Rusling? 20 years old?

[Angelus512]

Just read a CFC article that said Rus was 20 years old?
Is this true?

Reason I ask is given his constant injuries I've been of the opinion that he won't end up being a CFC player for long.
But if its true he's 20 years old I say GREAT! Keep the kid for 3 more years for sure if he's only 20 years then its not like he's been damaged at the wrong time.

I always thought he was more around 23-24. Besides I'm probably medically wrong in this assumption but I would think that his injuries if he is indeed 20 were largely due to his younger years.
As he gets older closer to 25 etc I figure he would be injured less.

 

[Optimax]

Yeah same draft as trav, he is feeling the best now anyway so it would have to be a highly profile trade to lose him otherwise he was always going to stay

 

[MarkT]

I struggle to see how we can fit Rusling, Dawes, Reid and Cloke in 1 forward line let alone with Rocca for however long Rocca has left. When you have a surplus you need to consider trades. 2008 should be the year Rusling either makes it or is traded.

 

[shawthing09]

I struggle to see how we can fit Rusling, Dawes, Reid and Cloke in 1 forward line let alone with Rocca for however long Rocca has left. When you have a surplus you need to consider trades. 2008 should be the year Rusling either makes it or is traded.

Agreed with the 08

But I think you could Fit Reid Dawes Rusling Cloke in one foward line. If Dawes Continues to bulk up a little bit and plays Full foward. Cloke Center half foward. Reid i think will feature a lot more futher up the ground and not be restricted to the foward line. Rusling as the leading target. Hawthorn Fit Buddy Roughhead Boyle and will fit Williams in. I think ours will work fairly similar. Except with a little more structure to it as we have a traditional CHF.

 

[HFF]

Mark, the whole 'how can we fit them all in the one forward line' scenario is being misinterpreted by many. Depth in all positions is important, especially if injuries occur to KPP. I do not think we have an abundance of KPP. Rocca will probably retire at the end of 2008, meaning that Trav, Rus, Dawes and Reid are our only KP forwards. Now it would be extremely difficult to fit all 4 of them in at once but it can be done similarly to Hawthorn's box formation. It would look something like this..

Cloke Reid
Dawes Rusling

The thing is, if we trade Rusling for example, a year or two down the track we will end up drafting another KP forward for depth because it will be required. I know we need to bolster our ruck stocks and midfield capabilities but this can be done using this years crop of draftees and even next years.

We should not tinker with our KP forwards as this is one area where we look set for a decade.

 

[bradrowe#32]

I would have Cloke CHF, Dawes FF, Rusling FP and Reid on a WING. He is quick and has good skills and would be a nightmare to match-up on.

 

[game on]

I think that 1, if not all of them need to add another string to their bow.

Most teams have forwards that can play in other positions. My worry with all of these kids is that they can only play forward. One needs to have the ability to be sent to CHB and another one the ability to back up in the Ruck.

I dont think we need to trade any of these, but may have to if they can not become more adaptable.

 

[shawthing09]

I think that 1, if not all of them need to add another string to their bow.

Most teams have forwards that can play in other positions. My worry with all of these kids is that they can only play forward. One needs to have the ability to be sent to CHB and another one the ability to back up in the Ruck.

I dont think we need to trade any of these, but may have to if they can not become more adaptable.

I don't think so, I don't think fev browny or pav feature to much out of the foward line now days. You let the guys play where they were drafted to play and where they are suited to. That said there is a different to being 1 position player and a 1 dimensional player. But i think with the exceptiong of Rusling there are no one dimensional players on that list. FYI Cloke has featured down back in his learning curb days, Reid will feature on the wing. Dawes played CHF at 18's level

 

[magpies42]

I struggle to see how we can fit Rusling, Dawes, Reid and Cloke in 1 forward line let alone with Rocca for however long Rocca has left. When you have a surplus you need to consider trades. 2008 should be the year Rusling either makes it or is traded.

Reid to CHB?

 

[hellfire]

I would have Cloke CHF, Dawes FF, Rusling FP and Reid on a WING. He is quick and has good skills and would be a nightmare to match-up on.

I agree with Reid. I would have him start on the HFF and push up to the wing, even as far as HB. If Rusling can improve at ground level, and work on his agility, he could play up the ground and DESTROY the opposition's run through the middle. Imagine having Ruz chase you down? Faster than Davey, and big!

 

[Mark W]

I struggle to see how we can fit Rusling, Dawes, Reid and Cloke in 1 forward line let alone with Rocca for however long Rocca has left. When you have a surplus you need to consider trades. 2008 should be the year Rusling either makes it or is traded.

But think of the other end of the ground. Presti, Clem and Wakes are no more in 2 years time, so who have we got coming through? The future is not looking as rosy. Harry will take one slot. I really rate JA but there has to be a question mark about him after a serious neck injury, and its early days for Nathan Brown and I think its safe to say that he has not been as impressive as Reid, Dawes or JA in their 1st years. Even if Rusling is surplus for the forward line, he may be insurance for the backline, allowing us to swith one of the 4 young KP forwards to shore up the defence...

 

[Angelus512]

I agree, trading Rusling is only trading for the here and now. Rusling will be needed for the future, we have a lot of retirements coming up in the next 1-2 years.

 

[shawthing09]

Trading for Rusling is not really trading for here and now as if we can get a ruck or mid that is what we need to add to for the future. As for the backs

Brown is a terrific spoiler of the ball and its hard to dominate from full back especially when our vfl team is doing so well. So long as he continues to develop his body to afl full back standards his natural ability to spoil will hold him in good stead. We don't need a dominate rebounding full back as we have good rebounding flankers etc just a good stopper.

