Max Gawn

[DeeSpencer 26,381]

Why on earth trade Jamar? We are one injury away from having Fitz as first ruck. FCS, we have been turfing club stalwarts like no ones business and now the calls are to turf another.

For all Jamar's lack of around the ground stats, he has a massive role to play. A mature body, leadership and ruck depth. His retention will also let us shop for a rookie / late pick to build some depth.

If only we had taken Hanneth.

If only we had taken Hannath what? I like Hannath but Gawn represents a good future as number 1. Spencer as depth and Fitzpatrick as ruck forward as well as Clark potentially. Hannath would be behind Fitzy at this stage and behind Spencer and Gawn. He'd be nice to have but he wouldn't be getting a game unlike Clisby who as our last pick is getting a game and going well.

[Demon_Tingles 211]

NO way should we trade Jamar ... I agree gives us nothing around the ground .. however I believe we need both him and Gawn in the side .. Gawn can use his leap against some ruckman but he also gets belted by the strong bodied ones. If we have both it means that we will always have a ruckman who is capable of at least competing with whatever the opposition team puts into the centre bounce... This also allows Fitzpatrick Clark (when/if he returns) and Dawes to stay as permanent forwards. This is particularly important for Fitzy as it will allow him to learn his position a lot quicker.... He has 2 years left on his contract so we should utilise those two years as best we can.

[jackaub 1,402]

Trouble is Jamar is worth Zilch

[jackaub 1,402]

NO way should we trade Jamar ... I agree gives us nothing around the ground .. however I believe we need both him and Gawn in the side .. Gawn can use his leap against some ruckman but he also gets belted by the strong bodied ones. If we have both it means that we will always have a ruckman who is capable of at least competing with whatever the opposition team puts into the centre bounce... This also allows Fitzpatrick Clark (when/if he returns) and Dawes to stay as permanent forwards. This is particularly important for Fitzy as it will allow him to learn his position a lot quicker.... He has 2 years left on his contract so we should utilise those two years as best we can.

Please dnt tell me Jamar has two years left What a tragedy!

[71 Molloy 266]

If only we had taken Hannath what? I like Hannath but Gawn represents a good future as number 1.l.

.

Gawn is the clear hope as #1 ruck but facts are ruck men get injured and Gawn has had 2 Recos and spencer 1.

Fact is Hanneth Would have been cheap depth and one less piece of the list puzzle.

[monoccular 17,665]

The talls he picked in Gawn, Fitzpatrick, Watts, McDonald and Davis weren't too bad. Shame him couldn't land a midfielder in a raft of high draft picks.

Generally agree, but surely you ate just speculating / hoping when you mention Davis in that group.

NO way should we trade Jamar ... I agree gives us nothing around the ground .. however I believe we need both him and Gawn in the side .. Gawn can use his leap against some ruckman but he also gets belted by the strong bodied ones. If we have both it means that we will always have a ruckman who is capable of at least competing with whatever the opposition team puts into the centre bounce... This also allows Fitzpatrick Clark (when/if he returns) and Dawes to stay as permanent forwards. This is particularly important for Fitzy as it will allow him to learn his position a lot quicker.... He has 2 years left on his contract so we should utilise those two years as best we can.

. You forgot to add Hogan amongst the permanent ll forwards.

And just because it ain't conventional to play 3-4 talls forwrd doesn't mean there are times, days and oppositions when we may not try it.

Just maybe we could be proactive trendsetters for a change.

[Demon_Tingles 211]

Yeah I only meant this year for Fitzy to get experience up forward until Hogan is ready ... I feel next year we will have clark dawes hogan and fitz passing through there aswell we desperately require one/two crumbing forwards because with these huge units if they dont mark it they definitely will not be outmarked often. Fitz/Gawn at worst can switch with Jamar in the ruck and forward when needed

[What 18,810]

he will be the best ruckman in the game in a couple of years.

He will be a dominant force.

