He's training with us, is a good rookie prospect so worth the thread. If anyone's seen him at training and can enlighten us - please do!

In the meantime, Quigley had plenty to say about him and had Collingwood taking him at 21 in the ND:

Jack Hannath

DOB: 9/7/91 Ht: 201 Wt: 97

If I am looking for a ruck this year and I miss out on Grundy the only other guy I consider taking is Hannath. For me he has the most potential of any of the rucks playing in the state leagues and could come in and do what Giles did for GWS last year. Admittedly he might be a year or two behind Giles but he is younger and plays a similar sort of role. He has grown a couple of centimetres since his junior days and those couple of centimetres make a material difference I think when assessing a ruck. The difference between 199 and 201 does not sound like much but it is for a number 1 ruck. Hannath is also much more physically ready now than he was as an 18 year old.

There are a few teams out there who need a back-up ruck who can come in and play straight away and Hannath is one who could do that. He is also still only 21 and is still developing both physically and with his game. He only really established himself at SANFL level this year and he continued to develop over the course of the year. There is every reason to think there is still plenty of development left in him and that he could become a legitimate starter or perhaps even as a 2nd ruck / KP. I don't rate the ruck talent this year and if you can grab a guy who is already a couple of years down the track development wise and looks like he could be a legit starter then why not grab him.

Hannath is a mobile ruckman who gets around the park very nicely. For his around the ground effort he probably does not get the possessions that he should but like many possession rucks that could click for him in the next year or two and result in a significant jump in production. For me the important thing at the moment is that he looks good around the ground and that the effort is there. Put him into a full time environment with dedicated coaches and I think the improvement continues at apace.

His ruckwork is good and is something which improved a lot over the year. He went up against some pretty good ruck talent in the SANFL and he won more than he lost. After the tap he recovers quickly and becomes a midfielder who scraps pretty well. He is not hugely effective but he does get in there and mix it up. Around the ground he presents nicely as a target and is a pretty good mark of the ball. He managed to take a mark of the round in the SANFL this year which is a pretty good effort from a big ruck. In that mark he got up really nicely on the last line of defence and flew knowing that he was going to fall hard. In the marking contest he recovers quickly if the ball spills and will often react quicker than his opposition. Around the ground his skills are solid and again is improved a lot since his junior days.

There is some talk that he could be a key position defender but really I am not seeing him going down back and matching up one on one with the KPFs of the AFL. He lacks the speed and agility to go with those guys. His speed and agility is okay for a ruck but he is going to look out of his depth if he has to match up with the KPFs who are all going to be quicker and more agile then him. He could potentially play as loose third tall who picked up any ruck who was resting up forward. I do think he would do that role pretty well. There is also some potential for him to play a bit up forward where his height and marking ability could worry quite a few teams.

Possibly a better all-rounder than Martin...

Great, could be a good pick up

Sounds a promising type, worth a punt.

Anything is better than Martin...

Collingwood picking up Grundy may have sealed the fate of Hannath in this years national Draft

I think only Richmond picked up a Ruckman in a late pick but if they were serious about a Ruckman over a Midfielder they would have picked Grundy with their first pick

While this years draft had some impressive KP Players the crop of ruckman was poor in comparison and as usual Midfielder's dominated

Whilist training at Melbourne Hannath has at least a chance of being on a Rookie List

One thing is for sure though in that Neeld is looking for a Ruckman as soon as he gave permission for Hannath to train with us

I think we need one as well

One great thing about Neeld is his show us what you've got attitude to players

A curious selection (although he's not a selection yet). I'm figuring insurance/depth as we've recruited a bunch of big guys and surely you would put Spencer and Gawn in front of him at this stage.

A better replacement for Martin.

Younger and all ready bigger.

I thought our ruck stocks were brim full?

At least it's not Liam McBean.

No idea why Richmond passed on the opportunity to get Grundy.

Personally I don't rate Spencer as a player that will ever make the afl standard the MFC need. He tries his guts out, runs and taps ok. But can not and will not ever be able to kick and or read the play. Jamar is a good ruckman but we need long term apprentices under him now to learn. Gawn could be anything if he can stay injury free.

Pederson and Clarke are good 2nd or 3rd back ups

So I really see a need from a promising young ruckman with potential to be the number 1 ruck in a few years. Like what I have seen and read about this guy as long as his attitude and work ethic are up to standard rookie no doubt!

At least it's not Liam McBean.

No idea why Richmond passed on the opportunity to get Grundy.

