Opinion Which Ruckman should play this week against Carlton

[Art Vandelay_]

Maybe yours, hopefully not CS's.

Shame if so.
He’s pure crud.

 

[Johanpetro]

Give Abbott a go. Can't be any worse than the other two, so it's worth a free hit if we're going to lose the battle anyway. Cleaned up Leuenberger last week, and he's not a horrible ruck. Reckon he's worth a look to see what he's got

Am I wrong but didn’t Leuenberger have 51 hit outs against Abbott?

 

[Hot Tin Roof]

I doubt CS would manage him one week, then subject him to F/T ruck work the next week.

Would be a crazy move. We live in hope with other options .

 

[Pollywaffle]

Give Abbott a go - Can’t be any worse. Stanley has stayed at the same level, Smith has gone backwards unfortunately.

Why not ? we have had some luck this year unearthing unforseen diamonds. Never get a better chance than against a hapless blues outfit at KP.

 

[Shadow89]

Am I wrong but didn’t Leuenberger have 51 hit outs against Abbott?

Ah crap you might be right. I only saw how he played during the game, and he looked better around the ground and such. Didn't realize it was such a massive disparity in hit outs though. Maybe not ready just yet..

 

[TheWoodenSlug]

Is rucking that much more taxing on the body than playing centre half forward these days? I haven't really thought this through - just a bit of a thought bubble, but I'm interested in others people's thoughts.

With the introduction of the centre circle and the no third man up rule, you're far less likely to cop the knees to the body that you used to - a lot of the contests around the ground are basically glorified basketball tipoffs. Plus drop in cricket pitches means the centre isn't either sticky black tar or rock hard, making it a lot easier to run/jump on.

Also, forwards are now required to run much more than they were in the past - not sure that a centre half forward would run much/any less than a ruckman these days either (are these stats anywhere?).

Anyway, keen to hear opinions on that.

 

[darrenmorgan]

I think we just have to give Smith a bit of a run. Another 3-4 weeks and let him try to get some continuity and confidence. If he’s still crap then, time to come up with a plan b.

 

[Pollywaffle]

I think we just have to give Smith a bit of a run. Another 3-4 weeks and let him try to get some continuity and confidence. If he’s still crap then, time to come up with a plan b.

I think we are down to plan E or F by now..

 

[iameviljez]

I think we are down to plan E or F by now..

Plans F, U, C...

 

[Rosso]

Anbott named as emergency ...

 

[catempire]

Anbott named as emergency ...

Huge slap to Smith I reckon.

 

[hokee]

I think Smith is finished at Geelong. Stanley didn’t play ruck in vfl last week but came straight back in as 1st choice ruck. Abbott is also named as emergency as well.

I still remember he was unstoppable in his first game against hawthorn, marking everything in the forward line and kicked 3 goals.

 

[Stocks_go_Up]

This will be his highlight reel. Bit of a shame - seems like a good bloke but doesn't have the mental side required to be an AFL ruckman. Things like effort and a desire to win/succeed can not be taught.

 

[Hood007]

I'm all about giving Other a chance.
How tall is he?

 

[catters_28]

Both of them are spuds. We just need to find out which one is less rotten

 

[Landgraft]

Did anyone else notice in Scottys press conference he had a slip of the tongue? Said that things were understandably frustrating for Smith and Stanley when they can't necessarily be guaranteed a place on the list, then corrected himself to say in the team.

Seems like a fun thing to read too much into.

 

[frggr]

Did anyone else notice in Scottys press conference he had a slip of the tongue? Said that things were understandably frustrating for Smith and Stanley when they can't necessarily be guaranteed a place on the list, then corrected himself to say in the team.

Seems like a fun thing to read too much into.

I reckon that's a strong sign someone's being moved on. Looks like it'll be Smith at this stage

 

[Landgraft]

I reckon that's a strong sign someone's being moved on. Looks like it'll be Smith at this stage

I think the club want to move both of them on, if the right opportunity presents itself. Depends on whether or not a suitable replacement can be procured.

 

[foxdog50]

I reckon that's a strong sign someone's being moved on. Looks like it'll be Smith at this stage

I hope Smith not gone. . Who we going to replace him with?

 

[frggr]

I hope Smith not gone. . Who we going to replace him with?

Goldstein until SavRat is ready

 

[Gee Class Loco]

Looks like a play for Scott Lycett is on the cards... Free Agent at years end.
Start at $500k and go up from there... It's gonna cost a few bob IMO.
In saying that. I am of the opinion the BIG SAV RAT will be our Ruckman going forward in 3 years time.
So the dead wood to make room would be in no particular order.

George Horlin Smith give away...
Zac Smith ditto...
Jackson Thurlow trade...
Cam Guthrie trade...
James Parsons trade...

and I hate to say it.
The elephant in the room is...
Tim Kelly. He might be 'a go home factor' that we might have to sell HIGH... a valuable asset to gain a valuable asset.

Plenty to ponder for List management.

Cheers Boys & lets smash the BlueBaggers those salary cheating BASTARDS!!!

 

[Catters 070911]

I don't get some people's absolute defense of Zac Smith, wanting him in week after week, rather than Stanley.

Smith comes in for two weeks, and doesn't do anything to consolidate his spot.

It is almost like because Smith hasn't been selected, some here have demanded it, rather than ever admit that the selection panel have it right.

The fact is, Stanley can play ruck and KPF, Estava can play ruck and KPF, whereas I haven't seen Smith play much time in a KP post. So, for versatility, Stanley gets played ahead of Smith, and then we can swing him, Estava, and even Blicavs between key position posts and the ruck.

There are some here who are such fanboys of Zach Smith, that if Stanley had a AA season, kicked four every week, and won the rick contests, they would still want Smith in rather than him, because of the reputation Stanley seems to have unfairly got, and these fanboys would never admit give Stanley credit.

 

[Catters 070911]

What's wrong is that it robs from a midfield which is already getting spanked, and neither of Smith or Stanley is good enough in a second role to warrant it.

Ottens/Blake worked ok because:

• Ottens was a good enough key forward option
• The game was such that it was ok for one player (Blake) to only play 50% to 60% game time

Playing two ordinary ruckmen isn't really the best solution for the problems you get when playing just one, IMO.

Also, despite criticism of him (much of it warranted) Mark Blake was actually very good at tapping to our midfield, and us winning clearances, whereas we are losing clearances this year, despite a midfield of Dangerfield, J Selwood, Ablett, Kelly and Duncan, because neither Stanley nor Smith are tapping it to advantage.