2014 Ruck options

[worthy]

With the retirement of Max Bailey opening up a hole in our ruck stocks, who are our options for 2014 and how do they rate?

1. David Hale - ok first, excellent 2nd ruck option, really like him as the second ruck resting forward, I think he is underrated.

Now, this is where it get's a bit ugly, and I need input from those that know better.

- Luke Lowden - 204cm - 102kg - 23yrs in 2014 - Has been a "project" player for 5 years, he would have seemed the obvious choice but just can't crack it for a senior game, I don't know much about him but have heard he has the skill but lacks intensity, the way the Hawks keep overlooking him and going after other options seems a worry.

- Sam Grimley - 199cm - 96kg - 23yrs in 2014, Love his athleticism, but he seems the perfect eventual replacement for Hale.

- Jarryd Roughead - With Buddy gone, I think he needs to be left in the forward line and not be used as a part time ruckman.

- Jonathon Ceglar (Rookie) - 204cm - 94kg - 23yrs in 2014 - Good size, a few more kg's wouldn't hurt, didn't look out of place when given an opportunity this year.

Draft/Trade

Billy Longer - Don't know much about him other than a top 10 draft pick with good athleticism.

Hampson - Brings some quality with him , but as a footballer he's a good mark and lousy kick.

Our 3 current options are the perfect age to begin making a name for themselves, but I get the impression with the way we are linked to other options that they aren't up to it.

 

[wheelie_hawk]

Love what I see with Grimley, will be interesting to see just how many games he gets next season, especially if we snag Longer...

With Luck he and Lowden, step up and we don't need to look much further than Longer... Interesting times

 

[Easy Slips Catch]

Do we need to worry about a ruck? Max, Clarke and Sandi had a combined total of 3 marks in the GF. It seems all you need nowadays is a tall guy to stop the other guy slapping at the footy.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Do we need to worry about a ruck? Max, Clarke and Sandi had a combined total of 3 marks in the GF. It seems all you need nowadays is a tall guy to stop the other guy slapping at the footy.

I've been saying this for years. Leigh Matthews also said after the Grand Final, "Not much point in dominating the hit outs if you get beaten in clearances", and this happens far more often than some people may think.

Billy Longer sounds exactly what we need. An athletic tall to compete with other ruckmen and then contribute around the ground.

 

[realhawk]

They will go with hale and grimely, lowden goes ok but he just cannot kick a football, Ceglar will have to improve a bit to mix it at AFL level. So hopefully this kid longer has got real talent. Grimely by the way is going to be a beauty for us next year.

 

[Hawker1167]

I am a wrap for Grimely and I was surprised to see Ceglar get games before him as I didn't think Grimely did much wrong when he played

 

[gunner]

I am a wrap for Grimely and I was surprised to see Ceglar get games before him as I didn't think Grimely did much wrong when he played

Any of the above, but NOT Hampson,puleeze

 

[Hodge is God]

Any of the above, but NOT Hampson,puleeze

He is going to Richmond.

 

[Hawker1167]

Any of the above, but NOT Hampson,puleeze

Don't know much about him except isn't he doing Megan Gale????? Goes to show his footy must not have impressed me like his taste in woman

 

[Boyler_Room]

12 Month contract for Jolly?

 

[Hawker1167]

12 Month contract for Jolly?

Maybe but think it's time we unleash our ruck youth stocks......

 

[HawkintheTuarts]

As Freo showed this season you need at least 5 ruckmen on your list or you're asking for trouble. With Roughead in support we can have six.

Hale, [Longer], Grimley, Lowden, Rookie-listed Ruck.

 

[bards]

Lowden can kick a football, and is actually probably a good replacement for Hale as he is quite good forward. I'd look at Grimley as a forward (and possibly a back), as his ruck work is sub par. Lowden's is excellent, his effort can lacks at times but he turned it around in the VFL finals. He'll get his chance. I say Luke and Billy to share the 1 spot with Hale playing the 2 all year.

 

[Scissor4life]

HAWTHORN and Brisbane have made ground on a trade for exciting young ruckman Billy Longer.
Longer has selected Hawthorn as his preferred destination and the Hawks are confident they will land their man.

Brisbane said it wouldn't stand in the way of Longer and other young starts wanting out but it required "suitable" compensation, believed to be picks inside the top 30.


Read more: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/other-sports/hawthorn-confident-of-snaring-promising-brisbane-ruckman-billy-longer/story-e6frf56c-1226734237539#ixzz2h0qyJbFu​

 

[ShoveYourCOLA]

Longer will be a great recruit, hope both clubs can reach a mutually acceptable agreement

 

[davross]

Can someone cut and paste in what The Hun said.

 

[Hawks1994]

Grimley is more of a Roughead type in my opinion. Tall marking forward who can do a job in the ruck if needed.

Longer is a quality player and will be a massive inclusion for us, but i'd also like to see Lowden at least get a crack. He deserves it.

 

[Wittman10]

I can see us trading for Longer and bringing in an experienced ruck - Jolly perhaps, as back-up.

Hale, Jolly, Longer, Grimley & Ceglar/Lowden looks okay on paper.

 

[Hodgepodge]

Longer only averaged 17 hitouts this season, down from 22 in the debut year.

I also worry about young ruckmen who are picked in the top 10 in their draft. It rarely works out.

 

[halfback dasher]

Hale , Longer , Lowden , Grimmers .....retain Ceglar on rookie list ...job done .
Let the best man win !!!!!

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

I think it is too early to tell.

Hale is obviously one, but who knows if the other is going to be Lowden / Ceglar / Longer.

Grimley for mine is a key forward propsect at the moment and not close to the size required to compete in the ruck.

 

[Cyril the Squirrel]

Lowden can kick a football, and is actually probably a good replacement for Hale as he is quite good forward. I'd look at Grimley as a forward (and possibly a back), as his ruck work is sub par. Lowden's is excellent, his effort can lacks at times but he turned it around in the VFL finals. He'll get his chance. I say Luke and Billy to share the 1 spot with Hale playing the 2 all year.

I'd be surprised if Lowden gets that sort of game time from the VFL games I've seen. Lucky to stay on our list IMO. Needs to learn to compete over the preseason..

 

[Davo-27]

David Hale plays the second ruck perfectly I agree with the OP

Luke Lowden, will be a serviceable Ruck, but doubts are he is a top Ruckman

Sam Grimley, plays better as a flashy forward than he does as a ruckman, might be our best option for 2nd Ruck/forw when Hale retires

Jonathan Ceglar is/was a stop-gap ruckman(probably delisted or kept for 1 yr as a transition back-up)

basically I see Longer as possibly being our No.1 ruckman next yr with support from Hale(forward-line) and Lowden(if injuried or poor form), with Grimley playing as Hales replacement(injuries or poor form)....

 

[SSSSSS]

Grimley isn't a ruckmans arseh*le not that anyone would want to be one. He's the worst ruck on the list and I'd be pretty pissed if we played him there. Looks like a forward or bust.

That said he can still just jump at the ruckman to create a contest and rove the ball ala Roughy but he is nowhere near as good as Roughy in that area of the game. Has the great ground level skills and athleticism but not the same smarts.

Lowden just needs to play like he did in the VFL finals week in week out. His second and third efforts are what we wanted to see and he showed it. If he can keep that intensity and effort he will be the gun ruckman we havn't had in a long time. Has all the tools just needs to click.

 

[marklar]

I also worry about young ruckmen who are picked in the top 10 in their draft. It rarely works out.

Matthew Kreuzer says


...yeah whatever.