Position 2026 Rucks

[TheMcManusNose]

The draw Xerri/Gawn have first 10 rds, I get a VC/C score out of one or both.
Worse scenario, I swap one out and bank the cash.

The low ownership is what got me and can be a POD early on when teams are similar and nailing the captain score for the round.

Yeah set and forget until the main byes.

Every year there is all this speculation about rule changes etc then by round 5 its the same old same old.

 

[Deliverance]

That’s why Cameron is enticing me at the moment.

Been big on the TDK train but didn’t like what I saw Sunday.

TDKs ruck share was awful. He needs Roma out basically.

 

[Saints4ever]

TDKs ruck share was awful. He needs Roma out basically.

Will get that next week with Roma in concussion protocols then I guess he’s straight back in round 2.

 

[stevebbb]

I'm starting McAndrew at R3:
-If he does well, I'll turn Visentini into White as a RUCK/FWD donut/loop
-If he does poorly or average, I'll keep Visentini

Still unsure what my points thresholds are. Probably more about the eye test, and how McAndrew holds up against Cameron. He has the Dogs and English in rd2, if the Crows are losing and he gets battered by Cameron and English, he'll be out of the side in a flash.

Grabbing White will leave me with ~$200k to play with for corrections over the next few weeks.

I don't think Zako or Reidy will keep playing, and even if they do, I don't think they'll score well or generate much cash.

 

[Lindsay_Gilbee]

Yeah set and forget until the main byes.

Every year there is all this speculation about rule changes etc then by round 5 its the same old same old.

To be fair this off season has had the biggest rule changes in memory.

 

[Tredrea_Wanganeen_Gray]

I'm starting McAndrew at R3:
-If he does well, I'll turn Visentini into White as a RUCK/FWD donut/loop
-If he does poorly or average, I'll keep Visentini

Still unsure what my points thresholds are. Probably more about the eye test, and how McAndrew holds up against Cameron. He has the Dogs and English in rd2, if the Crows are losing and he gets battered by Cameron and English, he'll be out of the side in a flash.

Grabbing White will leave me with ~$200k to play with for corrections over the next few weeks.

I don't think Zako or Reidy will keep playing, and even if they do, I don't think they'll score well or generate much cash.

What about if both Dante and Mcandrew do poorly and get replaced by Sweet and ROB?

 

[timtimtim]

What about if both Dante and Mcandrew do poorly and get replaced by Sweet and ROB?

It’s ok chicken little. 40 Ts will help

 

[stevebbb]

What about if both Dante and Mcandrew do poorly and get replaced by Sweet and ROB?

I will cry.

They aren't going to spend all preseason as the #1 and then get dropped after 1 game. It could definitely happen from rd3 onwards, but unless they get injured, they'll given a few games.

I actually think your mob will start the season with 4 wins, so you won't be dropping your ruckman if you're winning games.

 

[Jiska]

The one thing this weekend has shown me is the golden rule still applies, your premium ruck, must be the clear number 1, solo ruck at their club.

 

[Jiska]

I will cry.

They aren't going to spend all preseason as the #1 and then get dropped after 1 game. It could definitely happen from rd3 onwards, but unless they get injured, they'll given a few games.

I actually think your mob will start the season with 4 wins, so you won't be dropping your ruckman if you're winning games.

Realistically, for those starting McAndrew at R2 - there are a few - we only need him to play in Round 5 before DPP changes come in to play which opens up a lot of different pathways to replace him.

For me, DPP changes will allow me to move Blakiston in to R2 via Serong at Flex.

Anyone starting McA at R2 without a DPP at R3 is begging for pain.

 

[dabombers]

I'm starting McAndrew at R3:
-If he does well, I'll turn Visentini into White as a RUCK/FWD donut/loop
-If he does poorly or average, I'll keep Visentini

Still unsure what my points thresholds are. Probably more about the eye test, and how McAndrew holds up against Cameron. He has the Dogs and English in rd2, if the Crows are losing and he gets battered by Cameron and English, he'll be out of the side in a flash.

Grabbing White will leave me with ~$200k to play with for corrections over the next few weeks.

I don't think Zako or Reidy will keep playing, and even if they do, I don't think they'll score well or generate much cash.

As it looks like I am going Visentini at R2 and McAndrew at R3 as well.

