Two months into his time at St Kilda, tall prospect Rowan Marshall admits he is beginning to feel more and more comfortable in his new life.
Plucked from the North Ballarat Roosters with pick No. 10 in December’s Rookie Draft, the mature-age rookie was the final piece of the Saints recruiting puzzle last year, after the club added Ben Long, Josh Battle and Ed Phillips at the National Draft.
With January quickly coming and departing, February brings with it more match simulation at training, a formal intra-club hitout and the JLT Community Series. And with each passing session, Marshall is quickly understanding what is important at St Kilda and to the playing group.
“I’m starting to feel a lot more comfortable. I’m starting to understand and get the hang of them now,” Marshall told Warrnambool newspaper The Standard this week.
“That comes when you transition into a new club. It’s also important to understand the values the club has.”
The 21-year-old key forward-ruckman has spent his maiden pre-season training with the forwards, alongside the likes of 2016 leading goal kicker Tim Membrey, star forward Josh Bruce, 2014 No. 1 pick Paddy McCartin and champion forward Nick Riewoldt.
“I’m working with the forwards, it’s been great. We have plenty of talls and there is a lot of competition. There is that competitiveness at training,” Marshall said.
“You have to make sure you’re back up if you have a poor session on the track. The next has to be of a good standard.”
Without peering too far into the distance, the former VFL star is determined to earn the trust of his teammates and coaches in his first season at Linen House Centre.
“While I haven’t looked too far into goal-setting or anything just yet, I’m looking to put my best foot forward to try to earn the respect of the players and coaches,” he said.
“I’ll wait and see what happens come Round 1 and then I’ll look towards some goals.”
