Sorry. For mine, he's just not a good enough footballer. This really shows in tough, high pressure games where he cannot exert anywhere near enough influence ... because he just doesn't have the speed (even for a big man), the skills in terms of leap, good hands, agility, ability to read the play. Full credit to him for making it this far - a flag player. But, overall, his main attribute is his size, which has enabled him to achieve what he has. But size alone is not enough!
For a 204 cm ruckman to take but ONE MARK tonight (not even sure it was overhead) when we really needed him to step up and really assert himself as a forward and around the ground, says it all. In fact, I'm quite amazed how easily he is knocked aside or is out of position for overhead contests; he simply does not have much athleticism at all and also poor balance. Not surprisingly then, not even one goal assist. His hands are ordinary and his reflexes are far too slow so e.g. cannot get a quick HB away, nor have enough speed to apply much tackling or chase pressure. A witches hat often.
Unfortunately, he's just not the answer. Someone like Chol actually was ... because great skills for a 200cm tall, amazing agility and spring, able to take a hanger in attack or a strong defensive mark, plus a superb kick and ball user. Equal top goal-scorer at GCS this year on 20 - same as JR8. Many knocked Cholly for his ruck-work, but he sported over 10kgs to most of the ruck monsters so it was never his main game. But he was IMO the perfect foil and chop-out for Nank as he was quite useful in general play and dangerous up forward. Such a pity we had to lose him.
Big Ivan is very likely a great team-man and bloke, but unfortunately, ... as I said at the outset. (Just compare with the potential shown by the two De Koning boys. I'm afraid you need to invest a decent draft pick to obtain the real high quality tall rucks).
For a 204 cm ruckman to take but ONE MARK tonight (not even sure it was overhead) when we really needed him to step up and really assert himself as a forward and around the ground, says it all. In fact, I'm quite amazed how easily he is knocked aside or is out of position for overhead contests; he simply does not have much athleticism at all and also poor balance. Not surprisingly then, not even one goal assist. His hands are ordinary and his reflexes are far too slow so e.g. cannot get a quick HB away, nor have enough speed to apply much tackling or chase pressure. A witches hat often.
Unfortunately, he's just not the answer. Someone like Chol actually was ... because great skills for a 200cm tall, amazing agility and spring, able to take a hanger in attack or a strong defensive mark, plus a superb kick and ball user. Equal top goal-scorer at GCS this year on 20 - same as JR8. Many knocked Cholly for his ruck-work, but he sported over 10kgs to most of the ruck monsters so it was never his main game. But he was IMO the perfect foil and chop-out for Nank as he was quite useful in general play and dangerous up forward. Such a pity we had to lose him.
Big Ivan is very likely a great team-man and bloke, but unfortunately, ... as I said at the outset. (Just compare with the potential shown by the two De Koning boys. I'm afraid you need to invest a decent draft pick to obtain the real high quality tall rucks).
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