Prediction Which potential ruckmen would you prefer?

[sammm]

St Kilda eyeing SANFL gun as Rowan Marshall support | Sporting News Australia

St Kilda are considering drafting SANFL Magarey Medallist Harry Boyd as a support ruckman for Rowan Marshall.

www.sportingnews.com

SANFL Magarey Medallist Harry Boyd at 198cm
or
Western Australian ruckman Lachlan Blakiston at 204cm
The 26-year-old, standing at 204cm, has been one of the dominant ruckman in the WAFL for East Fremantle averaging 16 disposals and 33 hitouts a match in 2024.

St Kilda meet with ex-Hawthorn defender, linked with ruckman | Sporting News Australia

St Kilda have met with recently delisted Hawthorn defender Ethan Phillips in an ironic attempt to replace Hawks free agent signing Josh Battle.

www.sportingnews.com

 

[BrutThough]

Knowing nothing about them, I'd go the SANFL guy because thats generally considered the better league.

 

[bergholt]

Boyd sounds like a bit of a bruiser so I want him

 

[Plugger35]

Knowing nothing about them, I'd go the SANFL guy because thats generally considered the better league.

I don't watch SANFL but I watch some WAFL and the standard of ruckmen in that comp these days isn't great to say the least.

A spud ruckman like Teakle went back to East Freo after getting sacked by Port and he still got another AFL call up from North.

I know it is North who is barely above WAFL standard but it doesn't say much about WAFL ruckmen when Teakle is a standout.
.

 

[SteeleSaints]

To even consider Boyd is comical IMO...Not one other club has gone within a bulls raw of Boyd, yet the Saints pony up and fly him over for a medical.

If we recruit Boyd that will be the end of my and my families 27 year membership. Its extreme I know but I am absolutely sick of our club attempting to fill ruckman holes with absolute spuds.

 

[BrutThough]

To even consider Boyd is comical IMO...

If we recruit Boyd that will be the end of my and my families 27 year membership. Its extreme I know but I am absolutely sick of our club attempting to fill ruckman holes with absolute spuds.

What are you expecting as a back-up ruck?

Being a spud is basically a prerequisite for the position. You dont end up as a back up if you are any good at it.

 

[SteeleSaints]

What are you expecting as a back-up ruck?

Being a spud is basically a prerequisite for the position. You dont end up as a back up if you are any good at it.

You answered your own question - our club are happy to have spuds.

Take the time to go and watch one of his games and I'll be happy to discuss following.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Think I’m leaning towards the west Aussie.
Is there a third choice?

 

[BrutThough]

You answered your own question - our club are happy to have spuds.

Take the time to go and watch one of his games and I'll be happy to discuss following.

So you'd prefer no back-up on the list? Marshall or bust?

Im sure that will work out well.

 

[SteeleSaints]

So you'd prefer no back-up on the list? Marshall or bust?

Im sure that will work out well.

He simply has ZERO AFL qualities, he would be a wasted list spot. I would rather ruck Heath and grab a kid (ruck) from the draft. Hopefully we get Blakiston who might not be any better but at least he is athletic and can run. We need a ruckman who can also play forward to compliment
Marshall.

Constantly grabbing spuds as list fillers acheives nothing. What did having Campbell on the list acheive apart from having an AFL dud as a back up, 4 years later and we are still in the same position.

Again go and watch his games!

 

[BrutThough]

He simply has ZERO AFL qualities, he would be a wasted list spot. I would rather ruck Heath and grab a kid (ruck) from the draft. Hopefully we get Blakiston who might not be any better but at least he is athletic and can run. We need a ruckman who can also play forward to compliment
Marshall.

Constantly grabbing spuds as list fillers acheives nothing, what did having Campbell on the list acheive apart from having an AFL dud as a back up, 4 years later and we are still in the same position.

Again go and watch his games!

We don't need our back-up to do anything to compliment Marshall. The ideal situation is someone who can play at Sandy and never see an AFL field.

Campbell achieved piece of mind that if something happened to Marshall, someone with a man's body could step in and ruck at a moments notice. Thats all. There is no need to have higher aspirations than that of someone who is a back-up to one of the best in the comp.

I dont need to watch a SANFL game to know he's not very good. That facts hes ruck in the SANFL already tells me that. But not very good is what the standard a back-up ruck that can be acquired at this time of year is. We need to be realistic here.

