The Rus man cometh

[Old Spice]

La Rus is listed alongside Josh Fraser as 'test' in the injury update as of yesterday on the Pies site.

Could the Rustifarian be ready to play against the Swans in round 21, a team he has played well against in his short but promising career.

Preceding that, might we see Rus in the VFL. Re his contract status, I reckon he is worth another contract extension over the desert draft years to come. For me he looms as the most potent forward option for us if he stays lucky and injury free.

 

[Coin_Toss]

No chance. Rusling would need at least 3 weeks in the VFL before being declared fit enough to play.

 

[mattys123]

I'd say there's a small chance Rus might make an appearance in the VFL this week, and then make his comeback against the Doggies in round 22.

Will give us a lot of forward choices, with Rocca, Fraser, Dawes and Rus all competing for that 1 spot next to Cloke and Jack in the finals.

Either way, Rusling will at least get 1 more year, because of the lean drafts in the future you need to hold onto talent, even if it is made of glass.

 

[BEEG]

WE DONT NEED HIM

Why would you bring a bloke into a team that is very much settled and he wouldnt be anywhere near match fit and if he was in a final and did his shoulder first 10 mins of a game what impact do you think that would have to the rest of the game

SERIOUSLY people get over him yeah he is a good player but he isnt Wayne Carey he has played 14 games and kicked a few goals our forward line is fine atm and when fraser comes in it will be even better

 

[flash2]

The Rus is back!

 

[drummoyne]

Get him primed for next season I reckon.

I think his introduction may unsettle a side that is playing some very good football at the moment.

 

[Old Spice]

Bring him back if he is fit, not if he is unfit obviously.

We don't need him - I beg to differ. If we can squeeze Dawes in alongside Jack and La Traviata, we most certainly can fit in a fit Rusling. Eat Rus fart!

 

[Quicky]

All I can say is you never know with Malthouse. He is a fan of bringing in a sprinkling of the unknown come finals time. Rus adds a touch of that so I wouldn't rule it out.

On the last point YES and YES. Definitely worth the risk of a list spot. Keen to see how he goes in the VFL - just hope he stays in one piece.

 

[Pie eyed]

Potentially we have 6 games to play...get him primed for this year just in case.

 

[Old Spice]

I want him ready to go and really think he adds a dimension that can stretch a defence in many and varied ways which is good for Trav, Jack and our crumblies.

 

[didaka]

The rest of this year has to be about getting footy into him at what ever level to build a base for him to return to AFL footy next year.

Can never say never, but it's highly unlikely you'll see him anywhere near senior selection this year.

 

[mrlukey69]

yeh get his body right for next year if he gets injured next year his finshed.

 

[The Dawes]

Get him primed for next season I reckon.

I think his introduction may unsettle a side that is playing some very good football at the moment.

Totally agree - he needs to show he can withstand the physical rigours of playing footy week in week out with a view to resurrecting his career in 2010 - he has not had anywhere near a decent enough preperation to play a part in our finals campaign this year.

 

[ksardog]

Get him primed for next season I reckon.

I think his introduction may unsettle a side that is playing some very good football at the moment.

100% agree, let him play out the season in the vfl and get him ready for 2010.

 

[Soul_Pie]

I don't think he's much of a chance to play this year, he's been out of the game for far too long. Love him to prove me wrong, because at his best he is a part of our best 22 and could be a real x-factor come September, but players have had trouble adapting after 4 weeks out of the AFL, let alone the amount of time that Rusling has spent on the sidelines.

If he'd been a couple of weeks ahead of where he is now then perhaps he would have been more of a chance, but there are only 3 more rounds left in the regular season and he still hasn't managed to string any games together at VFL level. Really, he would need to set the world on fire over the next few weeks if he's going to be any chance of playing.

 

[Daicos Mullets]

Unless he sets the VFL on fire over the next couple of weeks by kicking 5+ goals each week, I can't see him forcing his way back into the senior side by the end of the year. He's definitely worth keeping on the list for the next year, drafts are going to be very compromised by Gold Coast & West Sydney over the next few years. If, and it's a big IF, Rus can stay fit, there is enormous potential there.

 

[3066]

No chance. Rusling would need at least 3 weeks in the VFL before being declared fit enough to play.

Agreed .... and even then if he was fit to play his form would have to be outstanding too. We need players that come into the side to hit the ground running and to offer us something. Rusling has shown something in the past but he has also shown he can go completely missing too. I don't think it's worth the risk .... not with such a healthy list anyway. (touch wood)

 

[Bay Pie]

Great to see him back. Let him finish the year in the VFL and give him another year given the lean drafts coming up.

He is well behind Dawes at the moment, who in himself may miss if we play both Josh & Cam Wood.

 

[mdc]

Yay on keeping him on next year, nay on seeing him in the side this year.

 

[chop_me]

If we can squeeze Dawes in alongside Jack and La Traviata, we most certainly can fit in a fit Rusling. Eat Rus fart!

that forward structure would be too tall...and each player will eat into the other's space (especially for rusling)...

our current run is somewhat based on forward pressure, the taller we go, the less pressure we can exert

 

[Pie eyed]

yeh get his body right for next year if he gets injured next year his finshed.

You've been.........Muffled.

 

[mongrel_punt]

Would be stupid to bring him into the seniors this season. If any tall forward is going to make a late impact it is one with runs on the board - Rocca - not one who has played a handful of average games and breaks down every two seconds.

 

[Old Spice]

Rocca and forward defensive pressure don't go together, so would much rather have Rus than Ant at this stage I'm sorry to say.

We just played three talls this weekend. Against Sydney I think it would be a good set up. Trav has been running outside the 50 a bit as was Jack last week so two talls inside 50 seems okay to me. Eat Rus fart.

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

...not one who has played a handful of average games and breaks down every two seconds.

Every two seconds, huh? If you've finished over in the corner there's some more generalisations to be swept up here...

 

[mongrel_punt]

Name someone who is more injury prone then? How many games has he played Vs how many games has he sat watching on the sidelines?

Whether you like to admit it or not he break downs more often than not, and he has never really set the world on fire.

There are many many other options I'd look at for finals before I'd even think about Rusling.