Jump to content

Tom Fullarton - back up ruck?



Recommended Posts

9 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I think this comes down to due diligence.

And Tim Lamb is quoted as saying "Tom we’ve been tracking for a fair while". So it's not like they just decided at the last minute. 

But could this - and Billings and Hunter and others - simply be a case of taking the only option available? In other words, nobody else was interested in coming to Melbourne. 

  • Like 2
  • Shocked 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We took a speculative low-cost risk on Fullarton hoping he could become something he clearly hasn't yet. We traded pick 47 in a supposed 'shallow' draft for him, not a first rounder. Clearly hasn't come on as we hoped but was who we believed to be best available for our needs at the pick and within our wage budget. 

Would I like a Lloyd Meek who can come in and fill a need? Of course. But even if we have one, come the end of the year we're rebalancing our cap and working out who we need to let go to pay our back up ruck an above average wage. Lists will always have holes due to the nature of the salary cap, backup ruck is one for us. Can only fill these holes by taking calculated risks that sometimes work and sometimes don't.

I'm excited to see what we do this off-season but won't be at all surprised if we have the same issues next year as you just can't afford to pay a backup ruck anything other than minimum and Gawn needs to be first ruck. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, RedBlueandTrue said:

We took a speculative low-cost risk on Fullarton hoping he could become something he clearly hasn't yet. We traded pick 47 in a supposed 'shallow' draft for him, not a first rounder. Clearly hasn't come on as we hoped but was who we believed to be best available for our needs at the pick and within our wage budget. 

Would I like a Lloyd Meek who can come in and fill a need? Of course. But even if we have one, come the end of the year we're rebalancing our cap and working out who we need to let go to pay our back up ruck an above average wage. Lists will always have holes due to the nature of the salary cap, backup ruck is one for us. Can only fill these holes by taking calculated risks that sometimes work and sometimes don't.

I'm excited to see what we do this off-season but won't be at all surprised if we have the same issues next year as you just can't afford to pay a backup ruck anything other than minimum and Gawn needs to be first ruck. 

Disagree. Every other club has back up ruckman ready to go. No other team of recent has lost clearances so convincly

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, kozzyisalegend said:

I'm baffled as to the recruitment of a back up key fwd over a back up ruck. Verall is very raw and we gave Grundy up very easily

I agree with this. Add to that the mid season draft pick that we used to sadly effectively replace a midfielder we again used a let’s call him a forward that can ruck. Absolutely nothing against Kentfield but seemed bizarre to me at the time when I would have thought bigger priorities were a genuine ruck or pure midfielders as the cupboard is bare at Casey. In my opinion our overall list is extremely unbalanced. 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

40 minutes ago, kozzyisalegend said:

Disagree. Every other club has back up ruckman ready to go. No other team of recent has lost clearances so convincly

Don't think any of them make much of a difference to anything yesterday. Naismith maybe? Might've just got injured for us too. Goldy? Might've been a worse outcome having him trudging around. As if we weren't flat-footed enough. Certainly would've liked Moyle out there but how long is he going to be a backup for. I of course hope we can get someone like him for our next roll of the dice!

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Well this pretty much explains it. 

 

Didn't Fullarton have 30 hit outs in a VFL match a few weeks ago? Classy by Goodwin to pump up Fullarton's tyres in public.

And wonder if he noticed Pup's 24 tackles on the weekend? Didn't seem to notice/reward Pup's match saving one against Norf

  • Shocked 1
  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It really makes you wonder why we have him and some others on our list. Are he and Schacke contracted for long?

Did the club make a mistake in drafting these two?

Seems like it. 

On a more positive note Billings wasn't too bad v the Dockers coming in as the sub.

He's probably the better of the three on him, Hunter and McAdam.

But despite our clubs excellent recruiting I on general, I feel like we have picked up quite a few that are not up to speed.

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

36 minutes ago, dice said:

Didn't Fullarton have 30 hit outs in a VFL match a few weeks ago? Classy by Goodwin to pump up Fullarton's tyres in public.

 

Was he playing against two quality AFL ruckman?

I highly doubt that what Goody is saying publicly, he hasn't told Fullarton privately.

Do you think Tom is walking around wondering why he isn't getting a game? Or do you think he's been made fully aware of what he has to work on?

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites


38 minutes ago, dice said:

Didn't Fullarton have 30 hit outs in a VFL match a few weeks ago? Classy by Goodwin to pump up Fullarton's tyres in public.

And wonder if he noticed Pup's 24 tackles on the weekend? Didn't seem to notice/reward Pup's match saving one against Norf

Playing against the Northen Bullants.

Which is pretty much playing against an undersized EDFL ruckman at suburban level. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

Do you think Tom is walking around wondering why he isn't getting a game?

