Mark Ricciuto

[Mad Dog]

Jack is correct in saying that people forget how good McLeod was. The only thing that has seen his career stagnate or go downhill is the fact that he got tagged so heavily in the midfield. A reason why his form came back this year when he was the hunter not the hunted. Macca was widely considered as THE best player in the competetition for a good 3 years. His non-Brownlow year in 2001 was better than Roo's Brownlow year in 2003. No question. He was simply exceptional that year.

Plus, he is without a doubt the best big game performer we've ever had, and still is probably one of the best in the AFL.

Having said that, Roo takes it over McLeod for his consistency, but he never did get as much attention as McLeod. In his prime McLeod is the better player, but Roo's been able to produce it over a longer period of time. Both will go down as greats of our club.

Without devaluing Macca who is a champ in his own right - I can't say I agree with some of these comments. Roo gets just as much attention week in and week out. He is consistantly held and blocked from restarts around the ground.

What makes Roo a champ is that this has not affected his game, the effort he puts in, or the work rate example he sets for the side.

When the going gets tough.............

 

[snakebite01]

Without devaluing Macca who is a champ in his own right - I can't say I agree with some of these comments. Roo gets just as much attention week in and week out. He is consistantly held and blocked from restarts around the ground.

What makes Roo a champ is that this has not affected his game, the effort he puts in, or the work rate example he sets for the side.

When the going gets tough.............

Disagree Mad Dog. Macca would often get tagged by 2 opponents. He is so damaging that opposition coaches know they must close him down if they want to win the game. Roo gets attention no doubt, but not as much as Macca used to get.

For instance there are 2 types of taggers. Those who are there to stop an opponent and get the ball (Lucurias of the world), and those whose only job is to nullify there opponent (Brady Rawlings/Bakers of the world). Macca gets tagged by the latter, Roo by the former. Always much harder to play against guys who only want to stop you from reaching the footy. Macca in his prime got scragged and scratched all game long (one game against Carlton [Franchina], he came home with scratches all down his back and front), whereas Roo never got the constant holding on at the contests as consistently or frequently as Macca did.

I'm not taking away from Roo. He is a champion, has been unbelievably consistent and HAS dealt with the tag over his career. It's just that his tag has never been as volatile as Maccas, purely because Macca was the more naturally talented footballer and coaches were aware of what would happen if he was allowed to explode on a game.

 

[Mad Dog]

whereas Roo never got the constant holding on at the contests as consistently or frequently as Macca did.

we must be watching different games...

however - you made the point in your original post that......

The only thing that has seen his career stagnate or go downhill is the fact that he got tagged so heavily in the midfield

I disagree that "the only thing" has been the tagging....Macca has had many other issues that he has let affect his life/career.

As I say I am not devaluing Macca's career or standing as a champ of the game.....but the tagging is an excuse that Ricciutos, Judds, Voss's, Kellys, Buckleys, Crawfords, Harveys (x2), Akermanis's, Blacks, Lappins, etc have never used - and has not affected their game or their level of output for their club. Although Macca is a brilliant player - he has never had the work ethic of these players....his brilliance has manifested in other ways.

 

[Crowz Gal]

When they retire a number. Exactly for how long is it. What happens if there are no numbers left???

I have always thought retiring a number a bit weird. Surely you would pass it on. Although can u imagine the pressure on you if, as a rookie, u were to have Roo pass on his number to u, or dissapointment if u were given say smiths number??

 

[GoSarge]

For instance there are 2 types of taggers. Those who are there to stop an opponent and get the ball (Lucurias of the world), and those whose only job is to nullify there opponent (Brady Rawlings/Bakers of the world). Macca gets tagged by the latter, Roo by the former. Always much harder to play against guys who only want to stop you from reaching the footy. Macca in his prime got scragged and scratched all game long (one game against Carlton [Franchina], he came home with scratches all down his back and front), whereas Roo never got the constant holding on at the contests as consistently or frequently as Macca did.

More commonly known as dirty scragging cheats.

 

[outback jack]

If wasnt tagging that did it imo, it was his knee injuries he had a clean out in the break before the carlton game about 2-3 yrs back played really well that game but after that season was never the same. In 2004 it was clear he couldnt kick 45m+, and this yr he took the weight off, which meant its less stress on the knee but in the middle he cant hold his ground with the bigger bodies like he used to be able to. The top pace aint there as much anymore either, it is mainly his footy smarts and skill that does it. Its too be expected anyway, the roo type players peak later than the faster players do, injury has just meant macca’s gone downhill a little quicker.

