Luke Hodge: 'Rowan Marshall makes St.Kilda a different side"

[The OtherThommo]

N'er truer words we're spoken.

An extraordinary talent. Natanui 'adjacent'. Great athlete, with football talent, AND 'feel' in abundance. Aerobic beast, yet touch like a midfielder.

Tonight, underdone to blazes, yet picked up the whole side, at times, and carried them forward.

We've been decimated by injury, yet when Ryder - sublime talent on his own - plays alongside Marshall, by fork we're hard to beat.

A dead set pleasure to watch, Ro-Ro. A rare talent, and long may he reign.

[Scollop]

It's an aggression and an attitude thing

It's the vibe

But mainly....It's a structural thing

[The OtherThommo]

It's an aggression and an attitude thing

It's the vibe

But mainly....It's a structural thing

All of that, but it takes the talent to make it happen.

This bloke is something else, a truly rare talent.

How did he do what he did tonight, off that 'limited' preparation?

Truth is, they rolled the dice, cos they had to, and Ro-Ro delivered in spades.

He is one of those rare talents who lifts everyone around him.

I love watching rare talents, and he is most definitely one, big toothy grin, or no toothy grin.

[CQ SAINT]

An underdone Marshall give you a 50/50 chance in every contest he enters. Fully fit, its 75/25 and another 6-10 uncontested possessions. He is a beast and a ballerina, all in the one package.

[Banger9798]

Field kicking from our ruckmen is outstanding
Ryder is a deadeye

[The OtherThommo]

An underdone Marshall give you a 50/50 chance in every contest he enters. Fully fit, its 75/25 and another 6-10 uncontested possessions. He is a beast and a ballerina, all in the one package.

Real hat tip for 'beast and a ballerina' - couldn't have said it better meself.

[repta]

Yes. Completely different outfit.
Strange as I thought he had very little impact today. Ruck work was good but not to his normal standard around the ground.
Saints stand taller with him in the side.

[The OtherThommo]

Yes. Completely different outfit.
Strange as I thought he had very little impact today. Ruck work was good but not to his normal standard around the ground.
Saints stand taller with him in the side.

He actually doesn't have to do a whole lot (although he does, usually).

As much as he makes his team mates stand taller, he also makes the other mob wonder: 'Who in the fork is this bloke?!'

He discombobulates oppositions.

[Devilhead]

And therein lies our problem .... when he isn't in the side!!

We need proper ruck back up - we have picked up Max Heath which is a start but he is 18

We need a decent mature ruck/forward replacement as well

[SaintPav]

N'er truer words we're spoken.

An extraordinary talent. Natanui 'adjacent'. Great athlete, with football talent, AND 'feel' in abundance. Aerobic beast, yet touch like a midfielder.

Tonight, underdone to blazes, yet picked up the whole side, at times, and carried them forward.

We've been decimated by injury, yet when Ryder - sublime talent on his own - plays alongside Marshall, by fork we're hard to beat.

A dead set pleasure to watch, Ro-Ro. A rare talent, and long may he reign.

Beautifully put.

[Vortex]

Dare I say it...no Roma, no St Kilda.

Having said that Paddy Ryder is the best ruckman we have had in my whole time as a supporter which is over 50 years.

The Ryder and Roma combo is just a pure delight to watch. My only saddnes is that we won't have Paddy much longer.

If I was the recruiters I'd be targeting a gun ruckman from another club and throw the kitchen sink at it because the current ruck combo is proof of its importance to a flag contender.

[darylcowie]

I think we've been looking at the wrong part of the ground re our big man issues.
Going "forward" Marshall and King will be gun ruck forwards, so really as far as rucks go we need a replacement for Ryder in 2023 or so.
However, when Marshall is in the ruck, who is out second key forward with King?

[B.M]

He is important structurally

And he’s a very good player, makes King better as he takes a defender, makes Ryder better as he gives him a spell.

Didn’t do much last night, but Ryder didn’t have to ruck 90% of the time.

[SydneySainter]

Dare I say it...no Roma, no St Kilda.

Having said that Paddy Ryder is the best ruckman we have had in my whole time as a supporter which is over 50 years.

The Ryder and Roma combo is just a pure delight to watch. My only saddnes is that we won't have Paddy much longer.

If I was the recruiters I'd be targeting a gun ruckman from another club and throw the kitchen sink at it because the current ruck combo is proof of its importance to a flag contender.

Hickey would be good.

[kosifantutti]

Luke Hodge finally works out what every Saints fan has known for a few years.

That makes him pretty quick for a Channel 7 special comments guy.

[saynta]

Luke Hodge finally works out what every Saints fan has known for a few years.

That makes him pretty quick for a Channel 7 special comments guy.