Player Watch #32 Samson Ryan

[Ancient Tiger]

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 don't think he is on big money and so the benevolent fund is tiny and thus irrelevant. It was not surprising he faded as he came into the team with no match practice for a month. I am no fan of his but some of the criticism is unjust.

 

[Cdog71]

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

He is contracted till the end of 2027 season and I think that’s the point WR was making. We may have missed out on a young hungry Ruck to develop.

It wasn’t just the hitouts last game.
I think Goldy would’ve noticed Nank was listed as “rested” rather than injured and he probably had an edge on him for the game…but
8 clearances and 9 score involvements from 11 possesions for Goldstein.
He averages 3 and 4 over his career.
Pretty good arguement that’s the difference in the game right there.


Like I said, I can see that he’s there and locked away so we don’t have to look for another Ruck who can play all game for the next season or so.
I know the Ruck has changed but if I imagine a scenario of all the current Rucks lining up against Monkhurst before they changed how far they could run in from at a centre bounce…
Ryan is one of the few that you probably wouldn’t let go out there.
Not just experience,it’s because he doesn’t seem a combative person.

 

[Charlie Pannam]

He is contracted till the end of 2027 season and I think that’s the point WR was making. We may have missed out on a young hungry Ruck to develop.

It wasn’t just the hitouts last game.
I think Goldy would’ve noticed Nank was listed as “rested” rather than injured and he probably had an edge on him for the game…but
8 clearances and 9 score involvements from 11 possesions for Goldstein.
He averages 3 and 4 over his career.
Pretty good arguement that’s the difference in the game right there.


Like I said, I can see that he’s there and locked away so we don’t have to look for another Ruck who can play all game for the next season or so.
I know the Ruck has changed but if I imagine a scenario of all the current Rucks lining up against Monkhurst before they changed how far they could run in from at a centre bounce…
Ryan is one of the few that you probably wouldn’t let go out there.
Not just experience,it’s because he doesn’t seem a combative person.

I think we should try and trade Ryan, but I’m guessing there won’t be any suitors.
Nank was rested due to knee soreness, he needs to be managed. But it’s frustrating that we don’t have a backup ruckman that’s at least competitive.
I’ve seen enough of Ryan and lack of development over 4 years to think why continue gifting games to a player that’s little chance of ever getting to AFL level.
I think he tries, although it doesn’t always look that way, but he doesn’t have the tank/strength/ athleticism to be an AFL ruckman. And you’d have to be an extreme optimist to think he can ever get to that level.

 

[beema limapep]

Never again.

 

[Cdog71]

I think we should try and trade Ryan, but I’m guessing there won’t be any suitors.
Nank was rested due to knee soreness, he needs to be managed. But it’s frustrating that we don’t have a backup ruckman that’s at least competitive.
I’ve seen enough of Ryan and lack of development over 4 years to think why continue gifting games to a player that’s little chance of ever getting to AFL level.
I think he tries, although it doesn’t always look that way, but he doesn’t have the tank/strength/ athleticism to be an AFL ruckman. And you’d have to be an extreme optimist to think he can ever get to that level.

On one hand it’s a great achievement to make it to a club as a Ruck, there’s probably less than 50 outve about 800 spots as a player on a senior list.
And it’s unusual they could make it in another position, maybe the Geelong De-Koning
Clubs might have two realistic options, sometimes less behind the chosen #1.
I know we’ve got a couple but really they look a long way off it and it’s tricky too, Nank came to us because he wanted more opportunities.
If we had a real talent in the wings and Nank stays healthy, that kid will be waiting along time for his shot.
Obviously the club thinks he ticks enough boxes for a three year deal (I hope it’s not like Ben Lennon and his manager bent the club over a barrel)
But for mine and I know the game has changed, he looks to me like someone who could get hurt coming up against a big pissed off Ruckman.

 

[Charlie Pannam]

On one hand it’s a great achievement to make it to a club as a Ruck, there’s probably less than 50 outve about 800 spots as a player on a senior list.
And it’s unusual they could make it in another position, maybe the Geelong De-Koning
Clubs might have two realistic options, sometimes less behind the chosen #1.
I know we’ve got a couple but really they look a long way off it and it’s tricky too, Nank came to us because he wanted more opportunities.
If we had a real talent in the wings and Nank stays healthy, that kid will be waiting along time for his shot.
Obviously the club thinks he ticks enough boxes for a three year deal (I hope it’s not like Ben Lennon and his manager bent the club over a barrel)
But for mine and I know the game has changed, he looks to me like someone who could get hurt coming up against a big pissed off Ruckman.

I think you nailed it when you said the game has changed. For example ruckman can no longer run and jump into opponents at centre bounces.
Ruck work is pretty much a wrestling match now. The good ruckman are endurance beasts, that can compete in the air and at ground level and do it from contest to contest.
Ryan just doesn’t have the athletic profile or skill set to do any of that.
I just don’t see any sense in persevering with him, apart from the obvious ( he’s contracted).

