Pruess...VFL is his spot

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,805]

2 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

They also laughed at Max in his early days. 

Max was as awkward looking as Preuss is currently. He just needs a couple of years to develop.

Disagree with your assessment of Max's early days there Neil.  I always thought he looked quite coordinated and footy smart for a guys his size.  I think it was more injuries, as well as a lack of endurance (physical and mental) to maintain the required level of intensity over whole games that kept Max from having the impact he is as a player now earlier in his career.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,805]

I was hoping for much better impact from big Preussy these last two games.  Part of the disappointment and the issue I think is that he isn't holding his marks as well as he did in his stints earlier in the season and even in the game against Carlton he took a handful of big strong grabs around the ground that he hasn't done the past two weeks.

For me I think it's two fold:

1. He's now being targeted and closer checked by defenders when he presents as a forward option as there isn't a T Mac or Weid to take the best two key backs;

2. As a result of 1. he's lost a bit of confidence in his marking ability and is fumbling his marks around the ground when he has more time space and body size advantage to clunk them.

 

Not a lost cause by any stretch to me and I think the more AFL games we can get into him over the next 5 games to develop, better pick up the pace and elivated intensity compared VFL the better he will be next year.

Edited July 22, 2019 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[monoccular 17,413]

Did anyone really expect that he would be an overnight fix?

Can do a decent job when needed to ruck.

Needs more time at Casey, when not needed to fill a role at MFC, especially to learn his forward work.

So I see him as both insurance against Max being inured, but also a 'project player' in the forward line not as a KPP but as a tall forward / ruck when a combo is needed.

[DubDee 25,671]

15 hours ago, Cards13 said:

For mine the tackle was a response to the free given against Brayshaw earlier who a “dangerous tackle” and another Dee who got pinged just prior for holding the man. IE Pruess didn’t want to give away a free and after spinning him 360 he let up a touch and bang he let him slip through.

Not a fireable offence. He’s still learning people, let him grow.

yeah I agree. but if he can't differentiate between a sling/smash tackle and just holding on then I reckon he needs to learn/grow at VFL level.

and when in doubt Preussy, err on the side of a dangerous tackle, we need some grunt! 

[chook fowler 19,446]

let's face it,  he is extremely unco - arms and legs, each going in different directions. I'm not sure that will change.

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,671]

These last 5 weeks is the perfect time to play him with Gawn to see if they can build a good partnership.

I'd also like to see Gawn wrapped in cotton wool and Pruess play out the season as our sole ruck.