For me a pass mark is for them to average as much as top end Rookies which could/should be around 80’s.
Reason for this mark is i have very few rookies onfield so to keep pace with teams with more rookies onfield I need them to match if not improve on their scores.

Also it is above their current priced average so this would work in my favour to upgrade when their time comes.

 

[morningbrown]

English and TDK for me, I know that Marshall will impact TDK's scoring but still think his around the ground stuff puts him above most available rucks.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Was happy running with two guns, then McAndrew at R3, because I vowed to never put a ruck into flex again after my Briggs experiment failed massively last year.

I also have zero trust in a $119k rookie at R2, despite everybody's speculations about the hit on premium ruck scoring.

The small emergence of Zane Zakostelsky has opened a new possibility however.

With his def/ruck status, I can safely put McAndrew in flex, knowing that IF he gets dropped or injured before a price rise, the swing of ZZ via flex to Sam Grlj in defence essentially opens up all lines again.

And for clarity, I'm running Grundy and English.

 

[Juzzomac]

Surprisingly, there were slightly more throw-ins on average this opening round compared with last season (37.4 up from 34.1) despite the last disposal between the arcs rule.

While the ruck rule change led to more frees being given at centre bounces and some hesitation and uncertainty among ruckmen, overall the number of ball-ups was way down on last year, from an average of 36 per game to just 22 per game in opening round.

The numbers that show the AFL’s new bench rule is a game-changer

On early evidence, old blokes and power athletes are the big winners from this subtle change.

www.theage.com.au

Eye test from OR is that its going to be very hard for rucks in even dominant matchups to score freely without tackles and disposals.

Dont know if any repeat stoppage numbers have been published, but I reckon this really hurts Xerri as he doesn't really get involved in chains.

Will a new coach have Max behind the ball as much as Goodwin did? Does the speed of the game even allow him to get down the line as frequently? Really wish he played OR to see.

Think I am going English as the cheaper price and disposals should see his price stay relatively static, and think for me McAndrew is almost a must R2 until we get more data.

 

[dabombers]

Eye test from OR is that its going to be very hard for rucks in even dominant matchups to score freely without tackles and disposals.

Dont know if any repeat stoppage numbers have been published, but I reckon this really hurts Xerri as he doesn't really get involved in chains.

Will a new coach have Max behind the ball as much as Goodwin did? Does the speed of the game even allow him to get down the line as frequently? Really wish he played OR to see.

Think I am going English as the cheaper price and disposals should see his price stay relatively static, and think for me McAndrew is almost a must R2 until we get more data.

We are not going to have enough data on Rucks to analyse til round 8, one quarter of the season, gone.

By then prices could be anywhere, up, down, spinning, static, floating or sinking.

Usually my forward line is my last line to upgrade as they are usually the easiest and cheapest to get as rookies dry up.

This year I might change that to the Rucks and do that during mid season byes. And just pick the best rucks based on the best matches in the run home.

Suck it up for the first 15 rounds.

It will be much harder this year with captain picks not having the guaranteed ruck selections to fall back on for most weeks. This will cause many melts when a premo captain choice doesn’t score 120 or above.

Getting captain choices right becomes more a gamble and will mean lots of rank fluctuations.

 

[54Dogs]

Realistically, for those starting McAndrew at R2 - there are a few - we only need him to play in Round 5 before DPP changes come in to play which opens up a lot of different pathways to replace him.

For me, DPP changes will allow me to move Blakiston in to R2 via Serong at Flex.

Anyone starting McA at R2 without a DPP at R3 is begging for pain.

The ZZ and Blak loop both being Ruck/Def could be useful. Only fly in the ointment is Bryan being back and a job share setup or Blak going to defence

 

[WaynesWorld19]

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Realistically, for those starting McAndrew at R2 - there are a few - we only need him to play in Round 5 before DPP changes come in to play which opens up a lot of different pathways to replace him.

For me, DPP changes will allow me to move Blakiston in to R2 via Serong at Flex.

Anyone starting McA at R2 without a DPP at R3 is begging for pain.

I can't have McAndrew at R2 .....currently in Flex for me

Also keeping an eye on Draper ....but I see Blakiston more as a Fantasy type player, than a SC

Currently running with English / Jackson ......it still allows me to either go up or down form Jackson's price .....risky, maybe, but safer than McAndrew

 

[54Dogs]

 

[Raveneyes]

I don't know if Blakiston will make enough money before Bryan gets selected.
Will Scott play them both once that happens?
His D/R DPP after round 6 doesn't interest me. McAndrew should be over $300k by then, all going well.

