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

[Disco Dew]

An important part of that Daicos thread was winding up Collingwood supporters

lol oh for sure.

 

[LB2Snake]

Will be “unlucky” and be robbed of AA. Gawn will get the nod IMO

 

[ferball]

Will be “unlucky” and be robbed of AA. Gawn will get the nod IMO

Then there's another 40 hours and 38 pages of pointless AFL content discussing the decision.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

If Monkey and other coaches have helped turn around X from a fringe player at best, to a genuine top 3 ruck in the competition……….dare we dream that CCJ is also a slow burn and comes out next year and also shows similar improvement? The big blokes always take longer to mature and develop. Would be very, very nice if this materialized where we have a more than decent back up ruck.

 

[tazaa]

If Monkey and other coaches have helped turn around X from a fringe player at best, to a genuine top 3 ruck in the competition……….dare we dream that CCJ is also a slow burn and comes out next year and also shows similar improvement? The big blokes always take longer to mature and develop. Would be very, very nice if this materialized where we have a more than decent back up ruck.

One miracle at a time brother

 

[amaz199]

What I absolutely love is he tackles with intent which means he doesn't allow anyone to get through.

The main issue with Goldy was his tackle technique being so poor. Not only did he not manage to wrap his arms around the ball carrier, his technique meant that there was a chance to be paid a high tackle against if he wasn't careful.

Xerri goes in and goes in with intent to wrap you up. Impossible to get a free against from it but very possible to get paid HTB.

 

[Junk yard]

What I absolutely love is he tackles with intent which means he doesn't allow anyone to get through.

The main issue with Goldy was his tackle technique being so poor. Not only did he not manage to wrap his arms around the ball carrier, his technique meant that there was a chance to be paid a high tackle against if he wasn't careful.

Xerri goes in and goes in with intent to wrap you up. Impossible to get a free against from it but very possible to get paid HTB.

Has tidied his frees against up a bit too, he's physical without being dirty like mummy. If the doggies put lobb in there he'll get monstered.

 

[Devington]

Has tidied his frees against up a bit too, he's physical without being dirty like mummy. If the doggies put lobb in there he'll get monstered.

I'd say he's tidied them up more than just 'a bit'. Remember this was the bloke who in his first few stints was regularly giving out dumb frees the likes of which even Corr would jealous of. Considering the amount of physical pressure he exerts combined with his sheer size, he's doing a great job.

It's actually baffling how this uninterrupted run in the seniors has seen his flaws get smashed into strengths. Ball bouncing off his hands in marking contests? Now regularly takes proper 'big man' grabs around the ground. Giving away too many frees? Now he's breaking even For and Against while his pressure and TOG has skyrocketed. Hitouts? Making better choices than ever.

One of the biggest single season improvements ever. So proud of him.

 

[ferball]

He obviously works on every little thing he can. He's living the dream and living up to it too.

 

[giantroo]

 

[King Corey]

If Monkey and other coaches have helped turn around X from a fringe player at best, to a genuine top 3 ruck in the competition……….dare we dream that CCJ is also a slow burn and comes out next year and also shows similar improvement? The big blokes always take longer to mature and develop. Would be very, very nice if this materialized where we have a more than decent back up ruck.

That's an interesting take. 12 months ago you had folks on here not rating either, a handful talking either up and no decisive majority for who was rated higher.

Maybe CCJ will make it with us yet.

 

[Kanga Glory]

 

[Kanga Glory]

 

[Twinkletoes]

As our beacon of hope on a mostly otherwise bleak day the big fella deserves to be on page one.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Will get a well deserved all aus jacket in a few weeks time

 

[koshari]

That's an interesting take. 12 months ago you had folks on here not rating either, a handful talking either up and no decisive majority for who was rated higher.

Maybe CCJ will make it with us yet.

Get Methuselah out of retirement, his best season is still ahead of him.

 

[muttley45]

That was a very nice tackle on Weightman, no free given away, but the little bludger got straight back up

 

[DocSholl]

Weightman is tough, he just plays for the free kicks

 

[koshari]

Weightman is tough, he just plays for the free kicks

Better at playing gor frees than souva

 

[the big lebowski]

Last year there were a few occasions where we went inside 50 to Xerri who was in an advantageous position but he couldn’t mark.

This is due to confidence/belief.

The pack mark he took in qrt 1, should be a sign of things to come next year.

As his marking contours improve X should be a weapon up forward.

 

[CURVE]

Who should be the All-Australian ruckman?

Who should be the All-Australian ruckman?​

All-Australian selectors will have their hands full, with up to six big men worthy of getting the nod.​

Aidan Cellini
WRITER | August 19, 2024 - 1:34pm


This year's race for the All-Australian ruck spot is like no other.