 

[Armoooo]

He simply has ZERO AFL qualities, he would be a wasted list spot. I would rather ruck Heath and grab a kid (ruck) from the draft. Hopefully we get Blakiston who might not be any better but at least he is athletic and can run. We need a ruckman who can also play forward to compliment
Marshall.

Constantly grabbing spuds as list fillers acheives nothing. What did having Campbell on the list acheive apart from having an AFL dud as a back up, 4 years later and we are still in the same position.

Again go and watch his games!

I saw you post that you'd just watched a half of one of his games.

Did you go back and watch the other 20?

If not, you're coming across as really irrational to burn a membership over recruiting a player you haven't watched a whole game of.

 

[SteeleSaints]

We don't need our back-up to do anything to compliment Marshall. The ideal situation is someone who can play at Sandy and never see an AFL field.

Campbell achieved piece of mind that if something happened to Marshall, someone with a man's body could step in and ruck at a moments notice. Thats all. There is no need to have higher aspirations than that of someone who is a back-up to one of the best in the comp.

I dont need to watch a SANFL game to know he's not very good. That facts hes ruck in the SANFL already tells me that. But not very good is what the standard a back-up ruck that can be acquired at this time of year is. We need to be realistic here.

Have you watched his games yet?

Here is another write up by a SANFL watcher, make of what you will.

"His strength is his body giving him the ability to push and shove in the ruck contest (giving away frees) then continue as a very effective bullocking clearance player (so much like Marshall except without the football skills of Marshall including, by his own admission not being quick so needing the ball to come to him). Plays exclusively in the ruck for this reason - so not an option forward (see later). And he does not jump - it is all push and shove where 198cm will find him out at AFL level (noting his weight and bulk which is his asset in the SANFL)

In terms of SANFL domination, much the same as Hayes except Hayes was able to be deployed other than as a ruckman which was his strength at SANFL level (so playing forward where he was of limited ability to adequate at AFL level)

The question is, why an option to Draft at his age (as with Hayes) so previously was seen to have deficiencies at AFL level

What he did do was limit a young ruckman with potential to the Seconds (because he rucked the entire game hence “refer later” earlier) exclusively that young ruckman moving to North Adelaide - and a better option as an AFL prospect because tall and mobile (and competitive hence leaving Norwood because he was consigned to the Seconds)

Look at the competition around the AFL and you will see where the problem is - noting the honest (and taller) Campbell could not impact at AFL level

I note also that Heath has been promoted from the Rookie List (and hopefully they continue to work on his mobility noting he was impeded by Campbell as Boyd impeded at Norwood)

My opinion anyway - too short, too slow and deficient in the skills that identify an AFL ready ruckman, which he should be at his age

But very effective at SANFL level (and particularly on the smaller Norwood Oval and other smaller suburban grounds - and in the wet)".

 

[SteeleSaints]

The other point is - De Koning was back up to Pittonet, Cameron back up to Grundy, Marshall back up to Ryder. Being a back up doesnt mean they shouldn't never play AFL or become much better players. Draft a ruckman with potential and bite the bullet next year!

 

[SteeleSaints]

I saw you post that you'd just watched a half of one of his games.

Did you go back and watch the other 20?

If not, you're coming across as really irrational to burn a membership over recruiting a player you haven't watched a whole game of.

Yep and I bet you have watched zeros minutes of his games, you don't need an entire season to see that the guy is an absolute spud.

 

[Michael Goodinski]

He simply has ZERO AFL qualities, he would be a wasted list spot. I would rather ruck Heath and grab a kid (ruck) from the draft. Hopefully we get Blakiston who might not be any better but at least he is athletic and can run. We need a ruckman who can also play forward to compliment
Marshall.

Constantly grabbing spuds as list fillers acheives nothing. What did having Campbell on the list acheive apart from having an AFL dud as a back up, 4 years later and we are still in the same position.

Again go and watch his games!

I'd prefer Heath or Keeler to either of the spuds mentioned. Why not give these lads their chance after years of development?

Necessity being the mother of invention would see these two show if they're up to it. Added to this, Marshall has proved very durable over his career and has shown he can carry and play through injury.

