24 Disp, 4 tackles & 6 i50s in #JackRoss' last game of the season vs Hawthorn playing purely as an inside mid. Understand the club has been looking to expand his game but this was a reminder he does his best work in the traffic. Big year ahead for him & still have high hopes.
https://twitter.com/Tigers_of_Old/status/1473041341504385024
Rather than looking at just the one good game which is nonsensical look at the entire year with open eyes.
15 games the reality it was more like just 9 with him being sub and not getting on the ground 4 times and he was sub for another two and played roughly a quarter. Also take into account the role he played i think thats called being objective.
Taking the above into account i think it was a poor season for him and its not just the lack of numbers but the turnovers are consistent.
Atm i dont think he addresses probably our biggest inside need and thats consistently winning clearances and imo he has not despite the Hawthorn game and maybe a couple of other times at any time really shown he is a consistent contested ball winner.
The plus side is he is still only 21 has gone thru two covid interrupted seasons out of his three and is coming to a stage yr 4 where he should be coping with the rigours of AFL.
For me atm at least he will nothing more than a foot soldier for us if he gets there.
Having watched the intra club game i have grave doubts about him and atm no way could you pick him for rnd one.
A player i hoped we would go after was Luke Dunstan yeah i can hear you all now StKilda hack etc etc but i wanted him because of the grave doubts about the likes of Ross and he really would have provided genuine inside depth and cover if we cop more injuries like last year.
Luke Dunstan 185/84 same size as Ross i think you can call him a money ball pick for Melbourne and i cannot see why StKilda let him go even with Crouch there.
Inside mid getting your hands on it inside, tackling when you dont and winning your share of clearances to me these are the priorities. compare his first three seasons to Ross
2014 Yr 1 disposals 18.75 - tk 3.75 - cl 3.06 - c/p 7.63
2015 Yr 2 disposals 17.05 - tk 3.68 - cl 2.95 - c/p 7.05
2016 Yr 3 disposals 17.39 - tk 4.78 - cl 3.50 - c/p 8.17
He stayed at a consistent level that enabled him to get 53 games in his first three years . Nothing great but good for a young player.
His fourth season he started to lift the standard a bit and that continued right up to last year. He only played one game in 2020 thru injuries.
2017 Yr 4 disposals 21.63 - tk - 4.94 - cl 4.00 - c/p 8.31
this has gradually improved to 2021
2021Yr 8 disposals 25.25 - tk - 4.92 - cl - 5.83 - c/p - 11.17
To demand a game imo Ross needs to get somewhere close to Dunstans yr 4. for a 4th yr inside mid its what i think most clubs would be demanding.
Personally at age 26 and 116 games Dunstan with our needs at stoppages and clearances would have been a good fit.There is no guarantee Ross will come on.