Yep I do. And I reckon he's p*ssed off

Edited by dice
  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, dice said:

Yep I do. And I reckon he's p*ssed off

Watch some Casey games - he has absolutely no reason to feel hard done by or p*sided off atm 

I’m not always convinced by Goodwins comments but re him not getting a hit out in the AFL atm he is spot on

Personally I don’t think he will ever be a ruck at AFL level - his only chance realistically is to focus on KPF - imo we should park him at CHF and Jefferson at FF for every game for the rest of Caseys season and see what they can do - They have been playing Schache back and maybe that’s his only chance (another Rory Lobb ?)

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, Sydee said:

Watch some Casey games - he has absolutely no reason to feel hard done by or p*sided off atm 

I’m not always convinced by Goodwins comments but re him not getting a hit out in the AFL atm he is spot on

Personally I don’t think he will ever be a ruck at AFL level - his only chance realistically is to focus on KPF - imo we should park him at CHF and Jefferson at FF for every game for the rest of Caseys season and see what they can do - They have been playing Schache back and maybe that’s his only chance (another Rory Lobb ?)

schache's best footy at afl level for footscray was as a tall defender

he's been pretty good at the role at vfl level

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

schache's best footy at afl level for footscray was as a tall defender

he's been pretty good at the role at vfl level

Probably true re Schache and the the dogs - and yet a team that has struggled for KPD happily let him go 🤔 

 

  • Like 1
  • Shocked 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

I understand that this was what Twomey thought, and maybe that is what we thought to, but clearly we were sold a player who is not a ruckman or who needs a LOT of work in order to become one.

He's played 19 games and he's 24 already. Not really sure that we thought he would be anything other than a complete break glass in case of emergency option this season.

What I don't get is why we got him, and also kept Schache. 

 

Our trading of Senior players has been atrocious since 2021 and it is now coming back to bite, very hard. 
 

  • Like 2
  • Sad 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Losing the hitouts wasn’t the problem. It was not competing when the ball hit the ground that was the problem. 
Gawn does two things better than any other ruck, he wins his own clearances (he averages 5 a game!), and he takes marks (averages over 5 a game). Those are his elite stats that we cannot replace even if we “win” the hitout stat. 

Fullarton would therefore have not helped as he neither wins hitouts, clearances nor is a particularly strong contested mark. 
I hazard a guess that we recruited him as a backup for a tall forward rather than as a ruck backup. 
It has to be a real priority in 2025 to have at least one ready to go ruck on our list outside of a 33 year old Gawn. 

This.

We're stuffed when he's gone. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Has anyone analysed his 2023 vfl season for Brisbane?

Thanks

Averaged around 15 disposals, 5 marks, 5 hitouts per game. And kicked 30 goals across 18 games. Similar stats in 2022.

Just give the guy a chance in the seniors. Who knows - he may surprise everyone on this forum

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
  • Vomit 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


1 hour ago, dice said:

Averaged around 15 disposals, 5 marks, 5 hitouts per game. And kicked 30 goals across 18 games. Similar stats in 2022.

Just give the guy a chance in the seniors. Who knows - he may surprise everyone on this forum

5 hit outs per game in the VFL tells you everything you need to know about his rucking ability 

His one and only chance at this level is a KP player because he isn’t big enough or strong enough to play ruck against the big boys 

It is that simple 

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, kozzyisalegend said:

Disagree. Every other club has back up ruckman ready to go. No other team of recent has lost clearances so convincly

Correct .they have hit the young talent well but gaping holes in getting ready experience talent to maximise the flag window which is now shut!

  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, kozzyisalegend said:

I'm baffled as to the recruitment of a back up key fwd over a back up ruck. Verall is very raw and we gave Grundy up very easily

kial - do you have a strategy whereby we could keep Brundy and play Max?   Our brains trust couldn’t. 

4 hours ago, dice said:

Averaged around 15 disposals, 5 marks, 5 hitouts per game. And kicked 30 goals across 18 games. Similar stats in 2022.

Just give the guy a chance in the seniors. Who knows - he may surprise everyone on this forum

dice - are you seriously suggesting that we just “give him a go”? Where and for whom?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry but if the answer is Fullarton, Billings and Schache then the wrong question is being asked. 

Hunter probably in similar category. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, kozzyisalegend said:

There's a bloke in the vfl called Brayden crossley. Absolute unit in the ruck. Makes fullarton look silly

GOOBER

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, Demonsone said:

Correct .they have hit the young talent well but gaping holes in getting ready experience talent to maximise the flag window which is now shut!

