Player Watch #17: James Stewart - Groin injury, not running yet. couple of weeks once he starts running - 23/4

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TheGreatBarryB

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Towards the end. When McKernan was in there we sucked; when Stewart was in there they still won the clearances but not nearly as convincingly.
They're both crap ruckmen. Height alone does not make a ruckman. If TBC is fit he'll be the second ruck. Like I said before, Stewart is nothing more than a back up forward. Still hope as a forward I guess based solely on that three goal Giants performance at Etihad last season.
 

eth-dog

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They're both crap ruckmen. Height alone does not make a ruckman. If TBC is fit he'll be the second ruck. Like I said before, Stewart is nothing more than a back up forward. Still hope as a forward I guess based solely on that three goal Giants performance at Etihad last season.
Look, he's no world beater but he was better than Smack and if he can get himself to a competent back up stage (say, Rhys Stanley level) it'll be fine
 

blitzer

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Reckon Stewart will be more useful than many people are suggesting. Keep in mind in the real thing he will be getting the opposition's third best key defender and they will also be looking to zone off and help defend Joe and Hooker.

His work as a ruck doesn't concern me too much as long as he doesn't give away as many free kicks as Smack. I mean as long as we are pairing them with Leuenberger or Bellchambers then they only need to play ruck 10-20% of the game anyway and mostly only against other KP's/backup rucks.
 

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Starting to get a bit worried Hooker wont be ready for Rd1 or will be very underdone. Stewart whether ready or not is going to play a critical role in the opening rds. At least he looked alot better against GCS in JLT2. Hopefully gets into form against Cats in JLT3.
 

BrunoV

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I would not be saying this if he was not 198cm and capable of playing 20% of game time on-ball but I think he probably has to play the next five games as the forward combination settles.

He's a developing tall (at least that's how Dodoro described him) who has played in two different forward set-ups so far. He's shown some signs of the hard working lead-up forward that he could be. While some of his ground level defence has been really good I'd certainly like his hands to improve.

In making the argument I'd say that he basically has the same output as at least one, and possibly two, of the small forwards who are getting less than 10 possessions, kicking a goal and laying a couple of tackles. Hopefully what we see in JLT 3 is Hooker, Daniher and a freed up Stewart to play higher up the ground.

I don't think we need more than a goal a game, 10 to 15 possessions mainly as a lead up half forward and 20% of game time in the ruck for Stewart to be an important part of the side. While he's hardly setting the world on fire he's not actually that far away from what we need.
 
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eDPS

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I would not be saying this if he was not 198cm and capable of playing 20% of game time on-ball but I think he probably has to play the next five games as the forward combination settles.

He's a developing tall (at least that's how Dodoro described him) who has played in two different forward set-ups so far. He's shown some signs of the hard working lead-up forward that he could be. While some of his ground level defence has been really good I'd certainly like his hands to improve.

In making the argument I'd say that he basically has the same output as at least 1, and possibly two, of the small forwards who are getting less than 10 possessions, kicking a goal and laying a couple of tackles. Hopefully what we see in JLT 3 is Hooker, Daniher and a freed up Stewart to play higher up the ground.

I don't think we need more than a goal a game, 10 to 15 possessions mainly as a lead up half forward and 20% of game time in the ruck for Stewart to be an important part of the side. While he's hardly setting the world on fire he's not actually that far away from what we need.
I've also seen many times he has worried defenders in one on one contests often winning a free kick. If Daniher and Hooker want to roam higher up the ground and take away the quality defenders I'd be happy with Stewart one out in the square against a 3rd strong defender, I'd back him in against those types
 

BrunoV

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I've also seen many times he has worried defenders in one on one contests often winning a free kick. If Daniher and Hooker want to roam higher up the ground and take away the quality defenders I'd be happy with Stewart one out in the square against a 3rd strong defender, I'd back him in against those types

He can certainly draw a free kick.
 
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Yeah what do you expect, we traded two first round picks and Heppell for this bloke?

At least that's what I assume we've done, based on reactions in this thread.
Do you mean because many people think he's immediately best-22 (doesn't have to prove himself in the VFL first)?
 

BrunoV

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Do you mean because many people think he's immediately best-22 (doesn't have to prove himself in the VFL first)?

I'm not sure that Stewart has to "prove himself" in the VFL.

Like a lot of tall guys he gets a look at a spot in the side because he is needed to play a role.

I would also draw attention to the reality that his numbers are the equal of two of two of the small forwards in the games played to date which reflects what is generally going to happen in matches because Fantasia aside the smalls really only feed on the scraps of the other forwards. It's much more important to give the last permanent forward spot to the guy that do the relief rucking.
 
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JLT3 match (assuming not cut from the final squad) is going to be a really good look at Stewart as Daniher will play a full match and the midfield (minus Myers) is at full strength.
 

citizen-erased

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JLT3 match (assuming not cut from the final squad) is going to be a really good look at Stewart as Daniher will play a full match and the midfield (minus Myers) is at full strength.
Given Geelong are running out with 3 rucks, i'd like to see us heavily rotate Berger, Stewart and McKernan through the ruck and forward line.
 
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Given Geelong are running out with 3 rucks, i'd like to see us heavily rotate Berger, Stewart and McKernan through the ruck and forward line.
Rather see him play the whole game as a forward as that is what he needs to be assessed on to make into the best 22.
As a ruck that just makes a contest we know hes at least at McKernan level.
 

Red Black and Blue

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People calling for his head.

Yep. We are Big Footy!
Calling for his head is a bit of hyperbole, these are trial teams. He has some way to go like Dodoro said when we recruited him and some think he still needs to work on his craft at VFL level before he'll offer more than others.
 
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