Heard from a good source they think Stafford and Simmonds will still be around for their next Premiership window opportunity..

Heard from a good source they think Stafford and Simmonds will still be around for their next Premiership window opportunity..

lol. Stafford and Snake are more likely to get a game in the next 4 years than Liam McBean.

Remember that chick that stalked Stafford?

I thought our ruck stocks were brim full?

You mean our three injury prone key rucks? Seriously, knowing their luck with injuries, it doesn't hurt to have a few extra backups.

lol. Stafford and Snake are more likely to get a game in the next 4 years than Liam McBean.

Remember that chick that stalked Stafford?

Sorry....did I say "around"? I meant "alive".

I watched training on Monday and was super impressed with Hannath. I went over to one of the Melbourne officials to ask who he was and they said he was a potential rookie.

He matched up with Jamar in some match simulation and held his own, even beating him in some hit outs. He also covered ground really well and demonstrated good kicking and marking skills.

I was very impressed.

From what I saw and spoke to 'people in the know' I'd say he will definitely be rookied by us.

Welcome to the club Jack Hannath.

Possibly a better all-rounder than Martin...

Anything is better than Martin...

A better replacement for Martin.

Younger and all ready bigger.

WTF? Are you guys just trying to convince yourselves or do you honestly think that? Martin has done a good job in the ruck, just didn't really work as a forward, but geez I reckon he gave us more than Jamar this year. Plus, with the new ruck rules coming in that favour more athletic ruckmen, Martin may just thrive, as opposed to a lump like Jamar.

Not saying we should have kept him, changes had to be made, but saying "anything is better than Martin" is just ridiculous.

Here's an article on him from the Adelaide Advertiser that appeared about a month before the ND:-

Hannath puts his hand up

WTF? Are you guys just trying to convince yourselves or do you honestly think that? Martin has done a good job in the ruck, just didn't really work as a forward, but geez I reckon he gave us more than Jamar this year. Plus, with the new ruck rules coming in that favour more athletic ruckmen, Martin may just thrive, as opposed to a lump like Jamar.

Not saying we should have kept him, changes had to be made, but saying "anything is better than Martin" is just ridiculous.

Didn't you know Stuie that its mandatory to bag players that are no longer on our list, regardless of the points you make.

If Jamar, Gawn, Spencer & Hannath (assuming we rookie him) are all injury free next year, you'd think one of them will be playing with Casey reserves as only 1 will be in Melbourne's senior team at a time and I can't see Casey seniors playing 3 ruckmen in the one team.

I thought it a bit odd to go for a fourth ruckman, but as an interstate rookie, he could technically sit on our list for 3 years (Spencer was on it for 2 or 3) and grow/develop. He may be back-up given injury issues/history with all of them. On that note, I don't know about this preseason, but last one, Jamar barely did any of the running. Has he been doing any of the running this year?

I cant see Gawn playing with anyone but Casey for the first half of the season if not all.

Heard from a good source they think Stafford and Simmonds will still be around for their next Premiership window opportunity..

WTF? Are you guys just trying to convince yourselves or do you honestly think that? Martin has done a good job in the ruck, just didn't really work as a forward, but geez I reckon he gave us more than Jamar this year. Plus, with the new ruck rules coming in that favour more athletic ruckmen, Martin may just thrive, as opposed to a lump like Jamar.

Not saying we should have kept him, changes had to be made, but saying "anything is better than Martin" is just ridiculous.

Don't tar me with that brush. That's not bagging Martin. I'm on record saying I didn't want Martin to go. I said he could possibly be better than Martin. For the obvious reasons: - he's tall, has a footy brain, plays all over the ground and he's about 6 years younger. Seems like he could be a decent replacement.

I think you are trying to bolster your argument by misinterpreting my post.

I thought it a bit odd to go for a fourth ruckman, but as an interstate rookie, he could technically sit on our list for 3 years (Spencer was on it for 2 or 3) and grow/develop. He may be back-up given injury issues/history with all of them. On that note, I don't know about this preseason, but last one, Jamar barely did any of the running. Has he been doing any of the running this year?

I cant see Gawn playing with anyone but Casey for the first half of the season if not all.

Maybe the club are worried that Jamar/Gawn are injury prone and that Spencer may not make it....

Anything that makes Jamar get off his lazy backside and perform this season is fine by me.

I thought our ruck stocks were brim full?

Keep feedin' em in from the bottom end, one a year or every 2nd year.