Maxwell O Brian and Goldsack are all backs.

JA there has to be some doubt but if he gets right there it is.

Add heath shaw who may move up the ground or may not. But our young defense is fairly impressive.

As for the idea of moving a young keyfoward back in the future i don't see validity in the argument as Reid would be out bodied and be wasting his natural athletic ability. Rus doesnt have the height strength or mobility. Dawes and Cloke are natural fowards

 

[MarkT]

Reid to CHB?

Maybe. Remains to be seen whether he’d be a gun there or what happens with Brown and/or Anthony.

 

[MarkT]

But think of the other end of the ground. Presti, Clem and Wakes are no more in 2 years time, so who have we got coming through? The future is not looking as rosy. Harry will take one slot. I really rate JA but there has to be a question mark about him after a serious neck injury, and its early days for Nathan Brown and I think its safe to say that he has not been as impressive as Reid, Dawes or JA in their 1st years. Even if Rusling is surplus for the forward line, he may be insurance for the backline, allowing us to swith one of the 4 young KP forwards to shore up the defence...

Brown, Anthony, Maxwell, O’Brien and Goldsack as the tall or medium tall options is enough bat this point. Granted there are question marks but hopefully we will know more next year and the year after. Rusling doesn’t strike me as a defender but then again he hasn’t been tried here. The general consensus is he isn’t good o the deck and IMO his goal kicking is suspect so a trade is something to seriously consider. I certainly wouldn’t give him away at this point.

It is all well and good to talk about depth but it is mid table mediocrity unless you can address deficiencies like the ruck and midfield. I think you need to get a balance squad first and then worry about depth in various positions. With the salary cap your depth can’t be A grade anyway because you won’t be able to pay them all. Solid reliable performers and developing youngsters is the depth you should seek.

 

[Medhurst Magic]

Mark, the whole 'how can we fit them all in the one forward line' scenario is being misinterpreted by many. Depth in all positions is important, especially if injuries occur to KPP. I do not think we have an abundance of KPP. Rocca will probably retire at the end of 2008, meaning that Trav, Rus, Dawes and Reid are our only KP forwards. Now it would be extremely difficult to fit all 4 of them in at once but it can be done similarly to Hawthorn's box formation. It would look something like this..

Cloke Reid
Dawes Rusling

The thing is, if we trade Rusling for example, a year or two down the track we will end up drafting another KP forward for depth because it will be required. I know we need to bolster our ruck stocks and midfield capabilities but this can be done using this years crop of draftees and even next years.

We should not tinker with our KP forwards as this is one area where we look set for a decade.

Spot on mate

 

[daics cousin]

But think of the other end of the ground. Presti, Clem and Wakes are no more in 2 years time, so who have we got coming through? The future is not looking as rosy. Harry will take one slot. I really rate JA but there has to be a question mark about him after a serious neck injury, and its early days for Nathan Brown and I think its safe to say that he has not been as impressive as Reid, Dawes or JA in their 1st years. Even if Rusling is surplus for the forward line, he may be insurance for the backline, allowing us to swith one of the 4 young KP forwards to shore up the defence...

Well we have nathan brown,john anthony,tyson goldsac,harry o'brien who will make up the talls.Presti and clement will be around for 2-3 years which gives the others time to develop.So our backline will be solid .If need be we can recruit another tall back through this year or next years draft.
Our main defeciency is to get a strong ruck and another classy midfielder,someone like a maybe prismall from the cats who can't get a game.He would perfect for us.A few middies coming through the draft this year,like another selwood coming through and quite afew others.Aren't we going to take jaxon barham through the father and son rule.He is a midfielder with explosive pace so i'm told ?

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Just read a CFC article that said Rus was 20 years old?
Is this true?

Reason I ask is given his constant injuries I've been of the opinion that he won't end up being a CFC player for long.
But if its true he's 20 years old I say GREAT! Keep the kid for 3 more years for sure if he's only 20 years then its not like he's been damaged at the wrong time.

I always thought he was more around 23-24. Besides I'm probably medically wrong in this assumption but I would think that his injuries if he is indeed 20 were largely due to his younger years.
As he gets older closer to 25 etc I figure he would be injured less.

No, he isn't Mathhew Lokan

 

[Munger]

We would be mad to give away Rusling. I know we need a Ruckman but we should be looking at drafting a Ruckman, instead of trading for one. You don't give away players with this much talent. One name that keeps getting thrown up is Meesen from Adelaide. Having seen him last week for the first time he is no better an option than Richards or Bryant. If we had to trade for a Ruckman surely we should be looking at players like Lonie, Holland and Davis as trade bait. You have to picture what sort of player Rusling he will be in 2 to 3 years time. I am sure with players like Cloke, Reid, Didak and Dawes around him he will be a massive handful for opposition teams and would be capable of kicking 70 goals plus a season.

 

[MarkT]

You won’t get a decent ruckman for a fringe player. It just won't happen, not even if you package multiple fringe players. Unless you ca offer what someone needs and they have talent forget getting a ruckman from anyone. It is all well and good to say we should draft one but here we are after 8 drafts under MM and we still don’t have a single good enough ruckman. Even if we did manage to draft a good prospect he'd be a few years of serious contribution and we'd still be 1 or 2 short.

I am certainly not against drafting a ruckman but we also need to trade for one and getting a crap one does us more harm than good so it is going to cost. We are talking about a player that could add significantly to premiership aspirations. How much better than Dawes, Reid or Cloke will Rusling be? Over and above that can they all play together anyway?

I have been a fan of Rusling from early days but he has to be looked at in view of his shoulders and the forward potential we have.