How long does the Roo have left?

[Vader]

Australian Rules football is an extremely physical sport, both in terms of the running involved and the battering of one body against another. Mark Ricciuto has played it in a manner more physical than most, using his body as a human battering ram.

The first signs that a player is reaching the end of their career is that their body starts failing them. They start to pick up more soft tissue injuries than they did in the past and they take longer to recover from them.

This year Roo has suffered injuries to both hamstrings and his groin. The latter injury didn't prevent him from playing, but there is no doubt that he was less than 100% against St Kilda.

I now have little doubt in my mind that Roo will be the first of the fab-four to retire. The question is how long are we able to retain the services of this mighty champion?

My guess, he will be gone at the end of 2007.

Thoughts?

 

[Stiffy_18]

Yeah he does seem to be slowing down a bit in terms of his body giving up on him. I think the end of Roo era is probably closer than a lot of people think. I would be very happy if he could play another 2-3 years but the way he has been struggling with injuries this year, I suspect that time frame would be generous.

 

[macca23]

Yeah he does seem to be slowing down a bit in terms of his body giving up on him. I think the end of Roo era is probably closer than a lot of people think. I would be very happy if he could play another 2-3 years but the way he has been struggling with injuries this year, I suspect that time frame would be generous.

As an on-baller - yes Stiffy.

But as a forward - no. I think that after this year Roo will barely if ever play in the mid-field and will concentrate on the leading forward role that he does so well.

Definitely another 2 years IMO and a good chance for a 3rd.

 

[drakeyv2]

As an on-baller - yes Stiffy.

But as a forward - no. I think that after this year Roo will barely if ever play in the mid-field and will concentrate on the leading forward role that he does so well.

Definitely another 2 years IMO and a good chance for a 3rd.

I think that's a fair comment. It does beg the question, where does Scott Welsh fit in?

 

[Alex99]

24 months ago it looked like Ben Hart was fast approaching the end of his career with some serious hamstring injuries, before he broke his arm this year it looked like he could go for another 2 or 3 years. I am going to wait until the beginning of next season before commenting on how long Mark Ricciuto has and will see how he pulls up after a good solid pre season where he can get his legs right before I suggest his days are coming to an end.

 

[Eggzoi]

Most people thought that Goodwin was done after 2004...
Reckon Roo has at least 2 years left. The staff can get his body right and he should play forward with stints on ball. Maybe swap with Scotty T.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Please no one show disprespect to this thread by saying he will play for another 5-10 years in a "Alistair Lynch type role".

At the end of this year, I think Roos is 1-2 years away from retirement.

 

[macca23]

I think that's a fair comment. It does beg the question, where does Scott Welsh fit in?

That's a point I've been making in the last few weeks. Do we have room for 2 of these types??

Ideally, our forward structure would be

F Roo Hentschel Thompson/Edwards

HF Perrie McGregor Bode

with other on-ballers playing cameo roles up forward.

How do we fit Welsh, who is both injury prone and hot/cold in??

 

[drakeyv2]

That's a point I've been making in the last few weeks. Do we have room for 2 of these types??

Ideally, our forward structure would be

F Roo Hentschel Thompson/Edwards

HF Perrie McGregor Bode

with other on-ballers playing cameo roles up forward.

How do we fit Welsh, who is both injury prone and hot/cold in??

Welsh will have to play in the guts

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

This is really the 1st year Roo has been showed any real sign of slowing down. Unfortunately, I think matters have been made worse by playing him well below 100%, given all our other LT injuries. I would like to reserve my judgement until next year on him returning back to his best in the midfield - too early to write him off IMO. However, once he is no longer at his best to play most of the game in the middle, he will extend his career by a few years playing as a forward (like a D Jarman), as has he the ability & footy smarts to be a dangerous player still.

 

[- PC -]

2008 will be his last year one would expect. 2007 maybe.

I think it all depends on what happens this year and at what stage ( if any) the AFC win a flag

I would prefer a forward role for him

 

[rayven]

See what happens if the next pre season is ruined like the last one