Crows Full back in 2005

[Blue Red and Gold]

I like Rutten and hope he succeeds.

If he is fast over 25 metres (something I didnt realise), a good grab, big and strong couldnt we then consider him for probably the most important possie on the ground -CHF?

Thoughts?

I dont know if he has the engine to play there all day. I could seem him maybe pinch hit up forward of need be but I cant see him holding down CHF I think his agility and athleticism may prevent him from playing CHF.

We have Fergie for that anyway

Its all coming together...slowly!

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

In a straight line he is nippy, agreed. However he isn't as quick when he needs to stop and change direction and I have seen him turn like the 'Queen Mary' on occasions. I am not knocking the bloke, cuz I think he will turn out to be a fantastic player over the next 10 years for us but he obviously still has a few aspects of his game to work on (as would anyone at the young age of 21!).

Cant argue with that

 

[Mad Dog]

In a straight line he is nippy, agreed. However he isn't as quick when he needs to stop and change direction and I have seen him turn like the 'Queen Mary' on occasions. I am not knocking the bloke, cuz I think he will turn out to be a fantastic player over the next 10 years for us but he obviously still has a few aspects of his game to work on (as would anyone at the young age of 21!).

NC had the Truck working with Stephen Schwerdt late in the season on his agility where the 2 are joined by a piece of elastic...and Truck needs to try and stay with SS as he dodges and weaves. The object is to see how long the "chaser" can keep with the "evader" before the elastic breaks.
Hopefully they can continue this drill in the PS - and Ben can continue to improve.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

NC had the Truck working with Stephen Schwerdt late in the season on his agility where the 2 are joined by a piece of elastic...and Truck needs to try and stay with SS as he dodges and weaves. The object is to see how long the "chaser" can keep with the "evader" before the elastic breaks.
Hopefully they can continue this drill in the PS - and Ben can continue to improve.

At least AFC have identified that agility is Ben's main weakness. As has been mentioned, speed isn't a major issue.

 

[No 1 Draft Pick]

I like Rutten and hope he succeeds.

If he is fast over 25 metres (something I didnt realise), a good grab, big and strong couldnt we then consider him for probably the most important possie on the ground -CHF?

Thoughts?

Big Ben steps up
jason phelan
2004 AFC Year Book
12:04:41 PM Thu 9 December, 2004


One of the positives to come out of Adelaide’s disappointing 2004 season was the opportunity given to some of the Crows’ inexperienced younger brigade to show what they were made of.

Ben Rutten grabbed his opportunity with both hands – playing in nine of Adelaide’s last ten games – and was a worthy winner of the Chairman’s Club Award for Emerging Talent.

The 21 year-old was thrust into the demanding full back position and performed admirably against some of the biggest names in AFL football.

After playing in attack during his first two games for Adelaide in 2003, Rutten was recast as a key defender by new coach Neil Craig and the Blackwood High-educated youngster hasn’t looked back.

His new role may have come as a surprise to some but Rutten explains he had spent some time playing in defence with SANFL club West Adelaide – although never on the very last line of defence.

“I’d been playing in defence at Westies and I’d been playing some reasonably consistent footy there,” he says.

“So I suppose when a spot came up in defence (at Adelaide) they thought they’d give me a go there. I probably feel more comfortable in defence but I hadn’t had much of an opportunity there.”

Rutten credits Craig with giving him the confidence to put his best foot forward in the high-pressure position.

“The first game I played (this year) all he really said to me was ‘go out and try and be attacking from full back as much as you can’ and obviously try and keep your opponent down as much as you can,” he says.

“He just showed a bit of confidence and a bit of faith in me and it was really good. He just sort of left me out there and let me find my own way rather than bringing me on and off the bench. He just threw me in there and had a bit of belief in me.

“It gave me a lot of confidence to know that the coach thought I could do the job and I just took it from there. I just played as well as I could and tried to work on the things that he was asking of me and just tried to keep getting picked for the next week.”

Learning the ropes in a position where mistakes are highly magnified and can prove immediately costly is no easy task, but Rutten had the help of his more experienced defensive team-mates – in particular Nathan Basset – as he tried to establish himself in the side.

“It’s a tough way to learn the game I suppose, but I had a lot of support there with Bass, Benny Hart and Kenny McGregor – who are all experienced players – playing around me which helped me a lot,” he says.

“I suppose I just tried to play the game as it came and didn’t try to do anything too premeditated. Every week I was learning new things about playing the position.

“Bass was really helpful – I could always go to him and ask him about positioning against certain players and how to play them and what their tricks are – so I got a few tips off him and the rest I just tried to work out for myself.”

So which full forward gave the rookie full back the most trouble this year?

“Barry Hall,” Rutten replies without hesitation.

“He played in between centre half-forward and full forward. He can do a lot of things – he can lead, he can take a mark, he can hold back and wrestle with you, he can work hard back to the goals – so you can never really afford to drop your concentration against him because he’s got a lot of strings to his bow.”

The only break in Rutten’s impressive streak of matches came when he was a late withdrawal from the side that played St. Kilda at York Park in round 19.

And the reason for his withdrawal? Calf strain, maybe? Dislocated thumb, perhaps? Flu? None of the above – of all things it was a cutlery-related, dinner mishap that crippled the imposing 191 centimetre, 96 kilogram key defender!

“Just before we left to get on the plane I was at home eating some tea,” a slightly embarrassed Rutten explains.

“I bent over to pick a fork up and on the way up my back sort of spasmed. I’m not to sure what happened but the plane trip over to Tasmania didn’t do it much good either. I just couldn’t bend over – my back would spasm and grab and I didn’t have much movement, so I had to pull out just before the game.”

