TAC CUP graduate Rowan Marshall, much like his former North Ballarat Rebels teammate Louis Herbert, knows he must add another facet to his game if he wants to be drafted.
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Marshall will play for VFL club North Ballarat Roosters in 2015 after he was overlooked in Wednesday’s AFL rookie draft.
The Portland teenager only needs to look as far as South Warrnambool’s Herbert for inspiration.
Switching positions helped Herbert — he started at the Rebels as a medium forward before starring as a rebounding defender — to land at Gold Coast via last year’s rookie draft after he missed out in 2012.
Marshall, a 19-year-old listed player, enjoyed a dominant season for the Rebels playing predominantly as an athletic ruckman this year.
But he wants to play as “a deep forward and someone who can pinch-hit in the ruck” in the VFL to spark more interest at the elite level.
“I enjoyed going forward this year and as the season went on for the Rebels I got the hang of it a bit more which is good and I knew where to lead,” Marshall said. “I will stay at the Roosters I think. With Big O (Orren Stephenson) there I will learn a lot which will be good.
“We’re four weeks into pre-season. It’s been pretty solid but it’s good to get back into it and get fit again.” Marshall admitted it was “pretty disappointing” to miss out on both drafts after a breakout season.
The 200-centimetre teenager, who weighs just 91 kilograms, watched the rookie draft online in Ballarat after spending the previous two days trialling with Essendon, which went into the second-chance draft with one live pick.
“I trained at Essendon on Monday and Tuesday but unfortunately they picked (Shaun) McKernan, the old Adelaide ruckman,” Marshall said.
“They needed a mature-age ruckman in case Tom Bellchambers or Jonathon Giles went down with an injury.
“When Essendon rang yesterday they said ‘work hard in the gym because as the moment you’re not solid enough to play against bigger bodies’.
“So working in the gym will be my main focus this pre-season so I am not pushed around as much.”
Marshall will combine VFL duties with a double-degree in sports and business management at Ballarat’s Federation University next year.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au
