Player Watch #38: Tristan Xerri - signed thru '29 - 2024 All Australian squad member - runner up '24 SBM

[tazaa]

Posted in the trade and free agency thread that Xerri isnt guaranteed the No.1 ruck role in 2024.
Glen McFarlane tweeted that we are searching for a new ruck man and then Clarko lands in Perth the same time.

 

[Dodecahedron]

X doesn’t have to star every game. He doesn’t have to have 50 hit-outs to advantage. He just needs to break even and hold his own. If he can stay relatively injury-free, I reckon he is capable of that in 2024.

 

[amaz199]

We won't get him anywhere near Goldy output but he needs to fix his marking and impose himself.

It's between the ears.

 

[King Corey]

We'll be like a reverse Melbourne now. 3 VFL grade ruckman all battling it out for 1 AFL spot.

 

[My Left Foote]

Clarko will have someone in mind - he is not leaving us with CCJ, X and Edwards. Names will start to pop up after the GF.

You could have ended that sentence at CCJ & X. Edwards won’t be on the list next year.

 

[Bren]

You better extract the digiit from now on "big" X

 

[My Left Foote]

We'll be like a reverse Melbourne now. 3 VFL grade ruckman all battling it out for 1 AFL spot.

A reverse Melbourne wins both their finals and plays in the Grand Final. I like it.

 

[King Corey]

You better extract the digiit from now on "big" X

Trouble is, he already has.

 

[Bren]

Trouble is, he already has.

I was talking about his thumb... was still up their this season

 

[King Corey]

A reverse Melbourne wins both their finals and plays in the Grand Final. I like it.

Unfortunately the inverse comparison ended at the ruck divisions.

 

[amaz199]

If he can do 60% of what Goldy did, that's his goal.

 

[Shagga is all Class]

We have X, CCJ, Comben and a Ruck/Back up ruck/CHF and KPD to sort out.

All are OOC ending 2025, so basically they have next year to make strides, and then we move on.

 

[Ischenko]

I am also a believer. Ten hours marking and goal-kicking practice a day over summer please.
The Maltese Falcon!

 

[Uncle_Leo]

Prove me wrong Tristan

Please.

 

[Ligma]

I thought he looked promising before he did his ankle

Hopefully a big 2024

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

The concerns:

Ruckwork: Agricultural at best.

Marking: Can barely get his hands to the ball.

Athleticism: Lacks any sort of agility, jumping ability or running power.

Ball skills: Kicking and handballing are bottom 10% at the club.

I don’t see him overcoming any of those concerns after six years of development already to get him to this point.

 

[fusion]

I thought he looked promising before he did his ankle

Hopefully a big 2024

That was for about 1 quarter. I dont rate him, but if he overcome the injuries then we'll be able to see whether he's worth keeping.

 

[kool kangas]

The concerns:

Ruckwork: Agricultural at best.

Marking: Can barely get his hands to the ball.

Athleticism: Lacks any sort of agility, jumping ability or running power.

Ball skills: Kicking and handballing are bottom 10% at the club.

I don’t see him overcoming any of those concerns after six years of development already to get him to this point.

Another concern is the amount of times he tries to take the ball out of the ruck contest and gets caught, rather than tap it to his midfielders around him...

 

[The Big O]

I am also a believer. Ten hours marking and goal-kicking practice a day over summer please.
The Maltese Falcon!

Needs to follow the regime I did with my kids. Start with catching bean bags in the backyard. Once he catches 10 in a row take a step back. Should be able to progress to a footy by late Jan.

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Uncle_Leo]

I thought he looked promising before he did his ankle

Hopefully a big 2024

Must have been some quarter.

Bordering on Drew Petries against the Dogs in 2007.

 

[Hazey1977]

We'll be like a reverse Melbourne now. 3 VFL grade ruckman all battling it out for 1 AFL spot.

And we'll play Zurhaar there......

On SM-G781B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[King Corey]

Must have been some quarter.

Bordering on Drew Petries against the Dogs in 2007.

5 disposals
1 mark
9 hitouts (4 to advantage)
1 tackle
0 goals

For whatever that's worth.

 

[Sphynx]

He's absolutely shit.

If we are shopping for a fix, Clarko probably thinks the same.


TBH, the player to go after is Matt Flynn:

 

[Ligma]

Must have been some quarter.

Bordering on Drew Petries against the Dogs in 2007.

I just thought he was holding his ground and was doing his job

 

[Liam Boy]

I just thought he was holding his ground and was doing his job

I actually agree that he looked good in that game, was clearly winning the ruck, but West Coast's ruck division that day was pretty terrible. Hugh Greenwood with a little help from his mate Charlie Comben easily accounted for them for the rest of the game.

I think X can handle being #1 ruck, and a season of that will tell us how it's going to be long term. Definitely not proven either way yet.