View Full Version : Ruck today/Polak
Just mentioned this in another thread, Geelong had 44 hitouts today..we had 15. Coming into this game, was this not the area of the game that was expected to give us the best chance? Domination in the ruck? Mark Blake had 26 hitouts and Shane ____ing Mumford managed to get 16. For us, Simmo had 11 and Polak had a solid 3.
Polak played a fair amount in the ruck today if I'm not mistaken, and he failed. He really needs to learn to actually play in a position. Got the assets, but can't seem to play man on man, is a pathetic kick on goal, and evidently struggles in the ruck. He is still a good player, or at least has the potential to be, but he just needs to be able to play SOMEWHERE. Would've much preferred Patto, someone who's hardly put a foot wrong in 2 years.
krustyman
17 May 2008, 19:17
polak was shite in the ruck but performed better around the ground.
simmo was just shite..
Just mentioned this in another thread, Geelong had 44 hitouts today..we had 15. Coming into this game, was this not the area of the game that was expected to give us the best chance? Domination in the ruck? Mark Blake had 26 hitouts and Shane ____ing Mumford managed to get 16. For us, Simmo had 11 and Polak had a solid 3.
Polak played a fair amount in the ruck today if I'm not mistaken, and he failed. He really needs to learn to actually play in a position. Got the assets, but can't seem to play man on man, is a pathetic kick on goal, and evidently struggles in the ruck. He is still a good player, or at least has the potential to be, but he just needs to be able to play SOMEWHERE. Would've much preferred Patto, someone who's hardly put a foot wrong in 2 years.
I agree with you JS, Polak is not exactly suited to rucking. He is tall yes, but he is such a more powerful mark.
I admire Pattison in Ruck, I do, but I feel we need someone just that little bit taller, and allow Pats to play a little behind the play, giving us an option of a hit out.
Personally I would love to see another tall recruited at the end of the year. We have a few but one more would be super. Can anyone remember when we were stocked with talls? Richo, Stafford, Ottens in the forward? We played good footy back then, the style of play from the tigers has not changed that much, but we do not have the height to back the style of play up as we are always needing to use a higher percentage of them in the midfield and ruck hit outs.
Am I off the mark at all?
scarecrow2k1
17 May 2008, 19:38
Its not hitouts that matter so much as hitouts to advantage. At quarter time they were doubling us. However, this was there 2 to our 1.
astro_toby
17 May 2008, 19:43
polak should never play ruck - its a no brainer - its about as worthwhile as royce vardy in the ruck.
Absolute shit day for Simmo. He should have carved them up. Maybe the rain was a factor.
I wouldn't mind seeing Polak in the ruck as an option.
Gives him more running to do and gives him more disipline.
Simmo had a bad one yesterday.
beaver fever
18 May 2008, 13:23
Need another ruck option very much so. Pattison is probably not the answer and Polak certainly isn't. That leaves Cartledge who is a rookie (can't play unless promoted), Graham who is still building up match fitness at Coburg and Putt who is too young and not ready.
Warnock seems an ideal fit, but I would prefer to see him play some more AFL level football at fremantle.
RichosGuns
18 May 2008, 13:26
I think it's time Cartelge gets a call up. Surely Coughlan will be put onto the long term injury list, so I think it would be a good idea to bring big Tristan in for a couple of games. He has good size and has really been killing it as a ruck/foward option in the VFL.
I think he is the perfect middle of Pattisons around the ground abilities and Graham hit-out abilities.
Give him a crack I reckon.