Funny thing about ruckmen at Melbourne. They all seem to do better going solo as Jimmy and Jeff White did before the Russian.

Was it Jamar's managers idea to sign him to a 1 year deal this year? Smart move.. seems he's peaking!

I like 1 year contracts, should be used more often. Keep Players Hungry. The Russian was fantastic yesterday. Bet he slept well last night!!! B)

I've given Jamar heaps over the years but it was warranted, he was playing ordinary football prior to last year. Perhaps it was because of White and lack of game time who knows, but he was awful.

My biggest gripe with him was how easily brushed aside he was, he seemed to have no balance and even small players could out muscle him. He stepped up last year and is now one of the premier ruckmen in the comp.

Cant say I ever bagged Jamar but also cant say I was confident he was going to make it either...

What we have seen are still glimpses of the huge value he can add to our team and the faith of football depts current and past being repaid.

However it is still only a handful of games we have seen this.

Longevity this season will dictate the tale of his next contract. I hope for our sake he has a massive year!

Would a 2 year mid season extension be stupid?

Considering GC and WS will be sniffing around for mature aged ruckman.

I would say if he can string more games like yesterday together then thats not a bad idea...

What are you proposing we offer BBP?

There weren't many of us dl, the stuff he used to cop on here was shocking. Most of it was Danihers fault imo, he couldn't manage the rucks under Jeff White. Jake Spencer will be copping it hard soon. It's a tough gig being a young ruckman learning your craft under a seasoned campaigner

Yes, well I followed the young Dee since Daniha days, & cheered the Young Russian & supported & encouraged his footy, with some odd looks here & there, But I could Seer in him what others can see now.

But there you go, I'm just a mere mortal nostradeamus?

I also spotted a young Warnock, & unfortunately Valenti, but sadly for Shane the games changed a lot in a short space of time re the interchanges.

I've also been fully in the Frawley bandwagon since early days.

still haven't quite given up yet with MNewton, but the ball is now firmly in his court. If it is to be.

Edited April 6, 201015 yr by dee-luded

Best game so far. Outstanding. Flogged Jolly and "Molly"

easily.

Didn't you write him off a few times Rhyno?

26 -27 in September.Now right in his prime as a tall-ruckman. Still has his best in front of him for at least 4 to 5 years.

Not only 26yr 7mths

Mark Jamar #40 Melbourne Demons - Ruck

Age: 26yr 7mth Games: 75 Born: August 9, 1983

Height: 198cm Weight: 104kg Position:

Last Drafted: Round 1, Pick #6 2001 Rookie Draft

We must keep these types of players well past the 100 game father/son mark.

He's a demon through & through & we should ensure he stays.

I've always argued that if he plays with intensity and the angry pills, he is a good ruckman. Didn't think he'd be a elite ruck but he was huge yesterday.

It was his consistency that annoys me. Was injured a lot last year but played really well in games he did play. Hard to judge consistency last year. Good start this year jimjam.

Ability isn't hard to recognise, but health & consistency is.

Physical attributes are now increasingly important in young players with the interchange the way it is. See Shane Valenti.l

I've always argued that if he plays with intensity and the angry pills, he is a good ruckman. Didn't think he'd be a elite ruck but he was huge yesterday.

It was his consistency that annoys me. Was injured a lot last year but played really well in games he did play. Hard to judge consistency last year. Good start this year jimjam.

Hear hear.

I've said in a couple of threads that he is in the elite of bounce rucks. He proved it again yesterday.

His only weakness has been injury. I seriously wish he'd kicked a goal when he broke from the pack at the Punt Rd end. But he did everything else right, and his palming to our onballers was sublime.

Hear hear.

I've said in a couple of threads that he is in the elite of bounce rucks. He proved it again yesterday.

His only weakness has been injury. I seriously wish he'd kicked a goal when he broke from the pack at the Punt Rd end. But he did everything else right, and his palming to our onballers was sublime.

A beautifull bit of play 'Lost Highway', & he seems to be still improving.

Jamar's development into a top shelf ruckman is what gives me hope for Jake Spencer.

That piece of play when the Russian broke through that pack was perfect, but I worry he has developed a little too much confidence - I'm sure he tried to kick that goal on his non-preferred foot!

Jamar's development into a top shelf ruckman is what gives me hope for Jake Spencer.

That piece of play when the Russian broke through that pack was perfect, but I worry he has developed a little too much confidence - I'm sure he tried to kick that goal on his non-preferred foot!

I thought it was a right footer, especially the way it broke off line & boomeranged over the pocket boundary line.

I thought it was a right footer, especially the way it broke off line & boomeranged over the pocket boundary line.

I might be wrong, but I remember it differently.

I was at the game though & don't have foxtel.

I might be wrong, but I remember it differently.

I was at the game though & don't have foxtel.

He`s a left footer and I`m pretty sure he kicked it with his left!

