Sean Rusling

[DoubleO7]

I've been getting mixed messages from fellow pie supporters regarding Sean Rusling and his season ahead. Some say he will have a great year permitting any injury, others say he will not be as effective as you might believe and some want him to play VFL to earn his spot.

I believe Rusling will finally have his break out year and silence his critics. He has all the tools to make it has a decent Full Forward.

Injury aside, I can see him being that spear head Full forward that most of us believe he could be. If Rusling plays through out the year with out injury I can see him kickng between 40 - 50 goals (min 20 games)

His presence in our forward 50 adds another dimension to the forward line. It alows some of our other forwards ( Medhurst, Thomas etc...) to play deeper in the midfield.

What are your thoughts on Rusling and this upcoming season?

 

[JOELY]

He's been around so long now it's easy to forget how few games his played. 17 games is it? Still not really enough to find out whether he's truly going to make it. My opinion on rusling is that we're lucky he hasn't given the game away yet, and any time out there injury free from now on is a bonus, not expected. If he can get through the year i reckon we can start evaluating where to go from there, but at the moment, i'm not expecting much.

 

[PiesMan]

to be honest - i think you are giving him way too much credit...

he wont add any more to our forward line than JA currently does. And JA and Rus will not play in the same forward line at the same time.

i see it as pretty much swap one in for the other and you get the same result. its a sideways substitution - i dont beleive the team stands to gain anything from that move. we wont loose from it either though.

rusling is one-dimensional, albeit good at what he does. but does he really offer a giant leap from JA? i wouldn't have thought so.

perhaps his style is slightly different than JA's so maybe the means to the end will be different. but i beleive the end result with either of them in the side is the same...

its a totally new argument if we start talking about rusling allowing JA to move into the backline... who knows how that would change the dynamics?? but as a straight swap (selection wise) we wont gain anything out of sight...

 

[shawthing09]

Rusling has a couple of things that make polarise people's opinion one of which is the fact that he is exciting to watch, pretty much because his lightening quick and burns defenders on the lead. Secondly he is awesome at what he does. Third the fact that he hasn't played a great deal and forth that his skills are limited.

His one of those cases who the less he plays the bigger the hype from the believers and the more the rest of us are keen to point out why we are sceptical.

As it stands he is great off a lead and his lead and mark is great. His defensive pressure is poor. His mobility is poor which means he leads in straight lines. As a result of that he needs a lot of space inside foward 50 to be effective and has only really looked impressive when given this space, barring the sydney game where our midfield was dominate. His yet to show anything in a contest which means if his our go to foward and a team block up space to lead into he is likely to struggle.

 

[ksardog]

rusling to play full forward and anthony to the backline.case closed

 

[kevind]

Rusling has a couple of things that make polarise people's opinion one of which is the fact that he is exciting to watch, pretty much because his lightening quick and burns defenders on the lead. Secondly he is awesome at what he does. Third the fact that he hasn't played a great deal and forth that his skills are limited.

His one of those cases who the less he plays the bigger the hype from the believers and the more the rest of us are keen to point out why we are sceptical.

As it stands he is great off a lead and his lead and mark is great. His defensive pressure is poor. His mobility is poor which means he leads in straight lines. As a result of that he needs a lot of space inside foward 50 to be effective and has only really looked impressive when given this space, barring the sydney game where our midfield was dominate. His yet to show anything in a contest which means if his our go to foward and a team block up space to lead into he is likely to struggle.

I think you are spot on. He is too one dimensional for my liking and can only play one position and will only succeed when there is a mismatch with pace.

I watched him in the VFL a few times and he was okay when they put the traditional type of KPB on him. A few teams then woke up that you play a half back flanker type with pace on him. Rusling would subsequently struggle to get a touch.

17 games and 19 goals is not really setting the world on fire either and before he got injured against Freo in Rd 1 last year he was terrible.

All that before you consider the injuries scenario.

JA is a better footballer, a better kick, has good defensive pressure and is versatile. For Rusling to succeed he would need to be a genius on the lead and for MM to open the whole forward area up for him. This would make us very one dimensional.