 

[Cdog71]

I think you nailed it when you said the game has changed. For example ruckman can no longer run and jump into opponents at centre bounces.
Ruck work is pretty much a wrestling match now. The good ruckman are endurance beasts, that can compete in the air and at ground level and do it from contest to contest.
Ryan just doesn’t have the athletic profile or skill set to do any of that.
I just don’t see any sense in persevering with him, apart from the obvious ( he’s contracted).

Yep it has.
I think it’s still a main role in the team and the way the team plays.
Whether they use them to stop scoring, like Gawn or Nank to get back for marks and launch or like De-Koning from Carlton to win it and get it forward even Grundy getting involved in fwd transition and scoring
Or Goldstein against us. That was his 5th game for the year off bugger all preparation but his 11 possesions (2 kicks) led to 9 scores.
He knew how we were set up and where his team mates would be and got it to them.
100% DE in that game but the last one named in their bests.
I think he was the difference.

And the second Ruck these days they attend on ave 1 centre bounce per quarter and about 15 stoppages for the game not many clubs play two good rucks these days, Grundy would know all about that but you absolutely need to have a main Ruck that’s very good at something otherwise its a negative return on the position.
I haven’t seen what Ryan is very good at yet.
I hope he gets to have some good moments, I dunno if Blair Hartley is involved in contract negotiations but I 100% think he has an idea how the game is going to be played or trends coming…the club giving him the three years they must’ve thought it was worth doing I spose.

 

[THE THIN MAN]

Delilah is missing his true calling as a human statue

 

[THE THIN MAN]

 

[Rocco sifreddi]

It’s like some expected a Gawn like performance

he had 11 disposals gave away 4 frees
He was rubbish

 

[lizard man]

I really hope this guy is having a high fat diet this off season to really bulk up KFC style so he can not get pushed to the side and hold his ground in 2026

 

[The Vaucluse]

I really hope this guy is having a high fat diet this off season to really bulk up KFC style so he can not get pushed to the side and hold his ground in 2026

I’ve seen him in the vfl and he contests and works hard. I’ve seen him play in the AFL and be embarrassed by a bloke who is 37. There’s no more excuses, he’s good enough and needs to start to compete and show he will fight for the sash

 

[Tackle Bag]

Call me crazy but he’s a better centre bounce option than Nank. I’d bet his hit to advantage and the teams clearance figures are better than when Nank is at the bounce (I haven’t seen any figures though). The new rules are only going to make Nanks numbers worse.

Around the ground is another story….
He needs to start clunking some of those chances that he always seems to get his hands to but doesn’t complete.

 

[Tigerbob]

 

[THE THIN MAN]

 

[chriso11]

Should do a reverse Mason Cox

18

Mason Cox

Age

34

Ht

211cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

… pick up basketball while he still has time

 

[wegetpumped]

Should do a reverse Mason Cox… pick up basketball while he still has time

Everyone laughs at Cox, but he did well for pies, and our spud wouldn't even reach the heights of Cox's foot.

 

[tropicaltiger]

will surprise a few next year, pencil sammo and sonz in for R1

 

[Madtiger2006]

is Nank captain next year?
Once Sampson takes that mark he’ll explode and take over

 

[Moppey]

Its not as if we are or have been brimming with ruckmen.
Okay we have him for two more years as unlikely as he looks.
What has stopped us from actually drafting a genuine young 1st ruck to add to the list. Some insurance if you like.

It really should have happened when we traded CC-J at the end of 2021 and definately when we traded Soldo at the end of 2023.

Colina and the other basketballer dont count. Cat b extreme long shots is not the way to actually list manage an area of your list. At the odds of them making it and the cost they are a little experiment and a bonus if in the unlikely event they make it.

Our commitment to this area has been second rate and almost non existent.
Little wonder we never seem to be able to grow our own.

 

[tiger_tough]

If he has another shite year we should just cut our losses and pay him out.

 

[Tiger_4_Life]

will surprise a few this year, pencil sammo and sonz in for R1

Is this based off anything other than pure hope?

 

[chriso11]

Everyone laughs at Cox, but he did well for pies, and our spud wouldn't even reach the heights of Cox's foot.

I don’t laugh at him… actually thought he added a lot to the game. He was exciting to watch too… always half between **** up and doing something exciting. Will be missed

 

[Moppey]

will surprise a few this year, pencil sammo and sonz in for R1

Pretty sure that Sonzie and Dow will be delisted given the state of the list. Definately one but likely both at this point in time.

 

[tropicaltiger]

Is this based off anything other than pure hope?

how about based on another 3 or 4 kilos of muscle and bulk as now men not boys, how about another pre-season under their belt, another year to understand their role in our gameplan and structures....2 or 3 older guys ahead of them in the pecking order now have been retired or moved on, last chance to prove they were drafted as future best 18, NOT depth, so will be given the opportunity to put in or its good bye.