St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall takes game to another level after early-season lesson from Max Gawn

Rowan Marshall highlighted his emergence as one of the AFL’s best young talents with a strong performance against fellow breakout ruckman Reilly O’Brien on Saturday. Is he the AFL’s most improved player?

Rowan Marshall jostles with Reilly O’Brien in a ruck duel on Saturday. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

April 20, 2019 won’t be a date which means much to St Kilda supporters.

The Saints celebrated a 40-point win over Melbourne, but were left with major doubts about who their No. 1 ruckman was after Max Gawn had a field day against Rowan Marshall.

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Gawn finished with 20 disposals and 32 hit outs, while Braydon Preuss had 16 and kicked two goals.

In comparison, Marshall battled to 14 hit outs in his fourth game of the year after Lewis Pierce was preferred by then coach Alan Richardson in Round 1.

After Reilly O’Brien won the ruck duel 36 hit outs to 24 against Billy Longer in Round 6, Marshall returned the following week with a point to prove.

In St Kilda’s return clash against the Crows on Saturday, one of the AFL’s break out stars of 2019 highlighted just how far he had come.

The 23-year-old shaded the hit outs 32-31 against O’Brien, but dominated around the ground with 20 disposals to 12.

“I think through adversity, we found out about (Rowan),” caretaker coach Brett Ratten said.

“You had Longer there and Pierce and co. to ruck. Then because of injury he gets the chance and he’s led from the front. He’s been outstanding.”

Rowan Marshall rises high to mark against Adelaide on Saturday night. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

The sudden emergence of O’Brien, who has assumed the No. 1 mantle at Adelaide from Sam Jacobs, has been one of the stories of the season.

However, Marshall is the ruckman who has announced himself as the heir apparent to Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn.

Since he was dominated by Gawn and Preuss in Round 5, Marshall has averaged 117.3 Champion Data ranking points.

While that average is more than 10 points behind Grundy (135.4) and Gawn (130.6), it puts Marshall in the upper echelon of players.

Rowan Marshall jostles with Reilly O’Brien in a ruck duel on Saturday. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

“I was speaking to (Crows ruck coach) Matty Clarke before the game and he was talking about Adelaide’s ruckman and our ruckman, how young they are,” Ratten said.

“In ruck terms they are just babies really, 23 years of age.

“You should get into your prime around 26, seven, eight, even at 30 for ruckmen. Those boys have done a very good job.”

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St Kilda’s faint hopes of a top-eight finish were extinguished by a 22-point loss to Adelaide, however Ratten said “we never threw up the finals word”.

The Saints are optimistic Dan Hannebery, Jimmy Webster, Jack Steven and Blake Acres will feature in the last three rounds after missing the Round 20 defeat.