Let's not grab another Hunter or McKernan type. On the list for one year and it's goodbye. A wasted list spot and a year in which we could've started developing another promising young ruckman.

Get the best young ruckman available to us with a late pick, or rookie one who may have missed out in the past couple of years. No more WAFL nor SANFL spuds!

 

[sammm]

Think I’m leaning towards the west Aussie.
Is there a third choice?

Besides, the players that have been delisted, I hadn't heard of any. (but that doesn't mean much)

 

[Nomis2933]

To even consider Boyd is comical IMO...Not one other club has gone within a bulls raw of Boyd, yet the Saints pony up and fly him over for a medical.

If we recruit Boyd that will be the end of my and my families 27 year membership. Its extreme I know but I am absolutely sick of our club attempting to fill ruckman holes with absolute spuds.

Just when I thought I had blocked all the overactors here, they keep coming up whack-a-mole style.

 

[snails13]

He simply has ZERO AFL qualities, he would be a wasted list spot. I would rather ruck Heath and grab a kid (ruck) from the draft. Hopefully we get Blakiston who might not be any better but at least he is athletic and can run. We need a ruckman who can also play forward to compliment
Marshall.

Constantly grabbing spuds as list fillers acheives nothing. What did having Campbell on the list acheive apart from having an AFL dud as a back up, 4 years later and we are still in the same position.

Again go and watch his games!

Yep let's take Dodson with Pick 7

 

[Diehard Saint]

You answered your own question - our club are happy to have spuds.

Take the time to go and watch one of his games and I'll be happy to discuss following.

So what ruckman are you going to get who is prepared to play second fiddle to Roma and spend most of the time in vfl?

Did you see how well it worked at the Dees with Gawn and Grundy?

 

[Mr Platinum]

To even consider Boyd is comical IMO...Not one other club has gone within a bulls raw of Boyd, yet the Saints pony up and fly him over for a medical.

If we recruit Boyd that will be the end of my and my families 27 year membership. It’s extreme I know but I am absolutely sick of our club attempting to fill ruckman holes with absolute spuds.

It was nice knowing you, he’s signed, sealed and delivered.

 

[SteeleSaints]

So what ruckman are you going to get who is prepared to play second fiddle to Roma and spend most of the time in vfl?

Did you see how well it worked at the Dees with Gawn and Grundy?

Why does another ruckman have to be 2nd fiddle? Did you ever consider the club may want to play two ruckman and have Marshall play predominantly forward?

Thats exactly why they targetted Soldo, WHY cant we attempt to find another ruckman who can play that same role.

King plays better when he has Marshall alongside and Marshall's forward game has improved over the years.

Marshall is great around the ground but we all know as far as tap rucking is concerned he is very limited.

Recruiting Boyd is completely giving up that option, as he cant play any where other than ruck. It's evident in the SANFL, he only ever is rotated off the bench never any where else.

 

[Remboy]

Billy Longer

Billy Longer

Age

31

Ht

202cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.3

2star

K

2.7

1star

HB

5.6

4star

CL

2.2

4star

HO

29.1

5star

No current season stats available

D

7.4

2star

K

4.2

2star

HB

3.2

3star

CL

1.6

4star

HO

22.6

5star

not an option?

 

[Michael Goodinski]

To even consider Boyd is comical IMO...Not one other club has gone within a bulls raw of Boyd, yet the Saints pony up and fly him over for a medical.

If we recruit Boyd that will be the end of my and my families 27 year membership. Its extreme I know but I am absolutely sick of our club attempting to fill ruckman holes with absolute spuds.

I've been told by a friend in SA that he is less than athletic and may struggle with the faster pace of the AFL. He added that Boyd was carrying a bit of excess baggage.

We already have a connection to the Norf premiership of 1975 through Darcy Wilson being Mick Nolan's nephew. Could Boyd be the new, "Galloping Gasometer?"

It's a very strong pass from me and my croweater mate, who has seen a bit of him live. Prefer others.

 

[tenderwarrior]

Why don't you just let Heath play the main ruck role and Keeler play the KPF/2nd ruck role at VFL level to get their development up and give them a chance to be ready for an AFL call up if needed? I thought both have shown good signs at times. I think having Campbell playing VFL has stunted Heath's development somewhat - time to let the kid play the main role at Sandi!