Player Watch #32 Samson Ryan

[Mr Unbelievable]

If those umps now come out and say they couldn't hear Samson's nomination, then they cannot ever pay a 50 metre penalty when a player claims he didn't hear "stand!".

But we all know there'll be no talk about it.

 

[McTiger]

Hopefully he can still turn things around and develop as a good ruckman/forward. Maybe some positivity towards him would help.

 

[Spluff]

I actually didn't think he was too bad. He faded a bit late but it was one of his better performances, particularly with very little backup coming off 4 weeks off with an injury.

 

[Wooden Robot]

Huge black mark on whoever gave him a 3 year deal last year.

Only a deal Jacinta Allan could negotiate.

 

[Miller1971]

hope he doesn't have a bigfooty account

 

[Tiger_4_Life]

Hopefully he can still turn things around and develop as a good ruckman/forward. Maybe some positivity towards him would help.

There's just no obvious effort or footy smarts though, hard to be positive now

 

[GhostofJimJess]

I actually didn't think he was too bad. He faded a bit late but it was one of his better performances, particularly with very little backup coming off 4 weeks off with an injury.

Yeah, same. I thought he competed well in the ruck contests, at least breaking even in most, and winning quite a few to advantage.

Ryan's greatest deficit at present is his seeming inability to take contested marks around the ground, which is a major role description of ruck/tall forwards. Until he starts clunking them, he's going to draw criticism, which will then lead his critics to project that onto his ruck contest work too, often unfairly.

The really easy route here - which many seem to have taken - is to just say he's shit, and a write-off. It's just another form of emotional insurance taken out by those unwilling to analyse Ryan's and the club's situation with regard to Nank backup. Nothing to gain from it, as it just allows them to bank all of their "I told you so's", whilst also allowing them to still enjoy his output down the track if he actually progresses.

Self belief is the ingredient Samson needs more than any other. That will only come with perseverance and a decent sprinkling of good fortune. He's obviously doing the work behind the scenes around the club, otherwise our coaches wouldn't rate him at all.

 

[Vassp]

Yeah, same. I thought he competed well in the ruck contests, at least breaking even in most, and winning quite a few to advantage.

Ryan's greatest deficit at present is his seeming inability to take contested marks around the ground, which is a major role description of ruck/tall forwards. Until he starts clunking them, he's going to draw criticism, which will then lead his critics to project that onto his ruck contest work too, often unfairly.

The really easy route here - which many seem to have taken - is to just say he's shit, and a write-off. It's just another form of emotional insurance taken out by those unwilling to analyse Ryan's and the club's situation with regard to Nank backup. Nothing to gain from it, as it just allows them to bank all of their "I told you so's", whilst also allowing them to still enjoy his output down the track if he actually progresses.

Self belief is the ingredient Samson needs more than any other. That will only come with perseverance and a decent sprinkling of good fortune. He's obviously doing the work behind the scenes around the club, otherwise our coaches wouldn't rate him at all.

That's a pretty good and fair write up, there are a few very troubling signs though.......If your 6 foot 7 and can't take a mark, there is something seriously wrong. if you have no confidence, why play AFL? it's just a waste of spots and resources. Better to be playing in the VFL and be happy. Our coaches see something I don't see. Our coaches don't always get it right.

 

[RJK Tiger]

He & Kosi's contracts are clear misses. To think Kosi has another 1, & Ryan another 2 years on their contracts is bloody hard to stomach. Why they did that, then drafted 3 tall's is a bit bizarre. The club has clearly seen something in Ryan, but ****ed if i know what it is.

I think the club might just have to eat the contrats tbh - I would think the club would want to add another minimum of 6 new kids & only Prestia likely to retire & Colina seems an obvious cut. After that if contracts were not an issue, Kosi & Ryan would be the first names i'd cut. I can see Short being traded as well, especially with Banks finding form. At 30 im not sure if a mid-2nd rounder might be all we can hope to get back. With such a young raw, & tall, list - the ability to cut is hard as nearly all of them are worthy of more time. Both Ryan & Kosi have enough years in the bank to make a call on by now, surely.

 

[Drunken Wookie]

whens the last time we delisted anyone really? been extending everyone while the retirements took care of list numbers. are we scared to actually cut players?

 

[Cdog71]

He got a few hitouts but like others have said he needs to take a few marks if he’s going to make it.
We’re playing Simms as a second ruck on the ground and he’s a more natural fwd if they play Ryan resting fwd it’d be a negative return he can only play as the main Ruck.
He’s low capital and it allows Simms to come on gradually. The more games in the firsts the more he’ll help the VFL Mids.
I haven’t got big expectations, he’s a good fit at the moment to get us through the next couple of seasons.

 

[crackertiger]

I thought he was much better then previous games. A pass. Still needs size.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

whens the last time we delisted anyone really? been extending everyone while the retirements took care of list numbers. are we scared to actually cut players?

We wished Cumberland all the best for the future last year.

 

[Drunken Wookie]

We wished Cumberland all the best for the future last year.

noah basically cut himself. resist urge to make joke. im proud of you. oh i typed that out loud.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

noah basically cut himself. resist urge to make joke. im proud of you. oh i typed that out loud.

We thanked him for his service as well. And acknowledged his popularity in the group.

So it was a proper delisting DW.

 

[Cactus_]

Only a deal Jacinta Allan could negotiate.

Cheap shot

 

[Forensi Tiger]

I thought after our first two top ten picks we next have a 4th rounder (high 50s) so without creative trading to get more picks we might only take 3 new players or have I missed something?

