Traded Ben McEvoy

[Ducky Tie]

#5 Ben McEvoy-2012 Player Review
Ben McEvoy continued his role as St Kilda's clear #1 ruck in 2012. A lot of responsibility was again set to fall on McEvoy with the lack of back up for him.

Once the season had commenced, McEvoy spent more time up forward than in the previous year due to the emergence of Rhys Stanley. It was a role that suited McEvoy well on paper because of his strong contested marking ability. His tap work in the ruck improved on previous years but still left a lot to be desired in that aspect off his game. It certainly wasn't smooth sailing for McEvoy in the first five rounds, he battled for consistency in all of his game.

In the lead up to a big game against Hawthorn, McEvoy suffered a knee injury which put him on the sidelines for six weeks. McEvoy's importance to the team was shown in this period with Stanley, Jason Blake and Justin Koschitzke all forced to take up the load.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...das-forward-line/story-fnca0u4y-1226348186784

Once back from injury, McEvoy enjoyed a more successful and consistent time. He continued to improve his tap work (slowly) whilst his work around the grounds remained at a high level and became reliable every week.

2013 promises to be an interesting one for Ben McEvoy. Finding a way for him and new recruit Tom Hickey to work together successfully will be a challenge for Scott Watters and his team but if they can make it work, St Kilda will undoubtedly have one of the strongest ruck combinations in the league.

2012 stats:
Games:16
Kicks: 5.9*
Handballs: 6.3*
Disposals: 12.2*
Marks: 5.3*
Goals: 7
Behinds: 0
Tackles: 3.8*
Hit outs: 25.3*

* = average

 

[Michael Scarn]

He didn't lay a single tackle all year?

 

[Ducky Tie]

He didn't lay a single tackle all year?

Edited now. Cheers.

 

[aussierulesrules]

http://www.sen.com.au/display-article/McEvoy-No-interchange-cap/55678

Drafted with pick 9 in 2007, McEvoy admits he is still learning the art of rucking, and has spent more time this preseason, than any other, devoted to improving his ruck work.
“I’ve certainly, this preseason, done the most specific ruck work that I’ve done to date.”
“I’ve still got a way to go, there are guys in the competition that I still look up to an awful lot,” McEvoy said.
However, he believes that he has been around long enough to be expected to produce consistently.
“Once you’ve been in the system this long, there’s the expectation now that I’ve had long enough to learn the craft and it’s a matter of competing on a weekly basis with those top class guys.
McEvoy is excited about the challenges that this season will produce, believing the Saints may surprise some pundits.
“A lot of people probably tip us to not even make the 8, I feel like we get a free swing at it.
“We’ve had a great preseason, we’ve got a lot of people on the track, we think we’ve got really healthy list, and some of our kids have been absolutely fantastic.,” McEvoy said.
A new rule change for 2013 sees umpires throwing the ball up around the ground at stoppages -- with bounces only to start play each quarter and after goals -- with players having been made aware that the new strategy will be two to three seconds quicker.
McEvoy said the Saints have been preparing for less time at stoppages.
“The ball is going to be going up a lot quicker. The idea is to keep the game moving a lot more, the less time you have at stoppages the less time you have to get set up, the more chance is the ball is going to come out.
“Prepared to be less organised, because you just don’t have the time to get set up,” McEvoy said.

 

[aussierulesrules]

''It's been fantastic to have someone else out on the track and being able to play with him and against him.

Hopefully we can both play in the same team, but if the game doesn't go that way that means there's competition for the spot, which is healthy. Either way it's a positive.

''I'm not worried about someone coming in to take my spot. I'll earn it and get it or else someone else better has taken it. It's a matter where the best player plays. Hopefully we can work together because he's a great athlete. But it's not like I've been looking over my shoulder. I've embraced it.''

It's ironic that just as McEvoy has got some decent support after manfully carrying the rucking duties for the past two seasons, he feels fitter, fresher and stronger than ever.

'I'm certainly in the best shape I've been. Hopefully that holds me in good stead for the coming season,'' he said.

http://m.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/mcevoy-up-for-new-challenge-20130302-2fd8d.html

 

[Squizz]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...nt-on-two-fronts/story-fni5f9q3-1226660717551

Ben McEvoy hardly had the best preparation leading into an exam for his business degree early last Monday.

As he sat down for the early-morning test at Caulfield racecourse, he had football more than finance on his mind.

Still, he is confident he did more than enough to pass.

But McEvoy is more certain of the results of the examination he and the Saints underwent 14 hours earlier against North Melbourne.

"It's been tough because this is the first time that the club has been in this position since I have been here."

"I have full faith in those young guys coming through. We all have. It's been great getting some experience into some of those guys - Jack Newnes, Seb Ross, Jimmy Webster has started at half-back and on the wing, Brodie Murdoch, Josh Saunders. I rate those guys very highly. The onus is on the senior guys to lead and to drag those guys along as much as we can."

Despite a solid start to the season, he remains frustrated by recent performances "The bottom line is I am not happy with the way I've been playing."

McEvoy is one of the AFL's big speed-humps, playing an old-style ruck game, as a kick-behind the ball player. He is the only non-defender in the top 30 in the AFL for intercept marks, with 20 this year. "That's how I've played since I was 13. It's how I got drafted."

McEvoy knows he has the capacity to be more influential in games, but he is getting impatient. "I'm not sure why it is taking so long. I've just got to make it happen now."