Toast Trent West

[iameviljez]

Huge kudos to this kid - because, in big man terms, he still is - for holding his own whilst rucking solo against the Tigers, Hawks and Lions. No, he's not getting fifteen touches or two goals a week, but he's still jumping over them at the end of the game, and, more importantly, allowing us to play an extra small whilst our midfield is still down on numbers.

Being a solo ruckman is usually the domain of man-mountain types a la Mumford, Jolly, Jamar and Sandilands. West relies on his leap and is therefore unusual in that regard.

In all honesty, I didn't have West pegged as our future AFL ruckman this time last year. Glad to be proven wrong, for once.

 

[Poetic Justice]

Definitely happy. He's not a game influencer in my opinion but he offers enough around the ground to strengthen his position in our side. And I would dare say even if Otto was here this year, West would still be playing where Orren has not.

 

[Generalissimo]

If Otto were still here this year, we would not have even drafted Orren.

 

[Tuggacat]

West must be rested soon: don't see how he can keep playing sole ruckman every week given that he relies on his leap to ruck. He is crucial to our team at this stage with only Orren to come in (though Orren seems like he can do his bit when called upon). My only criticsm of West is that he drops a few too many easy marks. Hopefully he can fix that and add another string to the bow.

 

[Sttew]

Being a solo ruckman is usually the domain of man-mountain types a la Mumford, Jolly, Jamar and Sandilands. West relies on his leap and is therefore unusual in that regard.

unlike Mumford, Jamar and Sandilands West is a premiership ruck man.

 

[Belisarius]

West has definately played better than I expected he would.

And yes playing as a single ruckman he does allow us to play one extra mid - which is a bonus.

He is an ideal second ruckman - mobile and can leap.

He does need a bit more time in the seniors to get some more experience - which he will obviously get this season. Does drop the occasional mark you would expect him to hold.

I still think we will probably need a second ruckman - a bigger unit to help West come finals time against the teams with bigger ruckmen.

Overall very happy with his performances and progression.

 

[Turbocat]

West must be rested soon: don't see how he can keep playing sole ruckman every week given that he relies on his leap to ruck. He is crucial to our team at this stage with only Orren to come in (though Orren seems like he can do his bit when called upon). My only criticsm of West is that he drops a few too many easy marks. Hopefully he can fix that and add another string to the bow.

Yes he does drop a few marks but he takes a fair few as well. The ruckman who shall not be mentioned hardly ever took a mark so I can live with the odd drop as long as keeps getting there to contest them.

If anything Id like him to work on getting forward more and convert. His kicking has gone off a little, maybe its the extra work or maybe he needs to work more on his kicking.

 

[iameviljez]

Yes he does drop a few marks but he takes a fair few as well. The ruckman who shall not be mentioned hardly ever took a mark so I can live with the odd drop as long as keeps getting there to contest them.

If anything Id like him to work on getting forward more and convert. His kicking has gone off a little, maybe its the extra work or maybe he needs to work more on his kicking.

As a lone ruckman, he hasn't really spent any time up forward this year. I think you're right, but he won't develop that part of his game unless he plays forward.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

He is getting to that 30 game mark where he is really starting to belong to the side and find his confidence. Doing a great job solo, but I would still like to see him in partnership with Orren and/or eventually Dawson Simpson.

Saying this though....given the likely inclusion of Brown this week, the requirement for a West to push forward is going to be dramatically reduced. Would be happy to see him spend more time blocking defensive corridor to fit in with team structures.

 

[RegHickeyStand]

West is playing great.

Took a while, but Geelong is the best nursery in the AFL by a country mile. Really proud of him.

Yes, needs a rest.

 

[Partridge]

West is playing great.

Took a while, but Geelong is the best nursery in the AFL by a country mile. Really proud of him.

Yes, needs a rest.

West has been nothing short of sensational in my opinion. Has rarely had even the barest sliver of respect from most Geelong supporters on here, despite doing his job pretty much every week. Has rucked solo in all three wins, was finishing much stronger than Sandilands against Fremantle, he's been terrific. Despite this, people still don't think he's a number one ruckman. I beg to strongly disagree, because he kinda is - right now.

He is obviously much fitter and much stronger than anyone gives him credit for. Is getting better all of the time.

A salient note to those who think Gillies is a lost cause after 10 games too.

 

[Senatorguesty]

West has been nothing short of sensational in my opinion. Has rarely had even the barest sliver of respect from most Geelong supporters on here, despite doing his job pretty much every week. Has rucked solo in all three wins, was finishing much stronger than Sandilands against Fremantle, he's been terrific. Despite this, people still don't think he's a number one ruckman. I beg to strongly disagree, because he kinda is - right now.

He is obviously much fitter and much stronger than anyone gives him credit for. Is getting better all of the time.

A salient note to those who think Gillies is a lost cause after 10 games too.

+1. Amazing effort from a guy who could barely string 2 games together before this year (not including late last year obviously).
I dont even notice him slowing down or losing the ruck late in games either, hes running games out until the end solo rucking and doing it with no fuss.
Imagine if we didnt have him right now....

