Yep, if he stands out on the training track, he just needs a taste at VFL level with the likes of Lemmey, O’Keeffe, McMahon and third tall Moir keeping him out should we see fit to add him in the MSD.I watched the U18's Vic Country vs SA game the other night after the post that we'd signed Rudd in our VFL. Kicked 2 goals that day, but could have easily ended up with 4 or 5...which would have got the recruiters frothing at the mouth. As the commentator said "he has a real presence about him in the forward half." Seems very stiff not to have been drafted.
Listed at 193cm and 91kg, so around the same size as Charlie - although there were articles comparing him more to Jeremy Cameron. Great endurance, with vice like hands and a booming left foot kick.
The issue of course is that if he shows promise at VFL level, we're not guaranteed access to him in the MSD....although I'm tipping if he's starting to look the goods, we'll have a breathalyzer set up on Royal Pde the week leading into the draft
Either way, given we're picking up a couple of running mids in this year's National Draft, someone like Rudd could complement our brigade of marking forwards and potentially release Lem to develop more as a KPD.
According to this article, we were possibly linked to him in last year's rookie draft.
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2023 AFL Draft: Rookie Draft Preview
House of Footy looks at who your club could draft in the 2023 AFL Rookie Draft.houseoffooty.com.au
A long way to go, but it is great to have him between the four walls at Ikon Park.
Surely Lemmey is groomed at both ends of the ground. Given where he is at and our existing talls. We have fewer young developing (genuine) KPD types, or more specifically lesser need. Weiters back against Charlie and Harry as forward staples who will be around for five years or more. While Lemmey will be a viable forward/ruck, O’Keeffe will be on a similar path albeit, more genuine ruck, so they will be in competition for a forward/ruck spot in a year or two with both likely to be up to the level.
As you stated, Rudd is more your mobile lead up type than a contested big boppa. He was played a little back, but in honesty didn’t show a great aptitude in that area. Premature gettiing excited over an overlooked player, but he is absolutely the type who could develop dramatically as his body matures.
It somewhat begs the question as to the reasons he was overlooked as he has the raw talent to make it. I shouldn’t over complicate things but it did surprise me at draft time.
We perhaps should not overlook Liam McMahon as a potential addition in favour of the shiny new toy either.
