Review R1: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly vs. Collingwood

[FR0GGY]

Ha ha ha - I know. Just playing the villain.



I thought he shouldn't have been selected, was bad on the night and should be dropped this week.

I was really surprised that he was ranked 427 out of 431 players this season. Does anyone know where Wheelio get their rankings from?

So we had two players in the bottom 10 players played so far?

 

[AFC979810]

So we had two players in the bottom 10 players played so far?

According to Wheelio. And 2 in the bottom 5

AFL Player Statistics

AFL player statistics.

www.wheeloratings.com

Although the only 3 worse players were Tom Lynch, Ethan Read and Patrick Voss.

I dont know how they do their ratings. Only reason I am bringing it up is because I thought Murray and Bond weren't very good when I watched the game (twice). These backed up my opinion - but also need to take em with a grain of salt.

Tom Lynch is the one that made me really question it. I can understand that he effectively cost his team the match by kicking 2.7. That being said - he doesn't play - his replacement ain't good enough to get 9 shots on goal from 5 marks inside 50.

 

[ftmch]

Our opponents are risking their unicorn in there.

So we're aspiring to be more like the Western Bulldogs now?

 

[WeeBlake]

According to Wheelio. And 2 in the bottom 5

AFL Player Statistics

AFL player statistics.

www.wheeloratings.com

Although the only 3 worse players were Tom Lynch, Ethan Read and Patrick Voss.

I dont know how they do their ratings. Only reason I am bringing it up is because I thought Murray and Bond weren't very good when I watched the game (twice). These backed up my opinion - but also need to take em with a grain of salt.

Tom Lynch is the one that made me really question it. I can understand that he effectively cost his team the match by kicking 2.7. That being said - he doesn't play - his replacement ain't good enough to get 9 shots on goal from 5 marks inside 50.

Cook the highest ranked crow

 

[Cromulant]

So we're aspiring to be more like the Western Bulldogs now?

Im not sure how you managed to get that.

But if its good enough to let Sam Darcy run around at CB for a minimal amount of time, I dont think we should have any issues. Filthy knows how to ruck.

 

[cmndstab]

Cook the highest ranked crow

Milera and Neal-Bullen both ranked ahead of him. But third is pretty damn good!

Also lol that Tom Lynch managed to have nine shots on goal and yet is the lowest ranked player in the competition

 

[Cromulant]

Milera and Neal-Bullen both ranked ahead of him. But third is pretty damn good!

It is, but theyre an "interesting" rankings systems.

I dont think anyone would suggest he was our 3rd best player.

 

[ftmch]

Im not sure how you managed to get that.

But if its good enough to let Sam Darcy run around at CB for a minimal amount of time, I dont think we should have any issues. Filthy knows how to ruck.

Your second sentence answers the first.

'Because our opponents are doing it' is not exactly a robust argument for how we should strategically use our top tier players. Surprised that you think that it is.

 

[cmndstab]

It is, but theyre an "interesting" rankings systems.

I dont think anyone would suggest he was our 3rd best player.

Yeah, fair call. He's the third-highest ranked player according to whatever their ranking system is.

The thing that gets me is that according to their ranking system, he wasn't even close to 4th place. Milera at 21.8, then Neal-Bullen and Cook close together at 18.2 and 18.1 respectively. Then the next best is Dawson at 13.9.

 

[Cromulant]

Yeah, fair call. He's the third-highest ranked player according to whatever their ranking system is.

The thing that gets me is that according to their ranking system, he wasn't even close to 4th place. Milera at 21.8, then Neal-Bullen and Cook close together at 18.2 and 18.1 respectively. Then the next best is Dawson at 13.9.

Id love to know how they calculate it.

 

[WeeBlake]

Milera and Neal-Bullen both ranked ahead of him. But third is pretty damn good!

Also lol that Tom Lynch managed to have nine shots on goal and yet is the lowest ranked player in the competition

Whoops

 

[Velvet George]

This is how it ends up. This is how it always ends up.

You take it to extremes. I say rucks don't matter - you hear "why not play a goldfish instead of McAndrew if it doesn't matter".

You say rucks and clearances don’t matter, then you want to play our best player in there….

 

[AFC979810]

You say rucks and clearances don’t matter, then you want to play our best player in there….

For a small portion of the game.

He averaged 16 ruck contests in 2025 and kicked 60 goals.

I want him to reduce that to 10 ruck contests in 2026 and you are weirdly focusing on it.

You are thick

 

[Vader]

For a small portion of the game.

He averaged 16 ruck contests in 2025 and kicked 60 goals.

I want him to reduce that to 10 ruck contests in 2026 and you are weirdly focusing on it.

You are thick

The question is how many of those ruck contests were centre bounces (not throw-ups) and how many were stoppages around the ground?

I don't have any problem with him doing around the ground stoppages, only the centre throw-ups. There's no risk of players jumping into each other and clashing knees at the other stoppages, hence no reason why Thilthorpe shouldn't/couldn't do these.

