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I think there's general truth here coz more draftees are coming through with already AFL-ready bodies (or at least closer to it than in the past). Not just exclusive to KPFs - draftees are being thrown into more physical roles earlier. But Nicholls specifically was skinny and had an interrupted pre-season, so he's a bit behind the 8-ball. Gallop and Morris were ahead of him strength-wise as draftees, and I imagine didn't have the equivalent pre-season interruptions.

Has some very nice traits so he doesn't have to become a bodybuilder to become viable at AFL level. But would rather get eg a Teakle in than bank on Nicholls being a fairly dominant WAFL fwd in year 2 (which is the minimum to become a viable key fwd at AFL level imo).
Nicholls will have an entire preseason on both of them though

Morris won in 24 and Gallop in 25, both their first years


Amiss missed a chunk of his first year and still had some impact in the finals


I think its the new norm nowadays tbh
 
Seems to be some disagreement on whether our backup ruck should be the best pure, big bodied ruck available (Darcy depth) or someone who can play multiple positions. Personally I choose the latter. If Darcy goes down, I don't think there's anyone available via SSP that would convince us not to have Jackson just be the starting ruck.

Our key position depth is essentially OMac, Draper and Davies (I'm not counting others until they come on). If we can add a 3rd string ruck while improving that key position depth at the same time, that's more useful to me than getting essentially a better Liam Reidy. Maybe you go in the more established pure ruck direction if someone like Nicholls improves out of sight.
I would say neither: the best negating ruck.
 
Too old and so is Mason Cox. Not against Knobel if he is available and has improved (noting injuries impacted him in 2024). Really not sure if he is available but does know our team and there is now a no. Ruck spot available for him at Peel so won’t be running around in the reserves. Aiden Riddle playing up forward and having some stints in the ruck.

I think scenario one is either LJ or Darcy out and then we pinch hit with either Voss or McDonald. That scenario does fit better with LJ out.

Having an available mature ruckman to be a replacement option for Darcy is what we require. The following names have been mentioned and do seem appropriate for a role that might play 3 AFL games at most during the year (potentially none) but lead the Peel ruck most importantly:
Brynn Teakle - 203cm, age 26, 21 AFL games (Port, North)
Harry Boyd - 199cm, age 27, 1 AFL game (St Kilda)
Hamish Free - 203cm, age 27, 0 AFL game (North)

All three have really dominated ruck at VFL, SANFL and WAFL. Boyd in particular in SANFL and VFL, Teakle in the first half of WAFL 2024 and Hamish Free second half of WAFL 2025 and competitive in the VFL.

Brynn played more up forward for North VFL team but is more suited to ruck.

Get them across for a train on over summer and choose the best one in Feb 2026.
Knobel if available is better bet than those three or if not Ollie Eastland from Claremont
 

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I do rate Eastland but there must be a reason why he's not on a list currently, been good for awhile now
Think the former AFL players just have the ability to be pre-listed as a SSP tbh so adding them to the list is easier.

Sounds like we're not doing that but if one or two of our train on options get snapped up I can see us changing our strategy pretty quickly.

For someone Iike Eastland that may mean drafting him in the rookie draft. Most other options it sounds like we can pre-list.
 
I do rate Eastland but there must be a reason why he's not on a list currently, been good for awhile now

Possibly size? Draft time he was listed at 197cm. Would have been viewed as too short. Now listed at 199cm. Who knows how accurate. I rarely watch WAFL and haven't seen Claremont play for a while. How is his leap/movement? At 199cm you need to be a jumping jack to play ruck at AFL level. Jackson is one of the only sub 200cm rucks, and we want to use him primarily as a mid/forward/utility as he struggles with the physicality of the bigger boys when playing #1 ruck.
 
Aiden Riddle is 199-200cm but seems more like a Ruck forward. I think they need a taller type. As such Teakle at 203/204cm or Knobel 205/206cm.

Teakle played quite a bit up forward for North VFL team.

Knobel played the early rounds up forward for Gold Coast VFL. Kicked 3 goals in his first two stints. Then only 1 goal with minimal stats in the third game where they got flogged. Then 3 games as ruck with good hit out numbers before injury wiped out the remainder of his season.
 
Well even if Knobel hasn't been formally delisted yet, he is out of contract and doesn't appear to be being extended, we could get him as a free agent if we wanted to. Can we pick up free agents to the rookie list or do they need to go to the SSP?
 

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We need a big mature body as the break glass backup ruck. Rumours are we are looking at Harry Boyd, he'll carry Peel and is a damn sight better than Reidy if he came in to the AFL side.
 
Well even if Knobel hasn't been formally delisted yet, he is out of contract and doesn't appear to be being extended, we could get him as a free agent if we wanted to. Can we pick up free agents to the rookie list or do they need to go to the SSP?

He's on the AFL 2026 Free Agent list.
 
Aiden Riddle is 199-200cm but seems more like a Ruck forward. I think they need a taller type. As such Teakle at 203/204cm or Knobel 205/206cm.

Teakle played quite a bit up forward for North VFL team.

Knobel played the early rounds up forward for Gold Coast VFL. Kicked 3 goals in his first two stints. Then only 1 goal with minimal stats in the third game where they got flogged. Then 3 games as ruck with good hit out numbers before injury wiped out the remainder of his season.
If Riddle is a 205cm forward/ruck then he won't be on our list very long. I mean they came for Reidy who didn't look like he had AFL potential.

I think what may work better for us is someone who can play a role in the ruck as well as forward if needed, but isn't going to be a recruitment target. Knobel seems to fit that.
 

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Reality is:
If Darcy gets injured, Jackson will ruck. We will play the same 3 tall forwards, one part time in the ruck.
If Jackson gets injured, a mid will come in. We will play the same 3 tall forwards, one part time in the ruck.

If both get injured, we need someone who is a ruck first and foremost.

The unknown is: What if Treacy/Voss/Amiss got injured. Would Jackson go back forward? Would we play shorter? Does Omac come in again? Do they want a ruck who can cover the forward role (I doubt it, as Jackson and Darcy are both in the team).

I think we need a ruckman - not too concerned about the ability to play forward.
 

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