Rowan Marshall came into the league with the nickname of The Prospect, as he was supposed to be the physical prototype of the modern mobile ruckman. It hasn't worked out like that over his years in the big time, so much so that St Kilda recruited an even more mobile and younger version in the off season to work in tandem with him. With Tom De Koning now out from injury for an extended period, RoMa can remind us what he can still do as a solo ruck, even in 2026 where he will face many excellent tandems. Last week he was BOG; today he faces an in-form Jordan Sweet.
Rowan Marshall came into the league with the nickname of The Prospect, as he was supposed to be the physical prototype of the modern mobile ruckman. It hasn't worked out like that over his years in the big time, so much so that St Kilda recruited an even more mobile and younger version in the off season to work in tandem with him. With Tom De Koning now out from injury for an extended period, RoMa can remind us what he can still do as a solo ruck, even in 2026 where he will face many excellent tandems. Last week he was BOG; today he faces an in-form Jordan Sweet.
Rowan Marshall looked like being yet another victim of Max Gawn who is chasing another All-Australian jacket, then in Q4 of last week's match he was a big part of the historic comeback and delivered the goal assist pass to set up the winning shot after the siren. Gone are the days when this last-second action would have earned him bulk Supercoach points, but he still managed to post respectable numbers despite getting beaten, as he had two weeks previous against Brodie Grundy. RoMa is comfortably behind the top tier of rucks, but he's very useful for fantasy with a high floor.
Rowan Marshall has been in a ruck tandem with Paddy Ryder this year when Ryder has been fit, and St Kilda's wins have mostly come when both of them are in the side. Conventional wisdom in some fantasy quarters is that Marshall's full value will be unlocked when Ryder retires and he assumes lone ruck responsibilities, but that is not a given. The emergence of Jack Hayes early in 2022 as a very handy piece of the Saints forward line with some bursts in ruck should have put paid to that theory. Marshall's owners in keeper leagues might have to put up with the situation.
Rowan Marshall is today part of a three-headed ruck brigade for St Kilda, a concept that used to be anathema but is now coming into vogue with the increased emphasis on stoppage wins caused by the 6-6-6 rule. Last week he was in tandem with Jack Hayes and today he is joined by old mate Paddy Ryder, rotating through attack and the centre in a system which can tend to dampen the fantasy scoring of all three involved. Both Marshall and Hayes have been popular for fantasy this year so the effect of this structure on the Saints will be closely watched.
Rowan Marshall has been moved out of the ruck position in which he had a breakout year in 2019, relegated to the kind of full forward/ruck role that Josh Jenkins had specialised in at Adelaide, with Patrick Ryder starting as lead ruck in a tandem situation. Predictably, this has largely killed off fantasy value from the pair of them, but tonight Ryder is a late out which means everyone and his dog will be jumping on Marshall in daily fantasy, if they know what they are doing, because a return to his near-premium scoring way in full time ruck is on the cards, even if just for a day.
Rowan Marshall was part of a lot of victorious fantasy teams last year as he came from obscurity to lead the ruck for St Kilda. This year presents a new challenge for his owners, as he is joined in what suspiciously looks like a tandem with journeyman Paddy Ryder. This situation can go either way, depending on how influential Marshall actually is at stoppages beyond the basic stat totals. If he racks up hit outs to advantage then Ryder will stay forward more; if he gets overrun by better rucks then Paddy will get more CBAs. It is a classically fraught situation.
Prospect hits golden vein
Starting the year as a barely-known third stringer, Rowan Marshall won the preseason positional battle as lead ruck and delivered a breakout campaign that culminated in a second-place best and fairest finish. He averaged over five clearances, a tick under five score involvements and over three inside 50s and finished the season in form, recording more than 20 disposals in six of his final eight outings. Marshall is now key to the club's future and will be tasked to work in tandem alongside recruit Patrick Ryder, a player whose game he could have based his own on. While dominant as the sole ruck, Marshall has demonstrated less prowess as a forward or in a tandem situation. Expect figures to remain stagnant at best with less time in his preferred position. Let others buy high, as he has some downside.
Rowan Marshall has emerged from the ruck of St Kilda big men to claim the number one ruck mantle this season, pleasing his many owners in fantasy competitions who got on when he was underpriced due to a previous stint up forward. He has put together six consecutive fantasy tons coming into this game, including three scores above 120 against lesser opponents. If he can keep up this form, he merits serious consideration going into next year as an alternative to the established Gawn/Grundy combo. But can he maintain the rage?
Time for Marshall to fire
Usually used as a key forward, Rowan Marshall has only ever piqued the interest of fantasy coaches when he has been deployed as a ruckman. In round 17 against Carlton, Marshall had 23 hitouts, 8 marks, two goals and 114 fantasy points. Aside from that, he’s been largely unremarkable. With Tom Hickey departing and Billy Longer and Lewis Pierce being, objectively speaking, below average ruckmen, it’s worth keeping an eye on who the St Kilda lead ruck will be. If it’s looking like it will be Marshall, take him in late rounds.
Marshall one of the troops
Mostly forward in the VFL with some time in defence in his first listed season, Rowan Marshall made the seniors for one game supporting in ruck. Marshall is strictly a back up at this point, and will watch as the two much more accomplished teammates on the main list duke it out for the job.
