Tristan Xerri reflects on his failed trade to St Kilda and emerging as an All-Australian contender
Tristan Xerri could have been the back-up ruckman to Rowan Marshall this year. Instead, he has stepped out of Todd Goldstein’s shadow to emerge as an All-Australian contender. JOSH BARNES finds out how.
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If Tristan Xerri got his way in 2021, he would be running around for St Kilda.
The big man had spent three years stuck behind all-time club great Todd Goldstein in the ruck at North Melbourne and just wanted to play senior footy.
He asked to move to Moorabbin and the Saints offered up a third-round pick, only for the Roos knock that back and cling on to the young lump of a lad that had been drafted 72nd in 2017.
Xerri would spend the better part of another two seasons behind Goldstein but had he gone to the Saints he may still be a second banana, or at the very least he would share the load with Rowan Marshall.
Now with Goldstein a Bomber, he has taken centre stage and transformed into a serious All-Australian contender.
Looking back now, Xerri is thankful he stayed on this side of those sliding doors.
“At the time all I wanted to do was play senior footy,” he said.
“I thought that would be my best chance to play regular senior footy. It obviously didn’t go through and I am extremely grateful for that looking back, because I am in the position I am today.
“I put my head down and got to work once it didn’t go through and it was a blessing in disguise.
“I got to stay here with some of my great mates. I think everyone has seen this year that we are building something.”
That is the kind of person Xerri is – instead of dropping his bundle at the trade not going through, he vowed to continue his apprenticeship under Goldstein.
“It was a blessing in disguise to have someone of his (Goldstein) calibre to chase for that long,” he said.
“It only made me better and I only learnt more off him. He obviously broke the all-time hitout record this year. He is an incredible bloke and player.
“It (being No. 2) does make you hungrier and no doubt I am better for it.”
The Roo ruck may have shrugged off injuries of the past this year – including a broken leg and shoulder surgery that has left a prominent scar – but he still carries an obvious reminder into every game.
He fractured his face in the pre-season and looked into headgear to protect that injury on field.
While the helmet never actually helped solve the problem, it is not coming off – even if his barber begs.
“I don’t think the helmet actually protected the fracture itself but I figured if it didn’t annoy me, I would keep it on. Just playing in the position I do get a fair few knocks,” he said.
“I sort of see it as it’s not annoying me, so why not.
“My barber is not too happy that I cover the hair up every game but I’m not too fussed with looks and all that stuff.”
Xerri – pronounced ‘sherry’ like the drink not cherry like the fruit – isn’t quite the tap ruck Goldstein has been – only a handful of players in history are – but he might be better on the deck.
The helmet-wearing giant gets dirtier than most big men at ground level and over the last six weeks he has ranked second among rucks for disposals and first for contested possessions, clearances and tackles.
He collected 30 disposals, 23 contested possessions, 33 hitouts and 13 clearances in a dominant showing against the Eagles last week.
In Champion Data’s lengthy records, only athletic Cat Mark Blicavs has laid more tackles from the ruck position in a six week stretch than Xerri’s 52.
His determined chase down of West Coast livewire Liam Ryan in round 14 became a viral moment that epitomised his work at ground level.
There is little that midfielders love more than their ruck belting bodies around the ball and Xerri is more than happy to oblige.
“It is probably a lot harder these days with all the stuff around head knocks, you do have to be more careful but there is definitely still a place for it no doubt about that,” he said.
“If me doing that helps my teammates then that is even more of a reason to do it.
“I would like to think that the follow up sort of stuff is a key component of my game. Whether that’s tackling or bumping or dishing a handout to the mids, however I can impact when the ball hits the deck I try to.”
Xerri has been one of the beneficiaries of an off-season rule change that allows the big men to be more physical and fend off opponents at ball-ups and throw-ins.
That has seen a rise in the ground-bound big men, with the likes of Crow Reilly O’Brien, Hawk Jarrod Witts and Xerri seeing dramatic upticks in their hitout numbers this year.
On the flip side, jumping rucks like Dog Tim English, Cat Rhys Stanley and Hawk Ned Reeves have struggled to impact in the same way.
“I think once you get good at that technique it can be a real weapon and I think we have seen players like (Kieren) Briggs and obviously (Max) Gawn does it really well,” Xerri said.
“That bodywork and holding out with strength can be really effective.”
It may have taken a while but that big body of Xerri’s is certainly now effective.
XERRI ‘GRATEFUL’ TO BE CONSIDERED ALL-AUSTRALIAN CONTENDER
Breakout North Melbourne ruck Tristan Xerri is “grateful” to even be in the All-Australian conversation as he goes head to head with Melbourne champion Max Gawn.
Six-time team of the year member Gawn is locked in a 50-50 battle with the unlikely Xerri, who has played just 33 games across four years before this season.
Sydney’s Brodie Grundy has faded from the running for a blazer, while Brisbane Lion Oscar McInerney and St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall follow next.
Gawn and Xerri’s numbers are comparable, with the Demons skipper ahead in disposals, marks and hitouts, while the Roo leads in clearances, tackles and pressure.
The humble Xerri said he has tried to stay out of the conversation, even as it has built around him.
“I try and put it out of my mind but at the end of the day it is inevitable that people talk about it,” he said.
“I am just grateful to even be in the conversation for that. It is not something that you go out there and think, ‘I have to play good footy to make that team’.
“It is great to get that recognition but you go out to play for your mates at the end of the day. I would be extremely honoured if that were to happen but we will just worry about getting a couple of wins to finish the end of the year.”
Through his storied coaching career, Alastair Clarkson has never had an All-Australian ruck.
The Roos coach was happy to leave blazer selection to others but said Xerri had stepped beyond what was expected this year.
“I think he has probably outdone everybody’s expectations, including his own,” Clarkson said.
“Who is to think that someone who has played as little footy as what he had going into this season and was going to produce the season he has. There is part of us that aren’t surprised though, he is a ferocious competitor and has a skillset that is pretty unique for a guy his size.
“And that is why he has been able to elevate himself into this position where he has played such a consistent season that he has now been considered for All-Australian selection which is a great credit to him.”
Originally published as Tristan Xerri reflects on his failed trade to St Kilda and emerging as an All-Australian contender
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