 

[_RT_]

Comes in off a 4 week injury layoff, playing against a campaigner who has played at the level for 2/3 of Samsons entire life and posters are upset that he wasn't able to put in a performance that would have him in discussion for the GOAT ruck. I know we joke about needing a run of games to find out about players, but lets have a look at a few players who once they did get that consistent game time started to show that they belong. Hugo Dow Banks Trezise Mansell Miller & Smith are all players that have been written off at times but have started to show that they can play at the level.

The last time Samson got a genuine extended run at the level was back in 2023 where he played 14 games for the season which included a run of 13 in a row, since then it's often been a case of 2-3 weeks in, then out then back in for 2-3 weeks then back out. Bloody hard for a player you're wanting to become a potential number 1 ruck to find consistency at the level when that is happening. So for mine I'd be happy for us to play him the next couple of weeks even if it meant leaving Nankervis out until the bye and allowing him to well and truly get over the knee issue and give Samson the responsibility to shoulder the load as our first ruck and see if he can start to show what the club believes he can become.

At least then we can make a fully informed decision on his future heading into 2026

 

[sante]

It’s like some expected a Gawn like performance

 

[Dragonss]

Nobody expects him to have a Gawn performance. The issue is that he's a massive sook when things don't go his way. So many times when he gives away a free he has a massive whinge and jogs back with his head down. He had 1 tackle for the entire game. He had 5 pressure acts for the entire game. Nank ates those stats for breakfast.

He's Tarzan that plays like Jane.

 

[Erakor]

I want him to be good, but he isn’t.

Is a good tap ruckman, but can’t do much else really.

No idea why he can’t just launch at every aerial contest.

 

[Coach_Required]

Comes in off a 4 week injury layoff, playing against a campaigner who has played at the level for 2/3 of Samsons entire life and posters are upset that he wasn't able to put in a performance that would have him in discussion for the GOAT ruck. I know we joke about needing a run of games to find out about players, but lets have a look at a few players who once they did get that consistent game time started to show that they belong. Hugo Dow Banks Trezise Mansell Miller & Smith are all players that have been written off at times but have started to show that they can play at the level.

The last time Samson got a genuine extended run at the level was back in 2023 where he played 14 games for the season which included a run of 13 in a row, since then it's often been a case of 2-3 weeks in, then out then back in for 2-3 weeks then back out. Bloody hard for a player you're wanting to become a potential number 1 ruck to find consistency at the level when that is happening. So for mine I'd be happy for us to play him the next couple of weeks even if it meant leaving Nankervis out until the bye and allowing him to well and truly get over the knee issue and give Samson the responsibility to shoulder the load as our first ruck and see if he can start to show what the club believes he can become.

At least then we can make a fully informed decision on his future heading into 2026

Not a Ryan fan as in all that time he has been with us he still gets pushed around so easily, however you are correct. We dont give our next lot of players a decent run at it and we definitely don't play them in the positions we drafted them when they do get a shot in the seniors.

Club has this insane idea that these players need to be protected when playing seniors. I get it maybe for the first time to get a feel of the game but not 2 or 3 seasons on.

Club lets our second 22 players down a lot, just back them in FFS.

 

[Wooden Robot]

Comes in off a 4 week injury layoff, playing against a campaigner who has played at the level for 2/3 of Samsons entire life and posters are upset that he wasn't able to put in a performance that would have him in discussion for the GOAT ruck. I know we joke about needing a run of games to find out about players, but lets have a look at a few players who once they did get that consistent game time started to show that they belong. Hugo Dow Banks Trezise Mansell Miller & Smith are all players that have been written off at times but have started to show that they can play at the level.

The last time Samson got a genuine extended run at the level was back in 2023 where he played 14 games for the season which included a run of 13 in a row, since then it's often been a case of 2-3 weeks in, then out then back in for 2-3 weeks then back out. Bloody hard for a player you're wanting to become a potential number 1 ruck to find consistency at the level when that is happening. So for mine I'd be happy for us to play him the next couple of weeks even if it meant leaving Nankervis out until the bye and allowing him to well and truly get over the knee issue and give Samson the responsibility to shoulder the load as our first ruck and see if he can start to show what the club believes he can become.

At least then we can make a fully informed decision on his future heading into 2026

Can grant you the coming off a four week layoff bit, but Goldy.
Amazing how the narrative changes. Consensus on this board during the week was he was finished two years ago, should be retired and was only playing due to a spate of injuries.
He might be in the discussion as the GOAT, but that was five or six years ago. He's not in the top 18 these days.
Yet we're now talking him up as the Goldy of old.
Samson - who is a rising 25-year-old - was unsighted in the second half and plain ordinary in the first.
We talk about development. Every week for the next two years will be a wasted opportunity to find and develop our next ruckman as the stock are bare. But we'll be donating to the Ryan benevolent fund until the end of 2027.
Horrible contract work.

 

[SleepingGiant]

All you campaigners thinking he is going to make it. Giant lumbering sook.

 

[_RT_]

Can grant you the coming off a four week layoff bit, but Goldy.
Amazing how the narrative changes. Consensus on this board during the week was he was finished two years ago, should be retired and was only playing due to a spate of injuries.
He might be in the discussion as the GOAT, but that was five or six years ago. He's not in the top 18 these days.
Yet we're now talking him up as the Goldy of old.
Samson - who is a rising 25-year-old - was unsighted in the second half and plain ordinary in the first.
We talk about development. Every week for the next two years will be a wasted opportunity to find and develop our next ruckman as the stock are bare. But we'll be donating to the Ryan benevolent fund until the end of 2027.
Horrible contract work.

I'm not talking about Goldy as the player he was at North, but with near on 2 decades of experience he certainly would know how to work over an inexperienced players like Ryan who was coming in with no game time to build from. Will Samson make it, who knows and we won't know unless we put him in position to either sink or swim at the highest level, just like we've done with a number of others who had been widely written of by many posters. That is what this year is all about, not necessarily getting the 4 points.