Ben RUTTEN

2014 Digest:   Veteran defender playing what could be his last year. Endured an up and down season but finished stoutly (eighth in best and fairest) to give hope the aging body has one year left. Look for opponents to attempt to expose the 30-year-old’s lack of pace but he has the smarts of experience.

2014 NAB Cup:   Veteran defender has got through another pre-season and played in each of the last two games. Form been just OK.

2014 Season

Played for : Adelaide

1	Geel	Took Brown (three goals) and looked to be moving like a crab in second half.	3
2	Port	Struggled with the tide of footy coming in during the last term.	5
3	Syd	Honest as the day is long but is slowing down.	5
4	StK	Had trouble with Stanley’s marking. Subbed off in final term.	4
5		Knee.
6		Knee.
7	SANFL	In rare SANFL outing managed to keep Butcher quiet.	–
8		Rested.
9	Coll	Brought in to match up on Witts and won the battle.	6
10	Carl	Looked good on occasions and sluggish on others. Subbed out when game on line.	3
11	GCS	Tough duel with Charlie Dixon.	5
12	Frem	Picked up resting talls and was OK apart from Sandilands a couple of times.	5
13	NM	Another Crows defender who stood tall nullifying Tarrant.	7
14	Ess	Really good on Daniher. Kept him under control.	6
15		Rested.
16	GWS	Concussed early and subbed off.	0
17	Haw	Played on the resting ruckmen and conceded four goals.	4
18	SANFL	Wonderful in defence. Gave Butcher a bath.	–
19	SANFL	Kept Wundke scoreless. Faultless full-back display by club legend.	–
20		Soreness.
21	SANFL	Torched by Duldig. Conceded four first-half goals from full-back.	–
22	NM	Fairly even contest with Brown. Subbed off when Brown was.	5
23	StK	Farewell for The Truck and gave usual honest effort on White.	5
QF		–
SF		–
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

Played for : Adelaide

1	Ess	Looked cumbersome at times and howling mistake in second cost a goal.	2
2	Bris	Great job on Brown, kept him under control all night.	7
3	Port	Kept Schulz to just one goal.	7
4	WB	Fantastic game on Cordy keeping the tall forward scoreless.	7
5	Carl	Beat Hampson comprehensively and picked up 16 touches in the process.	7
6	Haw	Didn’t deserve to be on the losing side in his 200th game.	6
7	GWS	Untroubled minding tall forwards and was rested from third quarter.	5
8	StK	Didn’t give Maister a centimetre of space and played perfect defensive role.	8
9	NM	Had Petrie at times and was stout defending him. Handy all game.	6
10	Frem	Not a great day for defenders and went up forward late in the game.	3
11	Syd	Had some moments against Mumford early.	5
12	Rich	Won the battle with Vickery but didn’t have enough mates doing likewise.	7
14	GCS	Took care of May and was composed in defence.	5
15	WCE	Did well on Cox when the big ruckman rested up forward.	6
16	Coll	Witts got away form him early but then he steadied.	5
17	Geel	Moved off Hawkins and went to Podsiadly where he had more success.	5
18		Shoulder.
19	Port	Did the job on Schulz restricting him to just two goals.	7
20	NM	Sturdy in defence.	4
21	WB	Had some trouble with the height of Campbell who kicked four key goals.	4
22	Melb	The former All-Australian full back still has it, kept Dawes goalless.	6
23	WCE	Untroubled in defence by Lycett or other talls.	5
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

Played for : Adelaide

1	GCS	Completely blanketed his various opponents.	6
2	WB	Gives stability and guidance to the Crows young defenders.	5
3	Haw	Unusual match-up on Gunston early.	4
4	GWS	Renewed acquaintances with old foe Chad Cornes.	4
5	Port	Veteran in defence needs to mentor Talia and Otten.	6
6	Syd	Might not have won much of the ball, but was a general in defence.	5
7	Geel	Fine job on Hawkins. Gave him nothing all day.	8
8	Carl	Rock steady at full back and always in the path of Blues’ forward thrusts.	7
9	Coll	Had the better of Cloke keeping him scoreless.	8
10	Frem	Gave nothing away on Clarke. Smothered him.	7
12	StK	Negating match-up on Koschitzke. Not a big factor but rock solid.	7
13	NM	On Petrie who had the upper hand.	4
14	Rich	Started on Jack Riewoldt but quickly switched to first gamer Todd Elton.	4
15	Port	Shut down John Butcher and created many attacks from defence.	7
16	GWS	Taught Jon Patton a few lessons and repelled everything that came his way.	6
17	WCE	Kept Cox goalless when he rested in the forward half.	6
18	Geel	Moved off Hawkins early and with no match up he went forward – did zero.	1
19	Ess	Started on Gumbleton and showed there is plenty of run in his old legs.	5
20	Frem	Experienced defender is passing on his wisdom to Talia and Shaw.	4
21	Bris	Hands full minding Brown and more than OK in the circumstances.	7
22	Melb	Surprisingly beaten for one of the few times this year.	3
23	GCS	Had his hands full with Tom Lynch on occasions.	5
QF	Syd	Minimised the influence of resting talls when they were resting in attack.	5
SF	Frem	Big duel with Pavlich and his effort was pivotal to the win.	8
PF	Haw	Battled Franklin and apart from one bad error he stuck to the task brilliantly.	7