Ruck Rotations - Everitt Superb

[TheHood]

I know the last 2 weeks can be deceptive, but I have been pleased with the way Spida and Jolls have been rotated through the ruck, the forward line and the bench.

I thought it worked a treat in the last 2 weeks (even though they were quiet around the ground against Freo) in particular.

The effort in the West is going to need to be massive but they are going to be vital. 5 goals between them against Carlton, another 5 and Sydney must be in a winning position you would think.

Spida has been an excellent pick-up. How many would have thought Spida would pick up 2 or 3 BOGs in 2007 SO FAR? I would love to see the story of Everitt win a flag in his last or second last season...great romance to that story.

[hammo]

Spida has been an excellent pick-up. How many would have thought Spida would pick up 2 or 3 BOGs in 2007 SO FAR? I would love to see the story of Everitt win a flag in his last or second last season...great romance to that story.

I am happy to say I was a supporter of Spida's recruitment from day 1. A review of the RWO archives could be very embarrassing for some people though.

[barry]

I'd like to see Everitt win back to back flags in his last two seasons.

The value of ruckmen in AFL has never been higher. Now teams need TWO quality ruckmen to have a shot at the flag. This is why St Kilda will never really challenge unless they get Gardiner up and fit, or recruit heavily in the next couple of years.

Roos has had to totally rebuild our ruck division since it was decimated under Eade through trades (which got us Hall so I'm not complaining), and Doyle not coming on as expected.

We should be looking now at developing the Everitt replacement, as we dont want to give away our early picks again for a ruckman.

[originalswan]

I am happy to say I was a supporter of Spida's recruitment from day 1. A review of the RWO archives could be very embarrassing for some people though.

I won't indulge in chest thumping but must say the only disappointing thing about Everitt's form so far has been one or two good games followed by a couple of average performances. He seems to be improving in fitness and form as the year progresses which looks like a very timely turnaround.

It would be fantastic to be able to kick the Hawks out of the finals race with Everitt starring though!

[dendol]

We should be looking now at developing the Everitt replacement, as we dont want to give away our early picks again for a ruckman.

With the success we've had with Ball, Jolly and Everiitt, maybe trading is the only way we can get higher quality big men?

[dimelb]

I was originally sceptical about Spida coming and am very happy to have been wrong. As for what he may pass on to others, what a bonus!

[general mac]

With the success we've had with Ball, Jolly and Everiitt, maybe trading is the only way we can get higher quality big men?

Ever heard of a Recruit ?

Sydney still have a lot of room for improvement in their drafting if you ask me.

[dendol]

Ever heard of a Recruit ?

Sydney still have a lot of room for improvement in their drafting if you ask me.

What is your question supposed to mean? I've been talking about recruiting..

anyhow, my point was that recently we seem to be unable to cultivate quality big men at this club (apart from Goodes, but even then he doesnt play ruck and failed as a key defender). Our backline has been "undersized" for years, and our gun forwards have come from other clubs.

[giant]

After the whole "Spida is a cancer" crap you hear from Hawks supporters it will be a tad embarrassing if they're only a quality ruckman away from winning a flag this year.

[NMWBloods]

That may be all it is!

[TheHood]

After the whole "Spida is a cancer" crap you hear from Hawks supporters it will be a tad embarrassing if they're only a quality ruckman away from winning a flag this year.

It's all it was for us last year. With Jolls failing at the last hurdle (including a very ugly finger dislocation prior to the First Final), a "Spida" ilk partner would have been the difference.

[liz]

After the whole "Spida is a cancer" crap you hear from Hawks supporters it will be a tad embarrassing if they're only a quality ruckman away from winning a flag this year.

Numerous negative comments have been made over the years, firstly by Saints fans and more recently by Hawks fans. Other than vague comments about some raffle at Hawthorn last year, it is unclear exactly why so many people label him negatively. He's had publicised run-ins - like the racial vilification incident and the can-throwing incident at a race track - but he clearly seems to have learned from the first (and is hardly the only person in the world to make racial comments without appreciating the hurt they can cause) and the latter is something that many immature, high-spirited young men will have done. He seems to have grown up. Both can be put down to mistakes learned from, and neither seems to deserve the "cancer" tag.

In Ray McLean's book, he talks quite a lot about his work with St Kilda in the mid/late 90s and specifically singles out Spida as the one younger player who really took to the ideals he was trying to develop. Again, this doesn't sit with the unspecified slurs people throw around.

From what I can see, he seems to have done everything right since he came to the Swans. It is evident that he has won the respect of his Sydney team mates - certainly on field and it appears off-field too. Everything he has said to the media has been spot on, in that bland kind of way we've come to expect. He continually talks about the club respectfully and as if he's been there for years (eg once he talked about how we used to have Plugger and then got Hall - very much using the "we").

Also I find his slot on Fox Sports News every Monday night to be intelligent, insightful and articulate.

It is very hard to reconcile all the negative stuff with what we're seeing right now.