Maric: Now Number 2 ?

[- PC -]

Has Ivan done and shown enough to be considered the number 2 ruckman behind Biglands?

I have liked what I have seen but I wonder if he can sustain it long enough through the year to cement his position as the Crows number 2 ruckman while Hudson recovers.

Or is Clarke being kept for the real stuff?

 

[Gets!]

Clarke is definetely being kept for the real stuff, but I believe that Maric could easily hold his ground as an AFL ruckmen.

He is agressive, has a big ego (good to have on-field) and is strong and enthusiastic. He could play round 1 no doubt.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Has Ivan done and shown enough to be considered the number 2 ruckman behind Biglands?

No.

Or is Clarke being kept for the real stuff?

Yes.

Maric has shown glimpses but he is still a fair way off being AFL regular in a winning team. If he was at say Carlton or Hawthorn or Richmond he more than likely would be getting games at AFL level on a regular basis.

 

[relapse]

I hope he gets an opportunity to be the number 2 ruckman, lets be serious here are we going to ignore a talented youngster to play Clarke in what will be his last season.

Doesnt sound like a good long term plan to me.

 

[Cap]

I do think that Clarke is being held back for the real stuff but I would assume that Craig knows that he needs to develop someone in case of emergency (ie injury)

While Maric has certainly improved out of sight I think his biggest down fall is that we are going to need to take three ruckmen in each week to develop Maric or Meeson.

My bias is towards Meeson who can play forward, so having clarke on the bench and Meeson and Biglands swapping in the forward lines make the teams forward structure look even more dangerous Maric doesn’t seem to have the ability just yet to be left any where (unless put in defence on a tall ruckman ?) saying that Maric along with Rielly have surprised me this year, I need to give Maric a bit of Credit as he has improved every week this pre-season.

 

[Stiffy_18]

I hope he gets an opportunity to be the number 2 ruckman, lets be serious here are we going to ignore a talented youngster to play Clarke in what will be his last season.

Doesnt sound like a good long term plan to me.

It does to me if the kid is not quite there

Maric is not ready or capable of playing an important role in a winning side at AFL level. Not yet anyway. Do we sacrifise out entire season because some think playing Clarke is a waste of time or do we go out to win and dvelop these youngsters at the same time. There is absolutely no reason why Maric can't develop at SANFL level. He is by no means dominating that competition. He is not above that cometition in any way shape or form. He can still grow in the SANFL. In fact he will develop more playing as a 1st ruckman in the SANFL that he would playing 20-30 minutes per game at the AFL level.

Maric needs game time and as much of it as possible. He is not going to get that at AFL level because he has Biglands ahead of his and by a fair margin.

All he needs is more playing time and SANFL seems like a great environment to get it.

 

[drakeyv2]

Clarke isn't fit so at this stage he is our no. 2 ruckman.

The chances of us getting 22 games out of both Biglands & Clarke is pretty unlikely so he is almost assured of games this year ready or not.

 

[Alex99]

It does to me if the kid is not quite there

Maric is not ready or capable of playing an important role in a winning side at AFL level. Not yet anyway. Do we sacrifise out entire season because some think playing Clarke is a waste of time or do we go out to win and dvelop these youngsters at the same time. There is absolutely no reason why Maric can't develop at SANFL level. He is by no means dominating that competition. He is not above that cometition in any way shape or form. He can still grow in the SANFL. In fact he will develop more playing as a 1st ruckman in the SANFL that he would playing 20-30 minutes per game at the AFL level.

Maric needs game time and as much of it as possible. He is not going to get that at AFL level because he has Biglands ahead of his and by a fair margin.

All he needs is more playing time and SANFL seems like a great environment to get it.

Agree with everything you have said Stiffy_18, Maric and especially John Meesen doesn’t appear to be ready for AFL football just yet and needs to dominate the SANFL before taking that next step. I am very confident that both players will have long and successful careers with the AFL (or in the AFL if they decide to move on)

Only one problem with Ivan Maric developing into a very good SANFL player and constantly dominating that grade, he plays for Port Adelaide Magpies, the better he gets and the more constant he plays, the better and more constant they will get and the higher the chance they have of winning, the more games they win the greater the chance they will make thew finals and potentially win another grand final.

One good thing about him being at the Port Magpies is that Tim Giniver and John Cahill both think very highly of his talent and development progress, so he will be slotted back into the A’s when he is not required with the crows.

Not sure how Norwood see or appreciate John Meesen talent or where they want to play him.

 

[Alex99]

Clarke isn't fit so at this stage he is our no. 2 ruckman.

The chances of us getting 22 games out of both Biglands & Clarke is pretty unlikely so he is almost assured of games this year ready or not.

Mathew Clark should play Friday night vs. Melbourne

 

[Hodges 153!]

One good thing about him being at the Port Magpies is that Tim Giniver and John Cahill both think very highly of his talent and development progress, so he will be slotted back into the A’s when he is not required with the crows.

No doubt about that....

So how many games do you guys think he will play for the Crows this year?

I thought 10 to 12, but from what you are saying, might be somewhat less?

 

[macca23]

No doubt about that....

So how many games do you guys think he will play for the Crows this year?

I thought 10 to 12, but from what you are saying, might be somewhat less?

Injury will dictate it, because as Stiffy said, while he's a terrific prospect and no doubt will be playing with the big boys every week in 2007, he's not quite ready to be a regular.

He'll definitely play a few this year though.