Certainly one of the more bizarre ways to miss a game of footy!

Rutten realises he still has a lot of work ahead of him if he is to realise his goal of becoming an AFL regular with Adelaide and has a clear vision of what he needs to do and what he wants to contribute to the team in the future.

“I need to keep working on my agility and the movement side of things and I’m still learning each position as I play them,” he says.

“If I spend some more time at full back I can learn more about positioning and taking the front position and working from there – which I haven’t done much of before. I’d also like to play a few different positions up the ground a bit more.”

Many have liked what they have seen of Rutten in the pressure-cooker, full back role but the young defender feels he has more to offer the side than just filling the key defensive post in the long term.

“I wouldn’t mind getting up the ground a bit more and becoming a bit more versatile and a bit more useful to the side,” he says.

“I’d like to be able to play up forward if I need to or be able to hold down centre half-back or centre half-forward but I don’t really mind – as long as I get a game.”



Going back to this thread from a couple of weeks ago it sounds like Rutten fancies himself up the ground. If agility is his major weakness then FB is the one possie on the ground perhaps more than any other where that may be found out.

I reckon he is a chance for CHF longer term (if we trade Watts for Cooney )

 

[drakeyv2]

There haven't been too many full backs over the years that wouldn't have rather played somewhere else.

 

[No 1 Draft Pick]

There haven't been too many full backs over the years that wouldn't have rather played somewhere else.

Where do u reckon he is most suited to?

Im sure he will start 2005 at FB because his performance in the 2nd half of the year were one of our major positives for the whole season (not saying much I know). But down the track it will be interesting to see where he ends up

 

[Lozza71]

Can someone please tell me what Rutten's height really is. I have seen a few different reports.

 

[mymansyd]

Have to agree Rutten is the man for the job
He showed us he can play this year and he will only improve

I'm confident that between Rutten, McGregor, Bassett & Hart that we will match up very well on most forward lines. Not a concern IMO, at this stage.

 

[Mad Dog]

I'm confident that between Rutten, McGregor, Bassett & Hart that we will match up very well on most forward lines. Not a concern IMO, at this stage.

except that Hart's preparation looks like being limited again......I wouldn't be surprised if he has trouble getting on the park again next year...

 

[mymansyd]

except that Hart's preparation looks like being limited again......I wouldn't be surprised if he has trouble getting on the park again next year...

Yes, Benny's fitness is of great concern. I was trying to put that to the back of my mind...thanks for that Mad Doggy.

 

[- PC -]

Dont coaches allocate positions to match up opposition players and not specific roles? If Rutten is deemed to be too ''slow'' or bulky then IMO Bassett gets the job with Rutten being the spolier.

 

[Crow-mosone]

I don't know who to credit most:

Mad Dog for his informative eloquence on the PowerKop issue, or your foresight in perpetuating it as your tag.

genius all round lads.

 

[macca23]

Dont coaches allocate positions to match up opposition players and not specific roles? If Rutten is deemed to be too ''slow'' or bulky then IMO Bassett gets the job with Rutten being the spolier.

Sensible comment. There will be times when the opposition is playing a quicker more agile player at FF, and Bassett would have to take that forward, with Rutten taking the 3rd tall.

As you say, the match up is the important thing, not the position.

 

[tribey]

As you say, the match up is the important thing, not the position.

Exactly right. As far as your defence goes you can only match up against what's in front of you.

Can anyone name our 'back six' from whenever we played against Pagan's North Melbourne?

 

[Ozzie]

Smith not Rutten will be the Crows FB.

U heard it here first folks.

 

[jc67]

Smith not Rutten will be the Crows FB.

U heard it here first folks.

macca23 just spat red wine through his nose

 

[macca23]

macca23 just spat red wine through his nose

Grand Marnier to be 100% exact!!!

Looks like the days of full forwards kicking 12 plus goals per game are about to return if Smith is our FB!!

 

[dicko]

I'm confident that between Rutten, McGregor, Bassett & Hart that we will match up very well on most forward lines. Not a concern IMO, at this stage.

I would have to agree with this comment, we will have to put the best man for the job at FB on the day, as everyone has stated he is not suited to every full forward, and there will be days were we need a lightly built but fast paced player

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Smith not Rutten will be the Crows FB.

U heard it here first folks.

Only if the opposition rest their rovers at FF.

 

[macca23]

Only if the opposition rest their rovers at FF.

You meant crippled one-legged rovers, didn't you?

 

[Ozzie]

You meant crippled one-legged rovers, didn't you?

Wait and see u bunch of Rutten lovers. Smith has much more agility and that will prove to be Rutten's downfall. Rutten could very make a FF but as a FB Smith will in time be the better option.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Wait and see u bunch of Rutten lovers. Smith has much more agility and that will prove to be Rutten's downfall. Rutten could very make a FF but as a FB Smith will in time be the better option.

Smith is too soft to play FB. He's the softest player I have seen at the Crows since.....since .........ahhh I dont know, Scott Stevens.

I should rephrase that to the softest KPP I have seen since Scott Stevens.

 

[Mad Dog]

Smith is too soft to play FB. He's the softest player I have seen at the Crows since.....since .........ahhh I dont know, Scott Stevens.

*Ian Downsborough exhales*

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Wait and see u bunch of Rutten lovers. Smith has much more agility and that will prove to be Rutten's downfall. Rutten could very make a FF but as a FB Smith will in time be the better option.

I have the feeling Smith will surprise a few, but not an the expense of Rutten. IMO, Smith > Bock.