Max Heath

[seano1]

How’s this kid going? He was in the rooms after the win and looks much taller than King and bigger

[Wayne42]

How’s this kid going? He was in the rooms after the win and looks much taller than King and bigger

Going by his Sandy form of late, nowhere near it. Unfortunately.

[remboy]

Doing as well as you’d expect a first year ruck to be doing. Needs a couple of years but so far he’s done ok.

[Wayne42]

Doing as well as you’d expect a first year ruck to be doing. Needs a couple of years but so far he’s done ok.

Yep, got to stay positive.

[Saintmike65]

Max is starting to feel the pinch a bit but he does have some ability.
He’s a combative young guy and clunks his marks 1 grab.
Unfortunately he has the worst tank of any player at the club and doesn’t cover the ground well either…watch this space with him as he’s very young.

[SunnyErnie]

Max will be a monster. With Ryder playing one more year he has another 18 months to keep developing at Sandy. Perfect planning in my opinion . The one thing that does not make sense is why they don’t play Campbell when Ryder or Marshall miss?

[Wayne42]

So far, for me, development wise, Heath is on par with Allison.

Both a long way off.

I base that on watching them play for Sandy. That's the best indicator.

[cwrcyn]

Shows more than Allison.

First proper season for him. Previously intermittently playing in his own age group during the Covid years. It's a massive step up from occasionally playing (in your own age group) to doing an AFL pre-season, then playing every week against bigger guys with seasoned bodies and superior fitness. He's at the very start of his journey, so to expect any more form him at this stage is unreasonable.

From the little I've seen of him he looks the most promising young ruckman we've recruited in the past 15 years along with Rowan Marshall.

He needs two more pre-seasons and another full VFL season before he'll be ready for any AFL action. Even then, he'll still be a pup in ruck terms.

[B.M]

Jury is out

He’s showed a few glimpses but nothing to suggest he is AFL capable

He could be anywhere from Lewis Pierce to Rowan Marshall

[cwrcyn]

He'll be better than Lewis Pierce.

[Zed]

Jury is out

He’s showed a few glimpses but nothing to suggest he is AFL capable

He could be anywhere from Lewis Pierce to Rowan Marshall

Agree he’s shown a few glimpses- but for me, those glimpses are enough to suggest he is AFL capable. The fact he showed some signs in the early games and none in recent games speaks to his lack of AFL conditioning.

He is a long way off now. It’s going to take 2 more preseasons before we know . Could be more like Longer than Pierce if he doesn’t develop a tank.

[skeptic]

Rucks in particular are a tricky breed to judge because good rucks generally require development of both strength and endurance (if thats their style as opposed to a taller, skinnier type).

It’s a hard act to balance, which is why many like a Max Gawn or Dean Cox don’t really look all that good to begin with and suddenly became super stars.

Hopefully the kid is really serious about his training. He can afford another 12 months at Sandy if he’s building his body and learning the craft

[Impatient Sainter]

Jury is out

He’s showed a few glimpses but nothing to suggest he is AFL capable

He could be anywhere from Lewis Pierce to Rowan Marshall

Gees you are a hard marker on the kids BM. His form has dropped away in recent weeks, but we have seen enough in the earlier rounds to suggest he is going to be a very good player. We have to remember last year he was playing against kids and now he is being asked to play full forward chopping out in the ruck and it s taking its toll. He is a tall skinny kid so will take a while to develop, but I am confident he will make it as our future ruckman.

[B.M]

Lewis Pierce won a VFL best and fairest

It’s very hard to judge early days with a 200+

Most of them are s*** until they are 23 and most stay s***

[D.B.Cooper]

Lewis Pierce won a VFL best and fairest

It’s very hard to judge early days with a 200+

Most of them are s*** until they are 23 and most stay s***

Agree with this.

From what I have seen of Heath.
Positives
- good competitor
- good hands
- good size
- seems comfortable forward
- very raw

Negatives
- doesn’t have great athleticism
- no tank
- not a big leap

He needs 3 to 4 years development.
Hopefully the club gives him time.

The kid who went #1 in that Mid season draft is also a long way off at North, and Heath was about 4th ruck taken so patience is required.

[SunnyErnie]

Heath should be the permanent full forward for Sandy and giving the main ruch a chop out. He is too young to play full time ruck. When will the selectors grow a brain???

[Impatient Sainter]

Lewis Pierce won a VFL best and fairest

It’s very hard to judge early days with a 200+

Most of them are s*** until they are 23 and most stay s***

Pierce won a B&F when 24 yo (corrected) and Frankston were a basket case. He may have become a decent player if it wasnt for his concussion issues.

Heath has shown enough in the games he fired in, to suggest he will be twice the player Pierce was. Just his aggression, marking, goal kicking and ground level game put him well ahead of others, even Marshall when he first came to the club at 21.

[cwrcyn]

He plays hungry. Pierce didnt

[spert]

Looking forward to Heath developing into a quality tall. I remember Pierce was in good form and would have been in the seniors, but got serious concussion which ended his career?.

[saintsRrising]

Looking forward to Heath developing into a quality tall. I remember Pierce was in good form and would have been in the seniors, but got serious concussion which ended his career?.

I think Pierce had already shown prior to that that he was just too slow and lumbering to be a good ruckman at AFL level.

[B.M]

Firstly Pierce won his B&F at Frankston not Sandy

To win a B&F you still have to play well, regardless of what team you’re in - you still compete against opponents.

Secondly

Heath has rarely played first ruck. Tom Campbell has, and he will fighting it out with Highmore for the B&F this season.

[older saint]

Patience. Assuming putting in the work a non drafted, not mature aged, ruckman can not expected to be at AFL level until 3-4 years in the system .
Tank can be built if willing to work on it.

[Ghost Like]

Patience. Assuming putting in the work a non drafted, not mature aged, ruckman can not expected to be at AFL level until 3-4 years in the system .
Tank can be built if willing to work on it.

Finally, a sensible post. Hasn't the "kid" still been balancing school during his time at the Saints? We may still need to find a mature AFL grade ruckman to support RoMa unless Paddy can go 3 more years.

Great news he's signed until the end of 2024, things should be much clearer by then.