In previous years, Melbourne champion Max Gawn has been the main man in the selectors' eyes, claiming six blazers between 2016 and 2022.

Western Bulldogs Tim English has had his time in the spotlight after a dominant 2023 campaign while Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy received nods when he was at Collingwood.

However, this year seems different with as many as half a dozen rucks vying for the prestigious honour.

Looking back on past teams, it's uncommon that two ruckmen are found in the final 22 despite it happening on occasion.

Gawn and Nic Naitanui in 2020 and 2021. Gawn and Grundy in 2018 and 2019.

And given the bias towards a midfield-heavy lineup, a ruck who is included in the 44-man squad should hold his head high for the accolade.
So who's in contention this year?

St Kilda's Rowan Marshall and North Melbourne's Tristan Xerri have put together outstanding seasons as standalone ruckmen for their respective sides.

Xerri's ability to follow up from the ruck contest has him ranked well ahead in tackles for the tall contingent while Marshall leads disposals for the group.

Brisbane's Oscar McInerney has quickly become a specialist at heaving the ball out of congestion from a stoppage while Collingwood's Darcy Cameron takes the crown as the intercept king.

Gawn's around-the-ground prowess and superior ruck craft are still on display despite the dip in his midfielders' output as Grundy, like at the Pies and Demons in years gone by, has operated as a fourth onballer for the Swans to elite effect.

Safe to say, they all have their modus operandi.

	Disposals	Intercept Marks	Clearances	Hit-outs to Adv	Score Involvements	Tackles
Max Gawn	381	38	100	194	106	52
Rowan Marshall	458	34	128	141	104	97
Tristan Xerri	387	25	139	194	91	170
Brodie Grundy	400	12	107	203	116	110
Darcy Cameron	346	55	83	181	90	62
Oscar McInerney	270	12	114	162	98	66

Honourable mentions do go to Hawthorn's Lloyd Meek and Carlton's Tom De Koning.

Now, putting our selectors cap on, there is a case to be made that at least three ruckmen should be included in the All-Australian squad.

Despite our subconscious always leaning toward Gawn given his excellence over a long period of time, it cannot be understated the work he does in the red and blue.

He's the captain for a reason and in many instances throughout 2024, has put the Demons on his shoulders.

As a result, he's the frontrunner.

The Kangaroos' helmet-wearing tough-nut Xerri immediately grabs the attention of the beholder given his unique playing attire.

However, his impressive follow-up work, reflective of his 170 tackles - inclusive of the Liam Ryan chase-down - and clearance mastery has him in second.

And lastly, Pies' Cameron is next in the queue to receive some reward for effort.

Collingwood's big man has become an expert in helping his team defend, showcased by his ability to intercept the ball from the opposition both in the air (55 marks) and on the ground (105 intercept possessions).

Cameron's tap work has improved out of sight, rivalling some of the competition's best, evidenced by his Round 23 knocks to Nick Daicos and Beau McCreery for goals, with the latter being the match-winner.

With the race being so tight among these six, the last round has plenty of riding on it.

Gawn and Cameron will do battle on Friday night to kick the weekend off while Xerri will face the imposing Meek.

McInerney will need to take on the Sam Draper and Nick Bryan duo against the Bombers as Grundy will look to assert his dominance over Adelaide's Reilly O'Brien

43

Reilly O'brien

Age

29

Ht

202cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.4

4star

K

5.9

2star

HB

8.5

5star

CL

1.6

4star

HO

23.8

5star

D

14.4

3star

K

5.9

2star

HB

8.5

4star

CL

1.6

4star

HO

23.8

5star

D

12.6

4star

K

4.8

2star

HB

7.8

5star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

24.8

5star

.

And lastly, Marshall could count his lucky stars that De Koning is still out for the Blues and will want to stake his claim as the best ruckman in the game against Marc Pittonet as he strives for his first All-Australian blazer.

 

[My Left Foote]

That tackle count is crazy, 3 times as many as Gawn and 60 clear of Grundy who is the next best, the man is a beast.

 

[CURVE]

That tackle count is crazy 3 times as many as Gawn and 60 clear of Grundy, the man is a beast.

And a lot of them hurt. I'm pretty sure he has broken a some bones with his tackles, Jack Riewoldt made mention of it after his retirement game, with his last touch of ball in AFL he was tackled by the Big X who broke a few ribs.

We have a fairly small midfield unit with most under 185cms so he is a real enforcer in the centre and does a great job.

 

[Friday Night Lights]

So how many tackles does he need to break Swallow’s record?

 

[JGreezy]

13 to tie

He has 170 and our record is 183