Player Watch Pick #16 (2016) - Todd Marshall

[RangaInTeal]

We had the weakest attack of the top 8 primarily due to most of our forward line consisting of non-forwards (Rat, Narkle, McEntee, Evans, DBJ - albeit the latter has done a decent job up there) and your answer is to chuck another non-forward up there?

I think Visintini at CHF and Luko, Georgiadies, Rozee, Berry, Riolli, SPP, Butters and JHF drifting throughout wouldn’t be a horrible mix.

 

[240volt]

I don't really get the uncertainty. Our preferred set up has been Dixon, Georgiades and Marshall. Lord replaces Dixon, Georgiades is still there and Lukosius replaces Marshall. It was actually kind of weird that we went out and got Lukosius anyway given he's the exact same player as Marshall and didn't fill a need whatsoever so it's actually worked out pretty neutrally given this injury.

The big difference is Lukosius doesn’t fall on his head.
I personally would have told Todd no more son

 

[FishingRick04]

I think Visintini at CHF and Luko, Georgiadies, Rozee, Berry, Riolli, SPP, Butters and JHF drifting throughout wouldn’t be a horrible mix.

JHF CHF

 

[Grave Danger]

I think Visintini at CHF and Luko, Georgiadies, Rozee, Berry, Riolli, SPP, Butters and JHF drifting throughout wouldn’t be a horrible mix.

Has anyone ever noticed that Visentini looks a bit like Stephen Kernahan?

 

[JimmyBC]

Ruckmen are not good permanent forwards in the modern game.

 

[RangaInTeal]

Ruckmen are not good permanent forwards in the modern game.

I don’t disagree but I also think it has benefited Rowan Marshall.

 

[El_Scorcho]

I think to play the 2nd ruck/fwd role, a player has to be able to hold their own as a key forward as a priority. There's no point having a lame duck key forward for 75% of the game so they can backup in the ruck for 25% of the game. It's much better to pick a better quality key forward and cop that you'll be using a part timer in the ruck and plan for that.

 

[dirty2]

I think to play the 2nd ruck/fwd role, a player has to be able to hold their own as a key forward as a priority. There's no point having a lame duck key forward for 75% of the game so they can backup in the ruck for 25% of the game. It's much better to pick a better quality key forward and cop that you'll be using a part timer in the ruck and plan for that.

 

[Bennie the Nurse]

I think Whitlock would be ahead of Finlayson, Rat and the Resting rucks in terms of Forward craft. The body and strength will determine his readiness to be a viable option throughout the year.

I think we play a Resting Ruck as a Key Forward, Soldo, Visintini or Lord throughout the year, but wouldn’t be disappointed if Whitlock was given 3-12 games throughout the year. Anymore and either we are bottom 10 or he has exceeded expectations.

It would be destructive to play Whitlock as a second ruck at this stage in his development. As someone who has played as a ruckman….. you’d be licking your lips to be up against an 19 yo skinny kid with little experience……. It would set back his career and seriously undermine his development and confidence.