Player Watch Reilly O'Brien

[Coopers]

He moves like a big unco though.
Limbs everywhere.

Not saying he isn't effective though - one thing I do like is he seems to get stuck right in for tackles and competitive stuff.

 

[baldandbroke]

He moves like a big unco though. Limbs everywhere. Not saying he isn't effective though - one thing I do like is he seems to get stuck right in for tackles and competitive stuff.

Well he is a very big guy - they generally don't move like sleek jaguars !!!

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Just watching the Brisbane JLT game again and realising how much growing ROB still has to do. I'm not sure if many will give him this, but in 2-3 years time he will be a very big unit. Is already listed as heavier than Sauce and doesn't mind throwing himself into the contest. May end up as a bit of a late bloomer, but I think he has the tools.

Many ruckmen are late bloomers, for the reasons you mentioned.

 

[Bicks]

 

[Team DJ]

Average athleticism average skills.

2 massive requirements of the modern game.

 

[douglyzia]

What's harder to teach/improve?

Tapwork - Which ROB is bad at, OR
Work around the ground - Which ROB is good/decent at?

 

[SellarStardom]

ROB played bloody well against Gawn last game, no complaints about his tap work or field work, greatly improved on previous weeks

 

[hey shorty]

ROB played bloody well against Gawn last game, no complaints about his tap work or field work, greatly improved on previous weeks

He seems to lift for the better rucks generally.

 

[hey shorty]

What's harder to teach/improve?

Tapwork - Which ROB is bad at, OR
Work around the ground - Which ROB is good/decent at?

Only needs to improve the first one, and not even by that much.

 

[Mutineer]

ROB played bloody well against Gawn last game, no complaints about his tap work or field work, greatly improved on previous weeks

Let's see how he goes against the high leaping athletic Brodie Grundy before we get too carried away with a game where he was up against a "winged" Maxxy Gawn, there's never been anyone that I can recall that's ever questioned his "field work" or his follow up ruckwork which is right up there with the big boys, it's always been his centre circle tap work that's been a weakness in his all round game.

 

[ABAB]

Let's see how he goes against the high leaping athletic Brodie Grundy before we get too carried away with a game where he was up against a "winged" Maxxy Gawn, there's never been anyone that I can recall that's ever questioned his "field work" or his follow up ruckwork which is right up there with the big boys, it's always been his centre circle tap work that's been a weakness in his all round game.

Show he has the ability to leap which I didn't know he had and with such a big frame he will be hard to move once in the air. Will be one of the best ruckman in a few years if he can continue that improvement.

 

[Anzacpaul]

New fitness coach and perhaps Doc moving on could change a few things?

Love his 'round the ground work.

 

[spenze]

I love his enthusiasm, his aggression but we need a ruckman.

His footskills are bad, his decision making poor and he can't tap anywhere near his team mates. The funny thing is, he may be leading our B&F but I'd be trying hard to get someone else in. We are getting slaughtered in the middle and we can't allow it to go on next year.

 

[Jcpdragonx]

I love his enthusiasm, his aggression but we need a ruckman.

His footskills are bad, his decision making poor and he can't tap anywhere near his team mates. The funny thing is, he may be leading our B&F but I'd be trying hard to get someone else in. We are getting slaughtered in the middle and we can't allow it to go on next year.

Our midfielders are more to blame for getting hammered in the middle

 

[1990crow]

5aa rumoured 4 clubs chasing him

 

[Thetrader15]

I love his enthusiasm, his aggression but we need a ruckman.

His footskills are bad, his decision making poor and he can't tap anywhere near his team mates. The funny thing is, he may be leading our B&F but I'd be trying hard to get someone else in. We are getting slaughtered in the middle and we can't allow it to go on next year.

Let him and the mids have an AFL coach before we say he's no good at taps.

I'd suggest what appears to be an instruction for the mids to stay completely still during stoppages would impact their chances of getting the ball.

 

[Thetrader15]

5aa rumoured 4 clubs chasing him

We can afford a 3 year deal for him unless we are making a play for Grundy

 

[spenze]

Our midfielders are more to blame for getting hammered in the middle

Our midfielders aren't doing any justice to their roles but we shouldn't sugar coat this, the guys footskills are poor, like really poor; it isn't the 80s anymore, his type of ruckman petered out by then. I will use a cricket analogy, you would not keep a wicky who averaged 20 but was an ace keeper over a good wicky who averaged 50...and that is the issue

 

[spenze]

Let him and the mids have an AFL coach before we say he's no good at taps.

I'd suggest what appears to be an instruction for the mids to stay completely still during stoppages would impact their chances of getting the ball.

It isn't just his tap work, his kicking is a massive liability. I love his effort, I really do but we need another option and I don't mean Strachan

 

[dylan123]

Our midfielders aren't doing any justice to their roles but we shouldn't sugar coat this, the guys footskills are poor, like really poor; it isn't the 80s anymore, his type of ruckman petered out by then. I will use a cricket analogy, you would not keep a wicky who averaged 20 but was an ace keeper over a good wicky who averaged 50...and that is the issue

He's a terrible shot on goal but his field kicking seems to get the job done when he does take the kick. His lack of confidence to actually kick the ball hurts though along with how slow he is to get it onto his boot. It's an ugly style but if he takes a kick from the mark it kind of works somehow.

 

[dylan123]

It isn't just his tap work, his kicking is a massive liability. I love his effort, I really do but we need another option and I don't mean Strachan

Long term I'd probably agree but feel like he's good enough for the time being while we hopefully draft someone that's that prototype Grundy kind of ruckman. But Grundy isn't a great tap ruckman either for that matter, makes up for it with his ground work.

 

[MrBarry]

People being overly harsh here, O'Brien is the absolute least of our worries - he's a 24 year old ruckman still learning his craft. His around the ground work is generally excellent, we have no need to replace him or try and bring someone like Grundy in. O'Brien is one of the only players in our team that would make at least 15 other sides starting team.

 

[WeeBlake]

He’s also pretty much our best pack marking player

 

[1970crow]

My only complaint, and it's actually coaching as Sauce did it too, is working forward ahead of the ball when we e got 3 talls down there.

 

[FR0GGY]

My only complaint, and it's actually coaching as Sauce did it too, is working forward ahead of the ball when we e got 3 talls down there.

How often does he do that?
Usually not him taking the forward 50 throw ins.