Rucks remain a problem

[Sanctorum]

Despite the success by Simon Dalrympoke & Co landing 6 really outstanding prospects in the draft, coupled with bringing in Jackson Macrae and Jack Carroll to bolster the midfield stock, the failure to add an experienced tap ruckman to support Rowan Marshall was very disappointing.

Makes you wonder if the club had been aware that Ivan Soldo might fail his medical, would they have delisted Tom Campbell??

I would think not, as it leaves the club at risk of not having an experienced ruckman if Marshall is sidelined by injury.

If the club frees up a spot by transferring Brad Crouch to the LTI list, will they reccruit Norwood's Harry Boyd during the Pre-season Supplemental Selection Period, which runs from November 27 to February 19?

Boyd has been linked to St Kilda a few times in the media lately, which suggests that the club does not believe Max Heath and Isaac Keeler will be ready to step up to play senior football in the early rounds, if at all, in 2025.

[diddley]

I’m getting the feeling that they are going by a new direction.
Stop persisting with players that aren’t improving us.
We are better getting runs in the board with players like Heath & Keeler, and finding out if they have what it takes, than falling back on players like Campbell.

If we can’t get what want we want and how we want it, then push on with what we have in the name of improvement.

[TheGreatZacsby]

Despite the success by Simon Dalrympoke & Co landing 6 really outstanding prospects in the draft, coupled with bringing in Jackson Macrae and Jack Carroll to bolster the midfield stock, the failure to add an experienced tap ruckman to support Rowan Marshall was very disappointing.

Makes you wonder if the club had been aware that Ivan Soldo might fail his medical, would they have delisted Tom Campbell??

I would think not, as it leaves the club at risk of not having an experienced ruckman if Marshall is sidelined by injury.

If the club frees up a spot by transferring Brad Crouch to the LTI list, will they reccruit Norwood's Harry Boyd during the Pre-season Supplemental Selection Period, which runs from November 27 to February 19?

Boyd has been linked to St Kilda a few times in the media lately, which suggests that the club does not believe Max Heath and Isaac Keeler will be ready to step up to play senior football in the early rounds, if at all, in 2025.

Honestly, I see where you coming from but this might mean if we don’t pick up Boyd in the SSP, the club thinks Heath can go up another level this preseason. He’s already doing more laps and doing primary ruck in the drills as reported by Mike on BigFooty. If Boyd is picked up in the SSP than yeah we don’t rate Heath. Have to watch.

I’m not honestly worried. Next person up mentality. Ro is quite durable as a ruckman. I think you will find when we play smaller bottom of the ladder teams we will promote Heath / Dodson / Keeler to play and let Ro rest in the fwd line and give him a break.

[Killa]

No doubt there is a potential problem if Marshall goes down with injury (and fingers crossed his durability and form maintain)

But past that Campbell showed in the Port Adelaide game that he is not the answer - and Boyd similarly not the answer

Neither are AFL quality ruckmen

So where does that leave us?

We have Heath who has been on the List for a couple of years now and who has just been promoted to the main List (so not delisted)

We have Keeler who can jump and is mobile but not a ruckman - at best giving a chop out so not the remedy if Marshall should be unavailable

And we have the Sturt youngster just Drafted but just 18 and only having played at Under age level so far - so he will need time which is not a knock on him. My advice from SA is “good luck to the Saints because they have got a “steal” with this kid - and he could be anything”

The question is do we put players deficient at AFL standard on the List as insurance or do we trust to luck that what we have seen from Marshall continues to be the norm

With who we have on our List it appears to me the latter is the strategy - and fingers crossed that the 2 young ruckman we have develop or continue to develop in excess of expectations

Despite the 2 Sturt youngsters going where they went in the Draft, and the number of Clubs in similar circumstances with their Rucking divisions including Campbell being on Melbourne’s List, the absence of sides recruiting/Drafting rucks would indicate a shortage of options hence a competition problem

In a real emergency we have King at the height he is

It would be a waste to ruck him, but …..

[Otiman]

We would have delisted Max Heath if he was no good.

He is the backup plan until Dodson is ready.

And sometimes all you need is a body that can compete and help win the clearances, which is why Owens was thrown in there.

[B.M]

We have a gun ruckman who had the most votes in the Brownlow for a ruckman. IMO should have been AA

Heath will play if he gets injured

[SAINT-LEE]

Heath will play this year & we will see how he goes, as long as he can hold his own.

He was a see saw in the vfl last year. Barely ok to good to average and back to good.

He's about the age where he will be showing strong sign if he has the goods. Let's hope!

[Sainter_Dad]

Unloose the Moose!

[Yorkeys]

Letting Campbell go was a signal the footy department did not share our misgivings; had plans A, B & C.

[saynta]

Letting Campbell go was a signal the footy department did not share our misgivings; had plans A, B & C.

Yep.

Sorry, but Campbell was holding back the development of Moose and to a lesser extent Keeler.

[SinCitySainter]

If we don't trust that Heath can be a suitable backup to Roma then he should have been delisted not promoted.

[B.M]

The ideal partner for Rowan Marshall is Keeler

Keeler is 198, athletic with a leap. He moves well around the ground and is an aerial threat forward

7 forwards
King 202 - mobile
Shaman 193 - mobile
Keeler 198 - mobile
Butler - 182 mobile
Higgins 178 mobile
Henry 179 mobile
Owens 191 mobile

[Moods]

We have a gun ruckman who had the most votes in the Brownlow for a ruckman. IMO should have been AA

Heath will play if he gets injured

Look I love Romo as much as anyone but he was absolutely slaughtered when we played Melbourne. We need a big monster who can compete with these other monsters. Marshall is sensational around the ground but I wonder if a better centre bounce ruckman would give our mids more confidence?

Gawn > Marshall. As a ruckman

[Big Max]

I'm delighted we have unknown upside potential with Heath and Dodson.

Either of these guys could become the best ruck in the competition, and Keeler could be a great ruck/forward.

Give them a crack I reckon...

[Yorkeys]

Gawn > every ruckman who ever played? (Except for Paddy Ryder, the St Kilda years).

[SaintPav]

We have a gun ruckman who had the most votes in the Brownlow for a ruckman. IMO should have been AA

Heath will play if he gets injured

He didn’t even make the squad of 40.

Ridiculous!

[The Fireman]

We need one but they don’t grow on trees

[Yorkeys]

We need one but they don’t grow on trees

Apparently Gawn was carved from an oak, so close.
Brought to life by a kiss from Caro Wilson, the story goes.
May explain his fierceness and tendency not to pucker.

[Saints58]

The ideal partner for Rowan Marshall is Keeler

Keeler is 198, athletic with a leap. He moves well around the ground and is an aerial threat forward

7 forwards
King 202 - mobile
Shaman 193 - mobile
Keeler 198 - mobile
Butler - 182 mobile
Higgins 178 mobile
Henry 179 mobile
Owens 191 mobile

I thought Camaniti also mobile who played forward and ruck at 196cm he did ok in that department not a full time ruck but just for chop out.

[B.M]

Paddy Ryder - ok

But the most overrated player to play for Stk

He was good, but not Polly Farmer or John Nicholls

His highest B&F finish
7th

Averaged 8 possessions and less than a goal per game.