I'll stick with Windsor at D4.

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I'm normally a set-and-forget type kent. But this year might be time to get a little frisky.

Tempted to run Gawn - McAndrew - (Sharp Dressed Man or Reidy).

I've run the maths.
If McAndrew can string together 6 solid games at an 80 point average, then he'll be around $330k.
A 70 average still gets him to $300k.

By then there'll be a clearer ruck picture so I will know who to target.

An 80 average to round 10 will see him reach $400k, meaning a potential 1-down-1-up trade to any ruckman I want.

F*** me I'm gonna do it. I could use that money to get lesser rookies off the field elsewhere.

 

[THE_GUN]

LOl looks like he comes back in round 3 and leaves the Bombers Ruck on the bubble for months

Realistically what scores are we expecting from Rucks ?
I have English & TDK and if i average 100 each they will do

I think they can both do that and total investment $1,1250k

 

[Choppers]

LOl looks like he comes back in round 3 and leaves the Bombers Ruck on the bubble for months

Realistically what scores are we expecting from Rucks ?
I have English & TDK and if i average 100 each they will do

I think they can both do that and total investment $1,1250k

$11250 might be a tad much to pay for 2 rucks methinks

 

[dabombers]

LOl looks like he comes back in round 3 and leaves the Bombers Ruck on the bubble for months

Realistically what scores are we expecting from Rucks ?
I have English & TDK and if i average 100 each they will do

I think they can both do that and total investment $1,1250k

I already have a work around for both Bryan coming back as well as Draper.

If Draper plays this week he has a bye in R2 so he wont be on the bubble til R4. That gives any other player 1 price rise.

If Bryan plays in R3 then he won’t be on the bubble til R5. Giving players 2 price rises.

Holding til they move price gives us a look at these two budget options and price gains from other players.

If he replaces Blakiston as a Solo ruck then it is a downgrade and nearly $40K banked if you can swing the move via DPP.

Draper may be an ok D6 at his price for a while and would be an easy sideways trade or upgrade that early in the season.

These trades only fit if they don’t get in the way of Upgrades in the Midfield or Defence first.

 

[THE_GUN]

I already have a work around for both Bryan coming back as well as Draper.

If Draper plays this week he has a bye in R2 so he wont be on the bubble til R4. That gives any other player 1 price rise.

If Bryan plays in R3 then he won’t be on the bubble til R5. Giving players 2 price rises.

Holding til they move price gives us a look at these two budget options and price gains from other players.

If he replaces Blakiston as a Solo ruck then it is a downgrade and nearly $40K banked if you can swing the move via DPP.

Draper may be an ok D6 at his price for a while and would be an easy sideways trade or upgrade that early in the season.

These trades only fit if they don’t get in the way of Upgrades in the Midfield or Defence first.

Bryan is a worry for me and 1 i would really love to avoid , Just cant trust his body

English & TDK are my 2 Rucks im wanting to go with and hope they are averaging 100 each and ill let them sit there
with perhaps a side trade to Gawn later if he is still the animal he has been and just sit McAndrew as the F3 until round 6-8
then reassess

 

[dabombers]

Bryan is a worry for me and 1 i would really love to avoid , Just cant trust his body

English & TDK are my 2 Rucks im wanting to go with and hope they are averaging 100 each and ill let them sit there
with perhaps a side trade to Gawn later if he is still the animal he has been and just sit McAndrew as the F3 until round 6-8
then reassess

I can’t do anything for your trust issues, just not qualified.

I expect 4-6 trades on rucks going by the last 2 seasons due to either injuries or poor performances meaning reducing losses in Premo rucks over $100K if you start with the wrong ones.

I have budgeted 10 injury/correction trades from the team I have built.

If Rucks fall to averages between 100-100 as I expect than a 90 averaging ruck at $250K is such a bonus over a 110 average costing $600K or above.

It means all that extra $$$ can be spent on the midfield and defenders where I see some of them being the top averaging players going close to the 130pts per game mark.

This year has the biggest changes to both the rules in AFL games and that then trickles down to SuperCoach or other Fantasy games.