 

[the mighty T]

i can understand why people would be a bit sceptical of him however i have my faith. and it all comes back to his first game in 2007 where he ripped the swans apart and kicked 3 or 4 goals.

full forward seems his destined location and as a hard leading forward he could cause a lot of headaches for opposition teams. they will need to take notice of him, need to put someone on him who can beat him because if teams dont, he'll tear them a new one.

look how the blues have gone with fevola. similar sort of player, good speed, strong mark, hard lead...and sure, i concede that fev is a far better player than rusling is. my point is, i still believe that rusling can make a big impact as part of collingwoods forwardline.

 

[mongrel_punt]

I personally don't think he's good enough in the air (contested situations) or good enough with second efforts at ground level to ever be a successful AFL footballer.

He had 1 trick. The fast lead. If he doesn't get good delivery or if the opposition sit a man in front of him, he is suddenly nullified with no other strings to his bow to change the outcome.

Now before you bite my head off, this opinion is from limited viewing of him. As previous posters have said he has only played 17? games. As such I'm still willing to give him the benefeit of the doubt and look forward to seeing plenty more of him.

But if he can't even get his body right for the pre-season, should we be experimenting with him in the season? I would say only if he is dominating in the VFL. I do not think he should be a walk up start in the senior squad by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

His breakout season is probably not until 2010.

This year will be all about catching up on what he's missed out on while out injured - learning how to play the game and developing some extra strings to his bow. As a lot of people correctly point out, he hasnt got a lot of tricks in his trade. But not many 17 gamers have. People underestimate how much his development has been slowed down back by his shoulder injuries. You cant learn the fine skills in the medical room.

I just want him to avoid injury and start getting a kick in 2009.

 

[Vampire013]

My opinion is that he has superstar potential.
Last year I told him that I want 100 goals from him - LOL
He laughed and said you're not expecting much.
This year I will keep my mouth shut and hope that he just does not do that shoulder. I am not comparing him to Wayne Carey, but he had similar shoulder issues at the start of his career.
Rusling has done 100m in 10.60 seconds. No other footballer is that fast.
Once he gets a lead no one will be able to catch him if the ball is delivered properly. He is a good mark and a decent kick, contrary to what other think.
I was at the 2 games a couple of years ago when he burned the swans and he was unstoppable. He just needs time on the field and some confidence and experience. He has only played 17 games and he averages about 100 points in super coach, so he can't be doing that bad on the ground.

 

[smiddaz123]

I have plenty of confidence in him as a footballer, but very little in terms of having a role in our team.

The entire forwardline has to be based around his game if he is to perform imo. He needs to be given space, an basically have the forwardline cleared out for him.

Whenever he has played on a flank, from a pocket or been remotely in a confined space, he has struggled.

I'm a massive fan, but if GC17 are interested and are willing to part with a decent draft pick, I'd be tempted....

Just quietly, he is easily out most over rated player currently. I've heard people suggesting he'll top our goal kicking in 2009. lol?

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I have plenty of confidence in him as a footballer, but very little in terms of having a role in our team.

The entire forwardline has to be based around his game if he is to perform imo. He needs to be given space, an basically have the forwardline cleared out for him.

Whenever he has played on a flank, from a pocket or been remotely in a confined space, he has struggled.

I'm a massive fan, but if GC17 are interested and are willing to part with a decent draft pick, I'd be tempted....

Just quietly, he is easily out most over rated player currently. I've heard people suggesting he'll top our goal kicking in 2009. lol?

I repeat my post from the team selection thread. Its February. Lets not write off any players just yet and leave trade talk until a bit later in the year.

There are vacancies in the forward line for any key forward who wants to prove themselves. Only Cloke is a long term certainty. All the rest are unproven.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Just quietly, he is easily out most over rated player currently. I've heard people suggesting he'll top our goal kicking in 2009. lol?

Chris Dawes has also had huge raps put on him by people despite having not really done much in his career so far. Not to mention Beams and Sidebottom!!!! These guys just need time. They'll have to live with the expectations, after all they are at Collingwood and it comes with the territory.

 

[well left]

His breakout season is probably not until 2010.

This year will be all about catching up on what he's missed out on while out injured - learning how to play the game and developing some extra strings to his bow. As a lot of people correctly point out, he hasnt got a lot of tricks in his trade. But not many 17 gamers have. People underestimate how much his development has been slowed down back by his shoulder injuries. You cant learn the fine skills in the medical room.

I just want him to avoid injury and start getting a kick in 2009.

I remember we had Rusling tucked away before we drafted him on the basis of some school games. Am I right in saying he has not played much football full stop?

I think he may have been doing athletics during his junior days. Or I am just thinking that because he does the 100 in 10.6??