[Webber 10,616]

I'm a big Gawn fan, but his ruckwork needs a LOT of work.

Given his height, he does not get his hands on it enough in the ball ups, and realistically we are still better in the middle with Jamar. But, he has already shown more than many ruckman have at his age, and with practically no experience.

Could be one of the better rucks going around in a few years time.

Totally agree. His quality for his age at that ridiculous height, is very rare. He is going to be an enormous part of MFC going forward ( injuries and jumping ship not withstanding!)

[Webber 10,616]

Generally agree, but surely you ate just speculating / hoping when you mention Davis in that group.

. You forgot to add Hogan amongst the permanent ll forwards.

And just because it ain't conventional to play 3-4 talls forwrd doesn't mean there are times, days and oppositions when we may not try it.

Just maybe we could be proactive trendsetters for a change.

Could Fitz become the tallest wingman ever seen. He's got all the attributes.

[daisycutter 29,897]

Could Fitz become the tallest wingman ever seen. He's got all the attributes.

Richo says hi

[Allen Jakovich 516]

I think fitzy should be developed as an inside mid...

NB: This post has mirth attached...

[jazza 1,323]

I think fitzy should be developed as an inside mid...

NB: This post has mirth attached...

that's what neeldy has been doing

haven't you noticed

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

We should trade Jamar.

I think Collingwood, Hawthorn and GWS would be interested.

I would be hugely surprised if Jamar ended up on the trade table. You need a minimum of 4 rucks. Even with 4 if Gawn catches a cold this week we would have Fitz as first ruck and Sellar second against the Geelong midfield. Scary. You need ruck depth at a club

Jamar also provides the experience and leadership that a rookie ruck cannot.

Watching the almost 50 year old Ben Hudson break even against Kreuzer on Friday night, who knows, Mark maybe up for another 3 year contract at the end of his current one

[titan_uranus 25,190]

His fitness clearly needs work, as does his centre-square ruckwork.

However, his willingness to get involved in general play is a clear highlight, and the polar opposite of Jamar. He is incredibly mobile for his height, has clean hands, reads the play well, moves well into position, and backs up with second efforts.

Needs a bigger tank, a much bigger tank, plus more strength and training in the centre square. But he's a true talent and could be a genuine ruck star.

[monoccular 17,665]

Could Fitz become the tallest wingman ever seen. He's got all the attributes.

Richo says hi

Fitzy is about 1 km taller than Richo :-)

[Adam The God 30,617]

I'm a big Gawn fan, but his ruckwork needs a LOT of work.

Given his height, he does not get his hands on it enough in the ball ups, and realistically we are still better in the middle with Jamar. But, he has already shown more than many ruckman have at his age, and with practically no experience.

Could be one of the better rucks going around in a few years time.

Gawn needs to improve his ruck work, but at least Gawn stays on his feet in the centre square. I reckon Jamar ends up on his backside every second centre bounce. Gawn certainly has him covered around the ground. I think Gawn's work around the ground outweighs anything Jamar provides...BUT we must be very careful with trading Jamar. We don't need anymore players offside with us.

[daisycutter 29,897]

Fitzy is about 1 km taller than Richo :-)

Matthew Richardson

Height/Weight 197 cm / 103 kg

Jack Fitzpatrick

Height/Weight 200 cm / 99 kg

I know these stats may not be totally accurate but i don't see a a big difference

[DeeSpencer 26,381]

Generally agree, but surely you ate just speculating / hoping when you mention Davis in that group.

\

No I added Davis just to name them all I didn't want to give BP credit for a couple of good talls if he completely missed the other selections, but it appears he got an even spread of tall talent from a mix of draft picks. I don't hold a lot of faith from Davis but the guy has played some good VFL footy. For a late pick you wouldn't call him a bust he just might not make the cut.