 

[General Havelock]

he seemed to go alright in the international rules without a tag...

 

[- PC -]

Roo doesn't have a complex like his feral counterpart from down the road. But then again, if 70% of the state you lived in thought you were a wa*ker it would probably get to you after awhile.

Well dare I suggest now he is in Melbourne that close to 100% can hate him freely now

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Well dare I suggest now he is in Melbourne that close to 100% can hate him freely now

Finally, Tredreas moved to Melbourne.

 

[Markthirtytwo]

i agree with passing it on actually, but when he does pass it on id prefer it not to be to a new draftee but rather to a player that has already proved himself, who knows by then maybe he can pass it on to Chris Knights

I tend to disagree with passing it on to anyone.
For two reasons and they are:
If you pass it onto a young player, especially one he chooses, cause it would put too muhc pressure on the young lad. Just like young Ablett IMO.
If it is passed on to someone who is looking the goods, then he has made it with his own number and that he probably wouldnt take it for the above reason as well.

I would love it to be retired.

 

[snakebite01]

we must be watching different games...

I'm not saying it doesn't happen to Roo, f course it does.

All I'm saying is that it happens/happened more regularly and more viciously to McLeod. It's the same as Judd receiving more "dirty" attention than Cousins does. It's the nature of the player and their hurt factor. McLeod/Judd have a higher hurt factor than Cousins/Ricciuto, therefore receive more attention.

We already started to see Judd go down the same path as McLeod this year, being held and scragged all day long which limits his output. Guys like Ricciuto and Cousins don't receive AS MUCH of this tye of attention because they don't have the same hurt factor.

 

[Crow-mosone]

Jack is correct in saying that people forget how good McLeod was. The only thing that has seen his career stagnate or go downhill is the fact that he got tagged so heavily in the midfield. A reason why his form came back this year when he was the hunter not the hunted. Macca was widely considered as THE best player in the competetition for a good 3 years. His non-Brownlow year in 2001 was better than Roo's Brownlow year in 2003. No question. He was simply exceptional that year.

Plus, he is without a doubt the best big game performer we've ever had, and still is probably one of the best in the AFL.

Having said that, Roo takes it over McLeod for his consistency, but he never did get as much attention as McLeod. In his prime McLeod is the better player, but Roo's been able to produce it over a longer period of time. Both will go down as greats of our club.

agree entirely.

 

[Crow-mosone]

More commonly known as dirty scragging cheats.

 

[kirky]

Without devaluing Macca who is a champ in his own right - I can't say I agree with some of these comments. Roo gets just as much attention week in and week out. He is consistantly held and blocked from restarts around the ground.

What makes Roo a champ is that this has not affected his game, the effort he puts in, or the work rate example he sets for the side.

When the going gets tough.............

But the thing with Roo is you don't want to be messing with Roo otherwise down you go in a hip and shoulder or a bone breaking tackle.

Both are greats - McLeod for his silky skills whilst Roo for his leadership skills. Roo has been more consistent over the years and we will in due course realise how great champions they have both been.

Lets hope they are some little Roos down the track!

 

[Stiffy_18]

and thats on a good day

absolute champion, my favourite player these days by a long way.

just out of interest do you think we should retire the number 32 when he retires?

I am not sure about retiring the number. Thats more of an American basketball tradition.

What I would like to see is Roo (after he retires of course) passing on #32 to the next captain. I would like to have the captain of the club wear #32 in the honour of the great man once he hangs up the boots.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Without devaluing Macca who is a champ in his own right - I can't say I agree with some of these comments. Roo gets just as much attention week in and week out. He is consistantly held and blocked from restarts around the ground.

What makes Roo a champ is that this has not affected his game, the effort he puts in, or the work rate example he sets for the side.

When the going gets tough.............

Well said

 

[Ad76]

I am not sure about retiring the number. Thats more of an American basketball tradition.

What I would like to see is Roo (after he retires of course) passing on #32 to the next captain. I would like to have the captain of the club wear #32 in the honour of the great man once he hangs up the boots.

Now there's a good idea - build some tradition. I like it!

 

[- PC -]

What I would like to see is Roo (after he retires of course) passing on #32 to the next captain. I would like to have the captain of the club wear #32 in the honour of the great man once he hangs up the boots.

Why not 26? 2 x Premiership captain

I would rather see number 1 used for captains or not at all.