If he has not played many games at all then you may be correct in terms of his development. The first half of the year in the VFL may be the best thing for him if we have other options for the 3rd tall role.

 

[rand corp]

I think the Ruzzas biggest challenge, (aside from stayign injury free) is Jack Anthony the Forward.

Has basically taken first dibbs on the slot earmarked for Ruzz.

Rusling does have some exceptional talent and I am a fan, but its no longer a given that he will run out if fit. I think he's going to have to earn his chops in the VFL and try to break into the side.

 

[Quicky]

His breakout season is probably not until 2010.

This year will be all about catching up on what he's missed out on while out injured - learning how to play the game and developing some extra strings to his bow. As a lot of people correctly point out, he hasnt got a lot of tricks in his trade. But not many 17 gamers have. People underestimate how much his development has been slowed down back by his shoulder injuries. You cant learn the fine skills in the medical room.

I just want him to avoid injury and start getting a kick in 2009.

I think you're right - people forget that he has missed out on the chance to develop his game because of his injuries. The reason the club is so patient with him is because if gets injury free and has the chance to tweak his game a little he will be a very very good player for us. Honestly if he learns to apply more defensive pressure which is coachable (and has in the past probably been affected by his fitness) and learns be a slightly smarter forward in regards to where he leads to and using his space (which is probably coachable) he'll be a gun. I really don't think he is as one dimensional as people make out. Both his size and some of the contested marks he has taken suggest that he has the potential to be more than a lead and mark forward if he gets his shoulders right. And even if not who's to say that he won't be atleast as affective as someone like Williams at Hawthorn who is a very similar player. The simple fact is that not many players have the ability to take a game apart like Rusling did against Sydney.

 

[DaVe86]

Ruz should have to earn his spot in the side like everyone else.

Apart from glimpses, it is not like he has ever really dominated a game.

He has also never played much consistent footy due to injuries.


He has had close to no real pre-season doing full training.

Therefore, i do not see why he should be in the team ahead of those like Anthony and Dawes who have had good pre-seasons and play consistent footy at the end of 08 and have played the NAB cup games.


So Ruz to play in the VFL until he starts showing signs of form. Will be a great inclusion into the side and will add a lot of X factor. If we become predictable then he can come in and really shake things up.


But i do not believe he is an automatic inclusion into the team given the lack of footy he has played.


Good luck to him. I back his ability and think that given an injury free year he can become a solid 40 goal a year player if not something a little bit more special.

 

[mdc]

I think you are spot on. He is too one dimensional for my liking and can only play one position and will only succeed when there is a mismatch with pace.

I watched him in the VFL a few times and he was okay when they put the traditional type of KPB on him. A few teams then woke up that you play a half back flanker type with pace on him. Rusling would subsequently struggle to get a touch.

17 games and 19 goals is not really setting the world on fire either and before he got injured against Freo in Rd 1 last year he was terrible.

All that before you consider the injuries scenario.

JA is a better footballer, a better kick, has good defensive pressure and is versatile. For Rusling to succeed he would need to be a genius on the lead and for MM to open the whole forward area up for him. This would make us very one dimensional.

Word.

 

[Heater39]

to be honest - i think you are giving him way too much credit...

he wont add any more to our forward line than JA currently does. And JA and Rus will not play in the same forward line at the same time.

i see it as pretty much swap one in for the other and you get the same result. its a sideways substitution - i dont beleive the team stands to gain anything from that move. we wont loose from it either though.

rusling is one-dimensional, albeit good at what he does. but does he really offer a giant leap from JA? i wouldn't have thought so.

perhaps his style is slightly different than JA's so maybe the means to the end will be different. but i beleive the end result with either of them in the side is the same...

its a totally new argument if we start talking about rusling allowing JA to move into the backline... who knows how that would change the dynamics?? but as a straight swap (selection wise) we wont gain anything out of sight...

Good post. Rusling may offer more in some areas but as you said if you switched the two the net result would be similar, and given that Rus can barely get out of bed without injuring himself, JA should be the more reliable and therefore preferred option.

 

[sammyL31]

MM seems to have alot of faith in him
considering 07 he went almost straight into the seniors late on the season
and starting round 1 underdone with only one pre season game under his belt as far as i can remember

i reckon he is a major part of our plans for 09 and that means being ahead of guys like dawes macaffer and anthony