[DeeSpencer 26,381]

NO way should we trade Jamar ... I agree gives us nothing around the ground .. however I believe we need both him and Gawn in the side .. Gawn can use his leap against some ruckman but he also gets belted by the strong bodied ones. If we have both it means that we will always have a ruckman who is capable of at least competing with whatever the opposition team puts into the centre bounce... This also allows Fitzpatrick Clark (when/if he returns) and Dawes to stay as permanent forwards. This is particularly important for Fitzy as it will allow him to learn his position a lot quicker.... He has 2 years left on his contract so we should utilise those two years as best we can.

Watched much AFL lately? Teams rarely win when they pick 3 rucks. It's been a kiss of death for Carlton and Essendon over the last couple of seasons. Jamar and Gawn should never play in the same side when Fitzpatrick or Clark are available. Unless both Dawes and Hogan are out injured and even then it would be a stretch.

Modern footy revolves around full ground forward pressure and quick movement of the ball forward. You can't get that if you have a guy in the ruck (ie. Jamar) and 3+ bigs (Gawn, Fitzy, Clark, Dawes, Hogan etc) forward. Simply put both Gawn and Jamar do not play well enough forward and should be restricted to brief cameo's forward.

Fitzpatrick's position is forward/ruck. He is not in the team purely because he can play forward. You would have a mixture of Dawes, Clark, Hogan, Howe and Watts in the team purely for forwards.

Jamar should be kept for on and off field leadership and depth We've traded away too many old players and it hasn't helped. Jamar and Gawn should fight it out for the number 1 ruck spot next year as well as Spencer. A 3 way battle will help keep the standard high. Jamar knows he has to get involved around the ground more. Gawn knows he needs to improve his centre bounce work and his fitness and more. Big Spence has a lot of work to do but his speed and competitiveness are attributes the others don't have.

Fitzpatrick on the other hand is in competition with Clark and in a way in competition with himself. He's the best fit for forward/ruck on our list. Clark will be eased back without rucking I would think so the position falls to Fitzy to do it well enough to hold out the desire the play 2 rucks (which should only real come against a side like West Coast with 2 dominant rucks) or to throw the job to Clark so that Hogan and Dawes fit in the side as well. If he becomes reliable at centre bounces, increases his fitness around the ground and keeps working on his forward play then he becomes a vital player. I bet Collingwood with the way Lynch has struggled would be very keen on Fitzy. Witts will probably always be a bit big and cumbersome to be a true forward/ruck and I'm not sure putting your AA CHB forward in Reid is really a long term solution.

[DeeZee 7,445]

What im liking about these big blokes, Fitzy and Gawny is they they are holding their marks, and taking more marks in a game than Jamar has since his all australian days.

[Vagg 2,449]

What im liking about these big blokes, Fitzy and Gawny is they they are holding their marks, and taking more marks in a game than Jamar has since his all australian days.

And to think they were both taken rather late in the draft. They were both bargains! They were both rather speculative gambles, I'd have thought. But, looking like great choices, now! Well done to the recruiters!

[jazza 1,323]

Trouble is Jamar is worth Zilch

if hes worth zilch,

I would keep him in the ressies, insurance is costly these days and I like cover

[Little Richard 6,265]

Jamar is worth little on the table but quite a bit to us. He provides good leadership, games experience and most importantly experience for Gawn and Fitz to wax off.

He should be retained for the duration of his contract and he is still a good contributor on field.

[Karl Stefanovic 107]

I'm a big fan of Gawny but he has a long way to go (like many of you mentioned). On Sunday I thought by half way through the second term he looked exhausted. Struggling to jump and reading the ball poorly. We need the experience of Jamar there to guide these young guys through. Remember only 3 years ago Jamar was consider one of the better rucks in the AFL and even now will consistently win contests. He lacks around the ground but he does attempt to give first use to our mids (which as we know doesn't often happen). He is a great mentor to the likes of Gawn, Spencer and Fitzpatrick and I'm sure his influence around the club is invaluable.