He's just trash. Never has or will be an AFL standard ruck, I don't recall him ever being named as a sole ruck in a game. Just plods around the forward line.
I agree he's not a great forward. good for a goal or two a game through contested marking but doesn't offer any defensive pressure nor leads so as a package he's flawed. Watch this space though, he'll be a very good replacement for Jamar when he retires. For the record, he's played 5 games without Spencer or Jamar in the side. Round 14, 2013: 10 touches, 5 marks, 6 tackles, 33 hitouts, 1 goal. 100DT/92SC. Round 15, 2013: 18 touches, 8 marks, 1 tackle, 25 hitouts, no goals. 96DT/72SC. Round 16, 2013: 9 touches, 0 marks, 7 tackles, 48 hitouts, no goals, 96DT/92SC. Round 17, 2013: 5 touches, 0 marks, 3 tackles, 34 hitouts, no goals, 56DT/67SC. Round 18, 2013: 17 touches, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 20 hitouts, 1 behind, 101DT/120SC. Not great, but not terrible. His ruckwork is much improved this year though. Looking at the career patterns of most AFL rucks they start to break out around 23/24 (as in, most of our current elites bar Naitanui and Ryder went from not AFL standard to guns at 23/24...Maric/Sandi etc. a bit later). Gawn is 22 atm so certainly has time on his side and atm looks to be improving pretty rapidly.
I'd probably agree. I think I'm getting a little far ahead and considering what Gawn will be, not what he is. I'm pretty certain he'll be very good but fact remains on exposed form he's not there yet.
Exactly, you see what he could be, Diggler sees what he's done at AFL level. He's under performed at AFL level, and could be more. The middle of your assessments. Imo at least.
That said he was underrated in the sim, was like the 37th best pure ruckman or something which I don't think is the case.
Has found a real niche down back of late in that mop-up and rebound role. Probably been his best month over the last two years. He wasn't that high to begin with, it'd just be making him a more effective defender.
Really? I thought it was obvious. :P Anyway, does Matt Priddis need a boost? He's easily the Eagle's best (or at least most consistent) mid-fielder imo.
He is pretty much playing the same as he has been for the past few years. Just getting more coverage over here which makes it appear so. No need imo.
Yeah agreed. Priddis is still very, very slow, very unaccountable defensively and very average by foot. The only thing that's improved of late is his accumulation going from very good to great.
