Herbert’s stocks heading north for AAMI SA U18 Team

By ZAC MILBANK

AAMI SA U18 vice captain Ethan Herbert is on a mission to prove he’s more than just a mobile ruckman in this year’s Marsh AFL National Championships.

A natural choice to start in the centre square for both South Australia, and North Adelaide in the AAMI Talent League, Herbert has been challenged to develop his craft inside the attacking 50m arc.

As a result, the 200cm giant has been dividing his time between the ruck and as a tall marking target for both the Croweaters and Roosters.

”The whole idea of him playing forward this year was to give him a different look at the game and to also challenge his ongoing development,” AAMI SA U18 coach Tony Bamford told SANFL’s Checkside Chats podcast.

”He has been the most dominant ruckman in his age group for the last three years and I’m not sure he can do any more to prove that he’s good at it (ruck).

”When we spoke to North Adelaide at the start of the year, as part of the individual development plans, a big part of Ethan’s was – Can we expose him to playing as a key forward for longer during games?

”(North U18 coach) Nick Liddle has been awesome at catering for those needs in Ethan’s holistic development.”

In his last AAMI Talent League outing with the Roosters in Round 10, Herbert spent significant time up forward before finishing with four goals from his 14 disposals and three contested marks.

The flame-haired Croweater hit the scoreboard with a goal against the Allies whilst also displaying his versatility in the air and at ground level in the ruck while chalking up 20 disposals, seven clearances and 11 hit outs.

”He is an above average ruckman for his age” Bamford said.

”What separates him is his ability to impact the game at ground level, and in general play, is much better than other rucks his age.

”Will he have the same impact as a ruckman in the AFL? Time will tell, but what I do know is that rucks who can also play as a making target forward are extremely valuable to the team.

”I love a ruckman who is ultra competitive, he doesn’t have to dominate hit outs but he’s got to be competitive and impact in general play. And Ethan does that.

”He is quite often our leading ground ball-winner. So if you have got a ruckman who is competing well in the air at ruck contests, can mark the ball around the ground and impact at ground level then you have got a great player there.

”He might not be the same height as Jobe Janeway at 207cm but he (Herbert) offers so much more as a ruckman than just being tall.”

Herbert will now have the opportunity to match up against highly-touted Victoria Metro ruck Harry Van Hattam in the AAMI SA U18 Team’s next match against Victoria Metro at Marvel Stadium on Friday July 3.