ST KILDA recruit Paddy Ryder has enthused about the potential of his ruck partnership with Rowan Marshall, revealing his hopes to help the developing big man become an "awesome" exponent of the craft.
Ryder, 31, and fellow Port Adelaide tall Dougal Howard were traded to the Saints on Tuesday and is keen to share his 243 games of knowledge with impressive 33-gamer Marshall.
Marshall, 23, enjoyed a breakout season to finish runner-up to midfielder Seb Ross in the Saints' best and fairest after playing 20 games and averaging 16 possessions, four marks (one contested) and 28 hitouts, and tallying eight goals.
Rowan Marshall starred in season 2019.
In addition to education, Ryder believes he can also provide his new ruck partner with a much-needed breather.
"There's a lot of work that goes into being a good ruckman and Rowan's already shown he's very capable of that, but he's still a young bloke so you don't want to be thrown out there at the start of his career and (be) chucking him in full seasons in the ruck," Ryder told Telstra AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday morning, just hours ahead of the trade deadline.
"So hopefully I come in and spend a couple of years with him, be able to teach him a few of my tricks and in two (or) three years' time he's well and truly primed to hold down that ruck position for the next eight (or) nine years."
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Ryder expects their combination to be mutually beneficial in that it will refresh both of them, aid their recovery from games and lessen the chance of injuries.
As for how the duo would operate, the veteran said they would probably work it out as they went.
"I'm certainly not coming to the club to take (ruck) time away from Rowan. He's going to be an awesome ruckman, he's already shown that," Ryder said.
"The big thing about myself and Rowan playing in the same team (is that) we can both play as a key forward … It gives us good flexibility to be able to change it up. It might be a week-by-week thing …
"I'm really looking forward to it and I think it's going to be a really good partnership."
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Ryder, who just two years ago won both Port's best and fairest and Virgin Australia AFL All Australian selection, revealed he'd sought a "fresh start" at Moorabbin.
He was looking forward to reuniting with his former Power ruck coach Brendon Lade, now an assistant at St Kilda, and playing alongside former Essendon teammate Jake Carlisle and his younger cousin Brad Hill, who hoped to secure a trade from Fremantle.
The West Australian was rapt to be joined by Howard, whom he rates as "a fantastic player".
"He's a tremendous athlete. There's not too many guys out there that are 200 centimetres that can run and jump like him," Ryder said of Howard, 23.
Ryder was also bullish about the Saints' chances of making the finals for the first time since 2011.
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"They're not that far off with a young team of up-and-comers, and then you bring in a little bit of experience in myself and Dougal and a couple of the other boys … there's no reason why next year we can't aim high," he said.
"It's going to be an exciting opportunity next year. When I went down to the club I felt that excitement. I spoke to 'Ratts' (coach Brett Ratten) and there's some quality individuals running the club – that's what excited me."
