Reckon he gets there IF he is able to become a competitive ruck. Right now that’s a big if.
The best young ruckman???
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eth-dog
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If I'm looking at the entire package (ruck craft, physicality, mobility, contested marking) I'm going with Ladhams for now. I hope Draper can get there soon.
No way English has or will learn to have Cox tapping qualities or abilities.
English just isn't hat kind of ruck.
English is nowhere near the top of the list in terms of pure ruck ability, he's shown to be quite ordinary up until this point. His value lies in his contested marking and work around the ground - it really depends what you value most.
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TDKoning is a balancing act in progress. The open question at this point is how much extra bulk he needs. His ruck craft is coming along nicely, but he's got a lot to learn about self protection, some of which might need to be made up for with extra beef. And how much the extra beef will erode his other qualities.
Kid did well against NicNat - who is a big unit but not all that physically dangerous. There's a reason we didn't put TDK on the same ground as Mumford......
Not to join the chorus of just picking my own teams player (but I will) I am surprised that Sean Darcy doesn't crack more of a mention.
If you're talking 22 and under then English is already 23 but it depends where you want to draw the line.
TDK looks good but its way too early to say he's the best young ruck after 7 games with averages of 7.5 disposals and just over 8 hit outs.
Ladhams looks great for his age so certainly not discounting him either.
If we are talking actual ruck work as being a factor then I reckon Darcy should be considered because he is actually producing as a starting 22 ruckman right now.
If you're talking 22 and under then English is already 23 but it depends where you want to draw the line.
TDK looks good but its way too early to say he's the best young ruck after 7 games with averages of 7.5 disposals and just over 8 hit outs.
Ladhams looks great for his age so certainly not discounting him either.
If we are talking actual ruck work as being a factor then I reckon Darcy should be considered because he is actually producing as a starting 22 ruckman right now.
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Very hard to judge young rucks, sometimes they look great early and turn out useless, sometimes the reverse, everything in between.
English on his trajectory, not the finished article but adds a lot of value.
Darcy is a potential monster but given his size will take a long time.
Haven't seen heaps of Ladhams.
Marshall very promising but has taken a bit of a backseat while they get what they can out of Ryder - which is very good atm.
TDK looks impressive at an early age, so does Jackson from Melbourne. Both very agile.
Draper has some promise but hard to tell as he plays for Essendon and their other options are awful.
Esava from Geelong could develop into a very useful relief ruck in time.
Wildcard is what damage the Kings can do in the ruck when they get a lot bigger.
English on his trajectory, not the finished article but adds a lot of value.
Darcy is a potential monster but given his size will take a long time.
Haven't seen heaps of Ladhams.
Marshall very promising but has taken a bit of a backseat while they get what they can out of Ryder - which is very good atm.
TDK looks impressive at an early age, so does Jackson from Melbourne. Both very agile.
Draper has some promise but hard to tell as he plays for Essendon and their other options are awful.
Esava from Geelong could develop into a very useful relief ruck in time.
Wildcard is what damage the Kings can do in the ruck when they get a lot bigger.
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If Darcy brings the mongrel back he had in his first year he would be 1 scary maf
english or soldo are the two id pinch if i could
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Still think Darcy needs another preseason or two to build his fitness and strength (same as all the young rucks).
Personally I see him getting to peak Mumford levels, good but not great. If the last few premiers are anything to go by that's more than enough.
On English he is not a No1 ruck and I don't think he ever will be. It would be a waste. Someone said it before, he should be the ruck/fwd/utility. Save him for around the ground working his advantages.
Personally I see him getting to peak Mumford levels, good but not great. If the last few premiers are anything to go by that's more than enough.
On English he is not a No1 ruck and I don't think he ever will be. It would be a waste. Someone said it before, he should be the ruck/fwd/utility. Save him for around the ground working his advantages.
Power Raid
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I've loved Ladhams this year. He still has a long way to go, in improving his tap work but his impact around the ground has lifted his team. That's an impressive contribution, by a kid, to lift the morale of the team.
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When talking pure ruck craft (tap work), dont think anyone comes close to Draper.
3 to watch are Ladhams, Draper and TDK for me.
I've been watching Darcy for a few years (have him in a keeper league). He looks like he'll be physical enough to play a decent enough career, but i don't think he'll offer the same around the grounds as the other 3.
I've been watching Darcy for a few years (have him in a keeper league). He looks like he'll be physical enough to play a decent enough career, but i don't think he'll offer the same around the grounds as the other 3.
Yep, Darcy is never going to be as damaging with the ball, just damaging to opposition midfielders who get close to him.
Do you remember what Max Gawn was like early on?
Always had the raw potential though. His height meant if he put it together he would become elite. And he did.
I don't see that potential in the names listed here.
If English could learn to ruck I would say him, but I can't see that happening.
You also mentioned ROB? He's only is 202 cm and had his debut 12 days before his 21st birthday and only played 2 games in 3 years before becoming a regular at age 24.
Witts is another that took time to come on.
I think we sometimes forget that rucks usually do take a bit more time.
Chaisa
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English does look a fantastic talent, but he seems like a better Westhoff in that floating CHF/wing/CHB/ruck role than a pure ruck.
I'm thinking Ladhams is the gun. That draft seems to have a lot of quality rucks (English, Ladhams, Darcy, Draper, Marshall, McInerney [though they were mature aged]).
De Koning seems promising too.
I'm thinking Ladhams is the gun. That draft seems to have a lot of quality rucks (English, Ladhams, Darcy, Draper, Marshall, McInerney [though they were mature aged]).
De Koning seems promising too.
eth-dog
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Pittonet seems like he'll be that consistent top 10 but never top 4/5 ruck too
BoundbyKreuze
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You’re right. I didn’t fact check Cameron’s age. I was looking at under 25s really. I thought Cameron was young. But if we kept the criteria to sub 50 games solo rucking that could keep him in. But then the title change to inexperienced ruckman.
BoundbyKreuze
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TDK is very handy with the taps. But hasn’t got the English level ability around the ground.
Side note - Pittonet is only 24 so could have included him over Cameron
Id take darcy first given english gets destroyed some games
ceiling? yup english could be a freak
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