lachlan's future?

[Scollop]

The name floated for the solution to this problem is Lachlan Blakiston from East Fremantle.

Is there a Cotton On franchise in Lachlan's future?

Depends...do you pronounce his surname as 'Blake'iston? We have good history with 'Blakes' in our team and we have 'Neil' as a footy director

[SaintPav]

What’s plan B SOS?

[cwrcyn]

A previous poster mentioned Max Heath's poor aerobic fitness and I agree that Heath is way off the mark. He will need to improve his fitness by 50% to get even close to being AFL ready. He also needs another 5kg on his frame.

[St Dave]

Doesn't that just mean that the club has to keep Hayes as a back-up ruck? Then any other roles that he pays through the year (and we know that he has a few) would just be a bonus.

I expect they will bring someone else in, or fall back on Owens/Caminiti to pinch hit if the VFL level guys don't show enough.

They had an issue with Soldos durability, so Hayes is well behind that level. The only thing that might save Hayes is if they can't find anyone to bring in, because it is really risking it if Roma gets a major injury.

[Nick DalSanto Claus]

The name floated for the solution to this problem is Lachlan Blakiston from East Fremantle.

Is there a Cotton On franchise in Lachlan's future?

Depends...do you pronounce his surname as 'Blake'iston? We have good history with 'Blakes' in our team and we have 'Neil' as a footy director

Black - iston, Scollop. So I hope unlike Heath Black, he doesn't come with a short temper, problem drinking, peculiar religious beliefs and goes around belting the skipper at training. I just hope if we take him, he's not another spud, back up ruckman we've had so many of over the years.

[Sanctorum]

If St Kilda is looking at Lachlan Blakiston, who is an unknown quantity, to play in the ruck, I would expect they are also going to check out Peter Ladhams, the former Port Adelaide ruckman who has played the last 3 years with Sydney Swans as a backup to Brodie Grundy, and has just been delisted.

53 games, 204 cm, 27 next year, he may not be a star, but would be a much better proposition than someone who may or may not make the big time.

[TheGreatZacsby]

I don’t know where I heard it or read it, it’s probably Kane Cornes of all spuds, but it was said that Ross Lyon in all his tenures always had 4 rucks on the list.

The first playing. The second a forward who reliefs solidly. The third as emergency and playing in the twos and the fourth developing in the twos.

Maybe we go for WA boy and Ladhams? That way we have Max Heath, WA boy, Ladhams and Marshall. Unless they see Keeler as a ruck as well?

[B.M]

Didn’t Peel Thunder win this seasons WAFL premiership?!

East Fremantle won it in 2023 I thought