 

[GoSarge]

It does to me if the kid is not quite there

Maric is not ready or capable of playing an important role in a winning side at AFL level. Not yet anyway. Do we sacrifise out entire season because some think playing Clarke is a waste of time or do we go out to win and dvelop these youngsters at the same time. There is absolutely no reason why Maric can't develop at SANFL level. He is by no means dominating that competition. He is not above that cometition in any way shape or form. He can still grow in the SANFL. In fact he will develop more playing as a 1st ruckman in the SANFL that he would playing 20-30 minutes per game at the AFL level.

Maric needs game time and as much of it as possible. He is not going to get that at AFL level because he has Biglands ahead of his and by a fair margin.

All he needs is more playing time and SANFL seems like a great environment to get it.

Exactly. And there are a number of quality SANFL ruckmen that will test him week in week out. Good post Stiffster.

 

[portentous]

I think he needs more time to develop in the SANFL

BTW if his improvement continues at the rate it did in 2005, he will soon be your NUMBER ONE ruckman. Not kidding, I watched him closely last year and his progress was just remarkable.

 

[noddy]

I think he needs more time to develop in the SANFL

BTW if his improvement continues at the rate it did in 2005, he will soon be your NUMBER ONE ruckman. Not kidding, I watched him closely last year and his progress was just remarkable.

I agree with the vivacious portentous.

While young Maric is showing heaps so far this year & has been mighty impressive but in the art of ruck-work he is still pretty raw.

Will get games if & when he is needed.

 

[relapse]

It does to me if the kid is not quite there

Maric is not ready or capable of playing an important role in a winning side at AFL level. Not yet anyway. Do we sacrifise out entire season because some think playing Clarke is a waste of time or do we go out to win and dvelop these youngsters at the same time. There is absolutely no reason why Maric can't develop at SANFL level. He is by no means dominating that competition. He is not above that cometition in any way shape or form. He can still grow in the SANFL. In fact he will develop more playing as a 1st ruckman in the SANFL that he would playing 20-30 minutes per game at the AFL level.

Maric needs game time and as much of it as possible. He is not going to get that at AFL level because he has Biglands ahead of his and by a fair margin.

All he needs is more playing time and SANFL seems like a great environment to get it.

Isnt that the same theory everyone had with Fergus Watts ????

 

[Markthirtytwo]

It does to me if the kid is not quite there

Maric is not ready or capable of playing an important role in a winning side at AFL level. Not yet anyway. Do we sacrifise out entire season because some think playing Clarke is a waste of time or do we go out to win and dvelop these youngsters at the same time. There is absolutely no reason why Maric can't develop at SANFL level. He is by no means dominating that competition. He is not above that cometition in any way shape or form. He can still grow in the SANFL. In fact he will develop more playing as a 1st ruckman in the SANFL that he would playing 20-30 minutes per game at the AFL level.

Maric needs game time and as much of it as possible. He is not going to get that at AFL level because he has Biglands ahead of his and by a fair margin.

All he needs is more playing time and SANFL seems like a great environment to get it.

Woulnd that depend on injuries/suspension though? If either Clarke or Bigone goes down he must come in and be thrown to the wolves.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Isnt that the same theory everyone had with Fergus Watts ????

I don't see what you are reaching at

Watts was integral part of one of the better forward lines in the SANFL. He was constantly in Eagles best players in his last year with us and his form was good enough to play games for us.

With Fergus we had the luxury of "hiding him" in the forward pocket because he would have been 3rd or 4th forward for us. With a ruckman its a completely different scenario. We cannot "hide" him anywhere. He will be up against a quality opponent each week.

Fergus' form in SANFL was better and more consistent than Maric's.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Woulnd that depend on injuries/suspension though? If either Clarke or Bigone goes down he must come in and be thrown to the wolves.

True. However, if both Biglands and Clarke are fit then I just can't see how Maric will be the #2 ruckman. He might eb promising but he is fair way behind both Biglands AND Clarke.

 

[portentous]

Isnt that the same theory everyone had with Fergus Watts ????

Yeah but Maric is at the Magpies. Different environment to the WWT Eagles.

 

[LBJ23]

Has Ivan done and shown enough to be considered the number 2 ruckman behind Biglands?

I have liked what I have seen but I wonder if he can sustain it long enough through the year to cement his position as the Crows number 2 ruckman while Hudson recovers.

Or is Clarke being kept for the real stuff?

He played some great games for Port in the SANFL last year, imo he is ready and should be played as backup to Biglands, can always play with all three for some games to help him out, don't think he will need it though.

 

[Allefgib]

I made this point on another thread that died so will pick it up here...

Many of us keep talking about how critical it is to develop our younger players this season so we should play Maric ahead of Clarke.

What about developing our young midfielders like Knights etc at the feet of one of the best tap ruckmen to have played the game in the last decade? I think we would be crazy not to use Clarke this year if he is fit as that gives us a chance to go places THIS season. Whats the point in continually playing for years down the track, you never get to enjoy the here and now! But I also sincerely believe knights, rielly, shirley and co will be given a far better chance to gain confidence and develop this year if they get to play at the feet of Clarke for a number of games. Watching clarke ruck will give them immense confidence and understanding of how one of the best ruckmen can get the side going from the stoppages. I think it would be invaluable experience. I have only seen pieces of Maric and he shows promise but he still has a long way to go with his timing in the ruck. He can just as easily work on that at SANFL level as AFL level.