Crows Ruck Options

[Jerome]

From today's Advertiser 18/11/03

Crows plan ruck raid
By ANDREW CAPEL
18nov03

ADELAIDE is planning the biggest set position recruiting raid in its 13-year history.

The Crows, having delisted Ben Marsh, yesterday declared they could draft as many as four ruckmen in the AFL national, pre-season and rookie drafts as they look for immediate and long-term support for mainstays Rhett Biglands and Matthew Clarke.
With Marsh gone, Biglands and Clarke are the only ruckmen on Adelaide's list, prompting an Australia-wide search which is expected to net two players in Saturday's national draft and two in the rookie draft on December 16.

The search has become more urgent after chief executive Steven Trigg revealed Clarke, 30, could be approaching his final season.

"Matthew's done a terrific job for us and two more years is an option for him," Trigg said. "But he might decide it (2004) is his last year."

The chance of Clarke entering his last season has heightened Adelaide's need.

"I know some see it as a risk taking Ben Marsh off our list," Trigg said.

"But if we're not going to use him we're happy to look for developmental players.

"We will find back-up in the draft and rookie list."

The Crows intend taking two ruckmen among their four selections (at 14, 31, 58 and 67) at the national draft and another two among their four picks at the rookie draft. They have room for five rookies with key defender Aidan Parker already occupying one spot.

"There's no set (draft) formula but we will stock up with a few talls," Crows recruiting manager James Fantasia said. "How we go about it depends on how we go in this (national) draft and who's available."

Fantasia is confident there is enough big-man depth among young and experienced players to satisfy Adelaide's needs. Ideally the club will draft one mature-age player – the Crows have not ruled out re-drafting Marsh – who can back up Biglands and Clarke next season and three developmental talls.

At least 10 teenagers are possibilities, although West Perth's Kepler Bradley, the player Adelaide most covets, is expected to be gone by the time it picks first.

"We're happy with the quality of ruckmen that are available," Fantasia said.

"There's three or four real exciting young players and a group of others who are good, long-term prospects."

Apart from Bradley, South Fremantle's Brent Hall and Sandringham's Andrew Ericksen are the best of the young interstate brigade, the Eagles' Jason Whitehead and Glenelg's Josh Krueger the South Australians who have attracted most interest; and ex-Swan Ricky Mott arguably the best of the recycled bunch.

 

[Jerome]

Jason finds drive to succeed
By ZAC MILBANK, Advertiser 18/11/03
18nov03

RAW potential is one thing but the desire to succeed is another.

Burgeoning Woodville-West Torrens ruckman Jason Whitehead, 197cm, has both, drawing attention from AFL clubs. Born in the Yorke Peninsula town of Moonta where he still lives, Whitehead decided three years ago to capitalise on his talent.
"It's a good opportunity to do this," Whitehead, 18, said.

"So I thought I'd give it my best shot so I wouldn't regret anything down the track.

"It's a good lifestyle if I can get into it (AFL) and I would be regretful if I didn't do it."

To reach his goal, Whitehead has had to adjust to completing the 352km round trip three times a week this year to train and play in Adelaide.

"You get used to it but it doesn't give you a lot of time to do other stuff," Whitehead said of the four-hour round trip.

"You get tired because you have to get up early for school." An equal commitment has been demanded of Whitehead's mother – with whom he lives – and his father and grandfather who often act as chauffeur.

"They (Dad and Grandpa) want me to have a good opportunity and see me do well," Whitehead said. "Mum supports me a lot but she can't get down to Adelaide as much."

The decision to make the commitment was made easy though, by considering just how good Whitehead could become.

"I think he's got a lot of raw potential," Eagles development manager Ben Scales said. "He's got a lot to learn. Living in the country it's hard for him to travel a lot to be properly coached." All Whitehead needs is some intensive training considering he already has most of the other pre-requisites covered.

"He's got a very competitive nature, he hates being beaten and that's one of his best attributes," Scales said.

"Country people as a whole have to travel a lot further and it's a testament to his character and his family's character that he's got down here."

Whitehead's most impressive physical attribute is his vertical leap for someone of his size.

"You don't usually see guys that tall with such a vertical leap," Scales said. "AFL clubs look at that. He's got a long way to go but when you're that tall and can jump it's a bonus."

At least five AFL clubs showed enough interest in the former Moonta Demon to get him a berth at the AFL draft camp.

In the standing leap he jumped 70 cm (equal second) while coming first in the running leap off his left foot (88 cm).

"I just like jumping high," Whitehead, who played chiefly in the under-19s in 2003, said.

"It's just natural because I've always had it. When I played basketball I used to be able to dunk when I was young (13)."

Whitehead is being groomed as a ruckman, moulding himself on Melbourne's Jeff White.

"He's a shorter ruckman and jumps high into them (opposition) and I'm a bit like him I reckon," Whitehead said of the former Docker. "I enjoy playing there (ruck) because I've played there most of my life but I wouldn't mind going forward."

Before he does move forward, the Moonta Area School student realises he has a lot to work on.

As a result, Whitehead refuses to speculate about draft day.

"You don't really know what's going to happen," he said. "It's a bit of a long road so you're never sure what the future holds."

 

[tribey]

Well let's hope this draft is a good'un...

If not... well... how much is a Power season ticket?

 

[Crow-mosone]

Originally posted by dyertribe
Well let's hope this draft is a good'un...

If not... well... how much is a Power season ticket?

with their attendances? not much