Tulip
Hall of Famer
- May 3, 2009
- 37,249
- 34,495
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- Melbourne
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Keen to hear your thoughts on my analysis guys.
The First Options:
Mark Jamar: I'm going to regrettably start with a roast to the Jamar haters. No, he's not as good as he once was. Yes, he's almost finished. No, however, is he a s**t ruck nor worthless to us or viable trade bait. His work around the ground is obviously lacking these days - but he's still an excellent tap ruckman and very strong in the body. Last night, when Maxy was exhausted, the Russian would have thrown his body at Minson and belted it as far forward as possible. Instead, Will got everything. Mark and Will are as comparable in style as possible, with Will having more in the tank than Mark. He's got to be first ruckman again when he's fit, at least until the end of the year.
Max Gawn: Completely unfit due to his knee injuries and then his hamstring at the start of the year. Very important that we keep him away from the vultures. Gawny's got a great height advantage, and his work around the ground is excellent, but his actual ruck work needs work before we can be sure that he's a viable option as number 1 into the future. Still only 21, and time is on his side. Important to keep him fresh and rotate him between the seniors and the Scorpions.
Jake Spencer: Will probably stay on the list for the next few years and not do a whole lot. Or, he could put it all together like Jamar once upon a time and become a likely first ruck type. Good endeavour, engine and speed. His work in the contest is improving, but his tap work and kicking are both very much under question. Not worried about his spot on the list, he's the ideal back up ruck. Only 23 and still developing. Would keep him around unconditionally.
The Second Stringers:
Cameron Pedersen: If he wasn't on a THREE YEAR DEAL, he'd be delisted immediately. He's actually a decent ruckman, but he's 193cm and doesn't really have the size to be a first choice. Not a good defender or forward - so perhaps we just keep trying him in the ruck until something clicks. 3 bloody years. Just pay him out PJ. Crazy of Neeld to trade out Stef for him.
James Sellar: The improvement from our other talls means Sellar is essentially a monty to be delisted unless something dramatic happens. He's best used as a full back who can play second string in the ruck - and his tapwork is okay.
Jack Fitzpatrick: My man. Confidence player. You play him, you give him a month before it clicks. 2m tall and still learning to command his body in the contest. With our plethora of tall forwards, I'd like to see him trialled in the ruck more often. Probably the cleanest ruck on the list when he wins the tap.
The Elephant in the Room:
Mitch Clark: This is all very much conditional on his recovery from the lisfranc. Mitch is obviously our lynchpin up forward, but we have a few of those competing now. Could he play ruck long term? Was a very good ruck at his old team, and only really started playing forward now. Keep in mind that he prefers playing forward, and that he might not have the body to be a #1 ruck.
The Trade: We obviously missed out on drafting Grundy and Hannath, and if we need to have another dip (Jamar may retire, Gawn may leave, Clark) in the market - there are currently very few options. Tom Bellchambers may leave the Bombers due to lack of opportunity, we could ressurect Ben Hudson again or try and lure Billy Longer with a big contract.
The First Options:
Mark Jamar: I'm going to regrettably start with a roast to the Jamar haters. No, he's not as good as he once was. Yes, he's almost finished. No, however, is he a s**t ruck nor worthless to us or viable trade bait. His work around the ground is obviously lacking these days - but he's still an excellent tap ruckman and very strong in the body. Last night, when Maxy was exhausted, the Russian would have thrown his body at Minson and belted it as far forward as possible. Instead, Will got everything. Mark and Will are as comparable in style as possible, with Will having more in the tank than Mark. He's got to be first ruckman again when he's fit, at least until the end of the year.
Max Gawn: Completely unfit due to his knee injuries and then his hamstring at the start of the year. Very important that we keep him away from the vultures. Gawny's got a great height advantage, and his work around the ground is excellent, but his actual ruck work needs work before we can be sure that he's a viable option as number 1 into the future. Still only 21, and time is on his side. Important to keep him fresh and rotate him between the seniors and the Scorpions.
Jake Spencer: Will probably stay on the list for the next few years and not do a whole lot. Or, he could put it all together like Jamar once upon a time and become a likely first ruck type. Good endeavour, engine and speed. His work in the contest is improving, but his tap work and kicking are both very much under question. Not worried about his spot on the list, he's the ideal back up ruck. Only 23 and still developing. Would keep him around unconditionally.
The Second Stringers:
Cameron Pedersen: If he wasn't on a THREE YEAR DEAL, he'd be delisted immediately. He's actually a decent ruckman, but he's 193cm and doesn't really have the size to be a first choice. Not a good defender or forward - so perhaps we just keep trying him in the ruck until something clicks. 3 bloody years. Just pay him out PJ. Crazy of Neeld to trade out Stef for him.
James Sellar: The improvement from our other talls means Sellar is essentially a monty to be delisted unless something dramatic happens. He's best used as a full back who can play second string in the ruck - and his tapwork is okay.
Jack Fitzpatrick: My man. Confidence player. You play him, you give him a month before it clicks. 2m tall and still learning to command his body in the contest. With our plethora of tall forwards, I'd like to see him trialled in the ruck more often. Probably the cleanest ruck on the list when he wins the tap.
The Elephant in the Room:
Mitch Clark: This is all very much conditional on his recovery from the lisfranc. Mitch is obviously our lynchpin up forward, but we have a few of those competing now. Could he play ruck long term? Was a very good ruck at his old team, and only really started playing forward now. Keep in mind that he prefers playing forward, and that he might not have the body to be a #1 ruck.
The Trade: We obviously missed out on drafting Grundy and Hannath, and if we need to have another dip (Jamar may retire, Gawn may leave, Clark) in the market - there are currently very few options. Tom Bellchambers may leave the Bombers due to lack of opportunity, we could ressurect Ben Hudson again or try and lure Billy Longer with a big contract.