Drafting has been great: trading has been pretty awful TBH (since May Lever)

Edited by monoccular
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, RedBlueandTrue said:

We took a speculative low-cost risk on Fullarton hoping he could become something he clearly hasn't yet. We traded pick 47 in a supposed 'shallow' draft for him, not a first rounder. Clearly hasn't come on as we hoped but was who we believed to be best available for our needs at the pick and within our wage budget. 

Would I like a Lloyd Meek who can come in and fill a need? Of course. But even if we have one, come the end of the year we're rebalancing our cap and working out who we need to let go to pay our back up ruck an above average wage. Lists will always have holes due to the nature of the salary cap, backup ruck is one for us. Can only fill these holes by taking calculated risks that sometimes work and sometimes don't.

I'm excited to see what we do this off-season but won't be at all surprised if we have the same issues next year as you just can't afford to pay a backup ruck anything other than minimum and Gawn needs to be first ruck. 

Sure but we could have rookied a VFL ruck and had a better outcome. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    LIVE AND LET DIE by Meggs

    The Demons’ impressive late season charge to finals will most likely come unstuck this Saturday evening when the Bombers blow up the also-ran Blues in the Ikon Park double-header.   To mangle McCartney, what does it matter to ya? To have any chance to play next week Narrm has got a job to do and needs to do it well.  We’ve got to give the Pie sheilas hell, say live and let die! It’s Indigenous Round for this game and the chance to celebrate and engage with Aboriginal and Torres

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons

    2024 Player Reviews: #32 Tom Sparrow

    Had to shoulder more responsibility as the club’s injury concerns deepened but needs to step up more as he closes in on 100 games. Date of Birth: 31 May 2000 Height: 186cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 95 Goals MFC 2024: 6 Career Total: 34 Games CDFC: 1 Goals CDFL: 0

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 12

    2024 Player Reviews: #35 Harry Petty

    Failed to fulfill the promise of his breakout six goal effort against the Tigers in 2023 and was generally disappointing as a key forward. It remains to be seen whether Simon Goodwin will persevere with him in attack or return him to the backline where he was an important cog in the club’s 2021 premiership success. Date of Birth: 12 November 1999 Height: 197cm Games MFC 2024: 20 Career Total: 82 Goals MFC 2024: 9 Career Total: 28 Brownlow Medal Votes 3

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 14

    2024 Player Reviews: #22 Blake Howes

    After a bright start to the season, playing mostly in defence, Howes seemed to lose his way in midseason but fought back with some good performances at Casey and finished the year back at AFL level. One to watch in 2024. Date of Birth: 7 March 2003 Height: 191cm Games MFC 2024: 15 Career Total:  15 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total:  0 Games CDFC 2024: 6 Goals CDFC 2024: 0

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    2024 Player Reviews: #33 Tom Fullarton

    Originally an NBL basketballer with the Brisbane Bullets, he moved across town in 2019 to the AFL Lions where he played 19 games before crossing to Melbourne where he was expected to fill a role as a back up ruckman/key forward. Unfortunately, didn’t quite get there although he did finish equal sixth in Casey’s best and fairest award. Date of Birth: 23 February 1999 Height: 198cm Games CDFC: 14 Goals CDFL: 13

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    2024 Player Reviews: #10 Angus Brayshaw

    Sadly, had to wrap up a great career in midstream on the back of multiple concussions which culminated in the Maynard hit in the 2023 Qualifying Final. His loss to the club was inestimable over and above his on field talent given his character and leadership qualities, all of which have been sorely missed. Date of Birth: 9 January 1996 Height: 188cm Games MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 167 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 49

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 8

    2024 Player Reviews: #40 Taj Woewodin

    The son of former Demon Brownlow Medalist Shane, Taj added a further 16 games to his overall tally of games but a number were as substitute. He is slowly fitting into the team structure but without doing anything spectacular and needs to take further steps forward in 2025 for his career to progress. Date of Birth: 26 March 2003 Height: 182cm Games MFC 2024: 16 Career Total: 20 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 3 Games CDFC 2024: 6 Goals CDFC 2024: 1

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    2024 Player Reviews: #16 Bailey Laurie

    The clever small was unable to cement a place in the Melbourne midfield and spent most of his time this year with the Casey Demons where he finished equal fourth in its best & fairest. Date of Birth: 24 March 2002 Height: 179cm Games MFC 2024: 6 Career Total: 11 Goals MFC 2024: 2 Career Total: 2 Games CDFC 2024: 12 Goals CDFC 2024: 7

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 23

    2024 Player Reviews: #17 Jake Bowey

    Bowey’s season was curtailed early when he sustained a shoulder injury that required surgery in the opening game against Sydney. As a consequence, he was never able to perform consistently or at anywhere near his previous levels.  Date of Birth: 12 September 2002 Height: 175cm Games MFC 2024: 14 Career Total: 61 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 6

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 7
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...