 

[Samcro24]

It's absolutely 100% safe to say that. McAndrew spent 4 years on Sydney's list for 2 games, and never looks like adding to that total. The Swans thought so highly of him that they delisted him. Adelaide picked him up, initially for their SANFL team, and he played a grand total of 0 games in his first season on our list. That's 2 games in 5 years, for anyone who's counting.

... Then the AFL changes the ruck rules, and all of a sudden his weaknesses are negated and his strengths amplified. All of a sudden, he's a world beater.

The AFL's decision to change the ruck rules has been a massive boost to his AFL career, just as they have brutally terminated ROB's. The AFL giveth, and the AFL taketh away.

ROB didn't "scratch out a (146 game) career" FFS. Please stop this garbage.

He’s the first ever player in the history of the afl to look like a bust and turn it around at a new club.

 

[Vader]

He’s the first ever player in the history of the afl to look like a bust and turn it around at a new club.

He's probably not the first... but he wouldn't have turned it around if the AFL hadn't changed the ruck rules.

 

[Cromulant]

He’s the first ever player in the history of the afl to look like a bust and turn it around at a new club.

Ben Keays ??

I find the word "Bust" a bit weird, I mean fair enough use it for your top 10s or first rounders that you invest a lot of time into, but a rookie pick isnt a bust.

 

[Samcro24]

He's probably not the first... but he wouldn't have turned it around if the AFL hadn't changed the ruck rules.

He might have.

 

[Vader]

He might have.

There is no evidence whatsoever to support that theory.

The AFL rule changes boosted the importance of his strengths (height & leap), while eliminating his weaknesses (his lack of physical strength); conversely, they robbed ROB of his strengths and boosted the importance of his weaknesses.

Without the AFL rule changes, McAndrew plays out his career in the SANFL - as was expected when he was recruited. With the AFL rule changes, McAndrew is a world beater and ROB is banished to the SANFL.

 

[AFC979810]

The question is how many of those ruck contests were centre bounces (not throw-ups) and how many were stoppages around the ground?

He averaged 16 ruck contests per game in 2025. He averaged about 5 CBA's per game in 2025. I would be more than comfortable with that in 2026. Even slightly higher. 7-8 CBA's and the risk would be minimal.

That being said - I wouldn't be against other players taking those CBA's if we were concerned.

What I am not cool with is to allocate a position in the best 23 so a player can get a back injury from sitting on a bench in order to save TT from a couple of CBA's.

I don't have any problem with him doing around the ground stoppages, only the centre throw-ups. There's no risk of players jumping into each other and clashing knees at the other stoppages, hence no reason why Thilthorpe shouldn't/couldn't do these.

 

[Huntercrow]

Literally none of that is actually true.

Without the ruck rule changes, ROB is still our #1 ruckman - and McAndrew is a beanpole who gets pushed aside at ruck contests by stronger (but shorter) rucks. With the rule changes, ROB isn't allowed to use his strength, while McAndrew's height and leap suddenly become massive assets at centre throw-ups.

The ruck rule changes have been catastrophic for some players - with ROB one of the worst affected. Conversely, they've been an absolute blessing for some other players - with McAndrew one of the biggest beneficiaries. We're fortunate that the impact on ROB has been balanced (maybe even more than balanced) by the impact they've had on McAndrew.

Had they known the rule change was coming, then I have no doubt the AFC would have had second thoughts about offering ROB such a long contract. But they didn't know. Based on what was known at the time, and ROB's known form and fitness, there was no problem with offering him a 3-year contract when they did. Based on what we know now, with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight and knowledge of the AFL's ruck rule changes, ROB's contract is a millstone hanging around our necks.

Didn't McAndrew outruck Rob in the early stages of 2025 pre season? Under the old rules. Rob wore him down but he has had 2 pre seasons since then.

 

[beartoo]

Early days for McAndrew yet. We'll know more after a few weeks of him coming up against AFL quality ruckmen. English will be good test.
As far as his Sydney delisting goes, talls take time to hit their straps.

 

[Velvet George]

For a small portion of the game.

He averaged 16 ruck contests in 2025 and kicked 60 goals.

I want him to reduce that to 10 ruck contests in 2026 and you are weirdly focusing on it.

You are thick

But why send him in there at all when you say ruck work and clearances don’t matter? Why not leave him up forward to kick goals and put someone else in there?

You don’t care if we lose clearances.

 

[Vader]

Didn't McAndrew outruck Rob in the early stages of 2025 pre season? Under the old rules. Rob wore him down but he has had 2 pre seasons since then.

He had 4 pre-seasons before then too, at Sydney.

The AFC showed no inclination to pick him ahead of ROB in 2025, and there are precisely zero reasons to think that would have changed in 2026 without the AFL's changes to the ruck rules.

 

[FR0GGY]

But why send him in there at all when you say ruck work and clearances don’t matter? Why not leave him up forward to kick goals and put someone else in there?

You don’t care if we lose clearances.

Tbf he has said you need a ruckman just not a quality one which is why he’s fine with Rob.
I disagree and think a quality ruckman is an advantage to the team and midfield.