I might be wrong, but I remember it differently.

I was at the game though & don't have foxtel.

nah he kicked it left foot

shame

would have brought the house down

I might be wrong, but I remember it differently.

I was at the game though & don't have foxtel.

I thought it was a left foot kick and glad you could get to a game.Great game to watch- disappointing climax.

I thought it was a left foot kick and glad you could get to a game.Great game to watch- disappointing climax.

It was definitely left foot, that is why he missed, was angled towards the boundary line and kicked it straight. A right foot kick across the body might have gone in!

Not suprised by Jamar's form. He has been our first choice ruckman since the 2008 preseason competition when he started showing plenty. He became a monster around the stoppages, beating Sandilands and a few others through the year. Hopefully the one year extension is more because he only played 5 games last year (including a couple very good ones) and both the club and his management wanted to base a longer contract off of a more complete season.

As good as he was, we need to get some solid support ASAP. Johnson would be ideal, as both him and Jamar can rest up forward as longer options, however in the short term Martin should be given the nod if fit, hopefully starting this week.

Edited April 4, 201015 yr by The Russian

As good as he was, we need to get some solid support ASAP. Johnson would be ideal, as both him and Jamar can rest up forward as longer options, however in the short term Martin should be given the nod if fit, hopefully starting this week.

Agreed he needs suppport. But sadly PJ is not it. Offers nothing in the centre and less up forward. Ultimate fools gold. The sooner we can bring Spencer, Martin or GAWN up to scratch the better.

Before the game on Saturday, despite feeling like we were in for a 10 goal hiding, I did tell any Collingwood supporters who would listen that the Russian would take care of business against Jolly and Fraser, it was so sweet having the big fella prove me right!!

The thing I loved about the Russian's game, was his clearance work. From what I recall he had 7 clearances and 13 of his 14 possessions were contested. Exactly what this young midfield needs at the moment.

For the record his shot on goal at the punt rd end was definately left foot, it was right in front of me.

Agreed he needs suppport. But sadly PJ is not it. Offers nothing in the centre and less up forward. Ultimate fools gold. The sooner we can bring Spencer, Martin or GAWN up to scratch the better.

Written PJ off for the year before he even plays a game?

PJ is a year younger than Jamar, with a similarly developed body. He is our most viable second ruckman option at the moment. He played some good games last year and I believe he can improve (like Jamar) in an improving team. If he doesn't cut it he will be moved on eventually and the others will get an oportunity. Gawn is on the LTI and Spencer needs time to develop.

Martin should get the nod until PJ is ready, but do we want to develop him as a ruckman long term? Watching Harry Taylor in last years grand final convinced me we need to persist with Martin as a defender. However he has battled this preseason and had not earned a call up. I would select him as a second ruckman this week purely because it will be stupid to risk Jamar solo two weeks in a row.

Written PJ off for the year before he even plays a game?

In short, yes. I'm not sure what PJ offers now that he hasn't in the past, which is not much. He is not physical like Jamar and that's our core requirement for a ruckman. Anything other attributes are just optional extras. The only ruckman we have on our list that is really physical (besides the unknown Gawn and obviously Jamar) is Spencer. It's just a pity the latter is no good at this point.

Jamar has always been extremely physical, so it's no surprise to me that he's come on. Conversely, PJ has never been physical so it's hard to believe that he will ever come on.

In short, yes. I'm not sure what PJ offers now that he hasn't in the past, which is not much. He is not physical like Jamar and that's our core requirement for a ruckman. Anything other attributes are just optional extras. The only ruckman we have on our list that is really physical (besides the unknown Gawn and obviously Jamar) is Spencer. It's just a pity the latter is no good at this point.

Jamar has always been extremely physical, so it's no surprise to me that he's come on. Conversely, PJ has never been physical so it's hard to believe that he will ever come on.

No surprise? Pre-2008 most people on here had written Jamar off at some stage and some have written him off since. PJ's season last year is underated amongst posters. He shouldered ruck duties for most of the year without much support. He had some obvious bad games, which many of our players did, but he also had some very encouraging performances. In an improving side, and in more of supportive role, I am not why you are not prepared to give him a chance to improve?

This team will improve together, I don't see PJ as an excption at this stage.

In short, yes. I'm not sure what PJ offers now that he hasn't in the past, which is not much. He is not physical like Jamar and that's our core requirement for a ruckman. Anything other attributes are just optional extras. The only ruckman we have on our list that is really physical (besides the unknown Gawn and obviously Jamar) is Spencer. It's just a pity the latter is no good at this point.

Jamar has always been extremely physical, so it's no surprise to me that he's come on. Conversely, PJ has never been physical so it's hard to believe that he will ever come on.

I just hope Gawn is as good as I think he will be. I think he could be better than Salmon. With Jamar still improving would be a very good duo. I would not mind icking up a Laycock either