 

[Pure_Ownage]

West has been fantastic.

Really starting to find his feet as a player, glad he put up with all those years in the VFL, when he played very well there but didn't get a lot of opportunities at the top level.

And I do agree he needs to be rested at some stages and/or we need a second ruckman in some weeks to give him a hand.

 

[My5t3r10u5]

OK, here's a contrary view. I think the plaudits that West is receiving in this post are primarily because he is a relative new-comer to the team. If he was a 100+ gamer playing as he is we would be asking questions about whether he is the right man for the job. Have a look back over the positive comments for Blake in his early days vs the whipping he got in his last years (and he was actually a better player in his last years). While West is giving us a contest, he has been beaten or shaded by the opposing ruck most weeks. The question is whether he has the capability to step up and be a dominating number one ruckman. From what I have seen, I doubt it.

Having said that, I am still very excited about Westy because I think he has the makings of the best number TWO ruckman in the league. The experience he is getting at the moment carrying the ruck is invaluable in fast-tracking his development and his mobility gives him enormous flexibility that most other ruckmen lack. At present he is coming up against our opponents number one ruckman and doing quite well. If he plays as our number two ruckman, he should dominate when he comes up against a number two ruckman (or tiring number one ruckman). If we can find a top class number one ruckman (and I am still hopeful that big Dawson Simpson can step into this role - although a long way to go, admittedly) we will have one of the best ruck combo's in the league. On the other hand, if West continues to be our number one ruckman, I think we will have a problem in that area.

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

OK, here's a contrary view. I think the plaudits that West is receiving in this post are primarily because he is a relative new-comer to the team. If he was a 100+ gamer playing as he is we would be asking questions about whether he is the right man for the job. Have a look back over the positive comments for Blake in his early days vs the whipping he got in his last years (and he was actually a better player in his last years). While West is giving us a contest, he has been beaten or shaded by the opposing ruck most weeks. The question is whether he has the capability to step up and be a dominating number one ruckman. From what I have seen, I doubt it.

Having said that, I am still very excited about Westy because I think he has the makings of the best number TWO ruckman in the league. The experience he is getting at the moment carrying the ruck is invaluable in fast-tracking his development and his mobility gives him enormous flexibility that most other ruckmen lack. At present he is coming up against our opponents number one ruckman and doing quite well. If he plays as our number two ruckman, he should dominate when he comes up against a number two ruckman (or tiring number one ruckman). If we can find a top class number one ruckman (and I am still hopeful that big Dawson Simpson can step into this role - although a long way to go, admittedly) we will have one of the best ruck combo's in the league. On the other hand, if West continues to be our number one ruckman, I think we will have a problem in that area.

Isn't it kind of silly to ask questions about West as a 100+ gamer when he's only a 25 gamer? The reason why Blake was getting plaudits early was because he showed that he had promise. The reason why he copped a lot of criticism as a 99 gamer was because his promise hadn't grown into anything other than "a good tap ruckman". I think West deserves the benefit of more game time before we start heaping shit onto him as well. Given that he's willing to insert himself into the play around the ground I think his scope for improvement will exceed that of "a good tap ruckman".

 

[My5t3r10u5]

Isn't it kind of silly to ask questions about West as a 100+ gamer when he's only a 25 gamer? The reason why Blake was getting plaudits early was because he showed that he had promise. The reason why he copped a lot of criticism as a 99 gamer was because his promise hadn't grown into anything other than "a good tap ruckman". I think West deserves the benefit of more game time before we start heaping shit onto him as well. Given that he's willing to insert himself into the play around the ground I think his scope for improvement will exceed that of "a good tap ruckman".

Hey, I'm not heaping shit onto him or suggesting that we do. I'm simply making the point that the plaudits he is getting is for the promise he is showing rather than for playing exceptional games (some of the comments in this thread make it sound like he is one of the best ruckman in the game at present)

I actually think West has the perfect game for a number two ruckman. I just haven't seen anything to suggest he has the capacity to become a dominant number one ruckman. I'm more than happy to be proved wrong though.

 

[Belisarius]

West has performed as well as could be expected in his first 25 games.

The question is whether he will improve and who will be the other ruckman that plays along side of him ?

If he does improve over the season he will certainly be a good player for us - and I trust he gets to play with another ruckman as this would allow him to play less fatigued and against some smaller opposition.

He may yet dominate against such lesser opposition.

Can Orren or Dawson come in and give him a chop out ?

From last report Orren played well in the VFL again and deserves another crack in the seniors - and Dawson will be back in the next 4-6 weeks it seems. Good news as it is definately better for us to have options come Sept. Play a single ruckman in West or play two ruckman. And that will require another ruckman to stand up by the end of the season.

Surely that is what we are trying to do. Keep West progressing over this season and resting him so he is fresh for a finals campaign. And give Orren and Dawson enough senior exposure so we have a 2 ruckman option available to us for a finals campaign.