On 17/05/2025 at 16:42, beelzebub said:

You grant far too much kudos to our coaching. Our forward craft is in a word, pathetic . In so far as being useful at AFL level our forward structure and training ( might as well throw in selection ) is immature.

There's NO ONE there capable of instructing JVR or any really in anything useful.

He's getting "Melbourned" .... royally

Still think that?

Just saw this quote about JVR taken from Zero Hanger:

"However, winning a hitout is just half the battle of a ruck contest. The other half is knocking the ball to the advantage of a teammate to gain possession. No other non-ruck has been better at this facet of ruck craft than Jacob van Rooyen this season.

The Demons key forward has rotated in and out of the Melbourne side in 2025, having featured in just eight games with struggles to get opportunities in front of the big sticks. However, when required, he's been much more than a servicable replacement for the AFL's greatest ruckman Max Gawn, hitting the Sherrin to advantage 33.3% of the time. While van Rooyen understandably has one of the lower ruck contests competed in per game with 12.5, he is wildly effective in those contests. In fact, van Rooyen's hitout to advantage rate of 33.3% is not just the best amongst non-rucks, it's the best in the entire league with rucks included too!"

Perhaps we should view him as a forward pocket ruckman rather than a key position forward. Jeffo and Turner as keys, with JVR in the pocket.

5 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

Just saw this quote about JVR taken from Zero Hanger:

"However, winning a hitout is just half the battle of a ruck contest. The other half is knocking the ball to the advantage of a teammate to gain possession. No other non-ruck has been better at this facet of ruck craft than Jacob van Rooyen this season.

The Demons key forward has rotated in and out of the Melbourne side in 2025, having featured in just eight games with struggles to get opportunities in front of the big sticks. However, when required, he's been much more than a servicable replacement for the AFL's greatest ruckman Max Gawn, hitting the Sherrin to advantage 33.3% of the time. While van Rooyen understandably has one of the lower ruck contests competed in per game with 12.5, he is wildly effective in those contests. In fact, van Rooyen's hitout to advantage rate of 33.3% is not just the best amongst non-rucks, it's the best in the entire league with rucks included too!"

Perhaps we should view him as a forward pocket ruckman rather than a key position forward. Jeffo and Turner as keys, with JVR in the pocket.

not the worst suggestion. my only question would be defensive pressure.

3 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

Just saw this quote about JVR taken from Zero Hanger:

"However, winning a hitout is just half the battle of a ruck contest. The other half is knocking the ball to the advantage of a teammate to gain possession. No other non-ruck has been better at this facet of ruck craft than Jacob van Rooyen this season.

The Demons key forward has rotated in and out of the Melbourne side in 2025, having featured in just eight games with struggles to get opportunities in front of the big sticks. However, when required, he's been much more than a servicable replacement for the AFL's greatest ruckman Max Gawn, hitting the Sherrin to advantage 33.3% of the time. While van Rooyen understandably has one of the lower ruck contests competed in per game with 12.5, he is wildly effective in those contests. In fact, van Rooyen's hitout to advantage rate of 33.3% is not just the best amongst non-rucks, it's the best in the entire league with rucks included too!"

Perhaps we should view him as a forward pocket ruckman rather than a key position forward. Jeffo and Turner as keys, with JVR in the pocket.

Who is he rucking against in those contests though? Might be the other teams part timer most of the time.

Having said that it's a pretty interesting stat and he's a super useful player in that area. At the end of the day we're better off if JVR doesn't have the burden of being our number one forward, at least until he's 25 at least.

4 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

Just saw this quote about JVR taken from Zero Hanger:

"However, winning a hitout is just half the battle of a ruck contest. The other half is knocking the ball to the advantage of a teammate to gain possession. No other non-ruck has been better at this facet of ruck craft than Jacob van Rooyen this season.

The Demons key forward has rotated in and out of the Melbourne side in 2025, having featured in just eight games with struggles to get opportunities in front of the big sticks. However, when required, he's been much more than a servicable replacement for the AFL's greatest ruckman Max Gawn, hitting the Sherrin to advantage 33.3% of the time. While van Rooyen understandably has one of the lower ruck contests competed in per game with 12.5, he is wildly effective in those contests. In fact, van Rooyen's hitout to advantage rate of 33.3% is not just the best amongst non-rucks, it's the best in the entire league with rucks included too!"

Perhaps we should view him as a forward pocket ruckman rather than a key position forward. Jeffo and Turner as keys, with JVR in the pocket.

The other stat re. JVR is that of the 8 games he has played we have lost every one and, you guessed it, the 5 he didn’t play we have won. No blame intended but doubt that would be good for his confidence.

Edited June 17Jun 17 by Maxie

4 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

Just saw this quote about JVR taken from Zero Hanger:

"However, winning a hitout is just half the battle of a ruck contest. The other half is knocking the ball to the advantage of a teammate to gain possession. No other non-ruck has been better at this facet of ruck craft than Jacob van Rooyen this season.

The Demons key forward has rotated in and out of the Melbourne side in 2025, having featured in just eight games with struggles to get opportunities in front of the big sticks. However, when required, he's been much more than a servicable replacement for the AFL's greatest ruckman Max Gawn, hitting the Sherrin to advantage 33.3% of the time. While van Rooyen understandably has one of the lower ruck contests competed in per game with 12.5, he is wildly effective in those contests. In fact, van Rooyen's hitout to advantage rate of 33.3% is not just the best amongst non-rucks, it's the best in the entire league with rucks included too!"

Perhaps we should view him as a forward pocket ruckman rather than a key position forward. Jeffo and Turner as keys, with JVR in the pocket.

Are we sure he was trying to tap to advantage and not mark the ball?

FWIW there was in the 70s a forward at toiges who did not prosper and was traded to the swannies.

He still did not prosper until he was switched from FF to the ruck.

He ended up winning the brownlow. His name was Graeme (Graham?) Teasdale.

Why not try?