Strategy 3rd man up

[Skeparovic]

Okay so apparently Port Adelaide's Matthew Lobbe got handed one on the weekend by Geelong's Blicavs and Stanley where both Cats ruckman would frequently compete against him in stoppages around the ground (one engaging in a grapple whilst the other came 3rd man up to tap it to their teams advantage). Whilst 3rd man up is allowed and the umps ask teams to nominate their specific ruckman I can't help but think it takes away from the ruck contest where a taller, dominant or more skilled ruckman can be held up by his opposition player whilst another player taps/thumps the ball to their teams advantage.

I would like to see the rules modified to prevent this from happening as it risks essentially making ruckman obsolete for the majority of the game (except centre bounces). Counter-arguments may be that when a 3rd man goes up the other team has an extra player at ground level to shark the tap however I think it takes away a great aspect of our game.

What do other fans think?

 

[MarkP]

It will last for a week until other teams learn how to counter it. Like Collingwood and the press, St Kilda and the flood, Port and the corridor, us and the slingshot etc etc.

Footy evolves.

The only issue for mine is ensuring that that nominated rucks both contest the ball and one doesn't act like a glorified blocker.

It will naturally sort out.

 

[Skeparovic]

I hear you in that footy constantly evolves new tactics and counter-tactics however if teams get penalised for blocking the 3rd man up into the contest which I have watched happen previously (although can't cite specific examples from a game) for shepherding it seems unfair that it doesn't go both ways.
I think umps should crack down on a ruckman making no effort to contest the ruck contest other than to block the opposition teams nominated ruckman (e.g essentially a shepherd in the ruck contest) whilst a team mate gives silver service delivery to their teams advantage.

Was funny watching Stanley not even contest the centre bounce surprising Lobbe who tapped it straight into his lap for an easy clearance, Geelong inside 50 and subsequent goal. Will we see this more often?

 

[MarkP]

Basically it. The umps will be told to watch it, police it hard and problem (probably )solved.

 

[J_Moore]

We did this with Mumford & Pyke against Naitanui in 2012 or 2013, from memory.

 

[Skeparovic]

Yeah Swans did in 2012, 2013 same as Lewis or Hodge regularly do it for Hawks and I think it should be penalised where the opposition ruckman makes no effort to get the ball other than to block the other ruckman until a team mate helps out.

Nowadays Pyke regularly stands between the ball drop and opponent particularly against Sandilands and Natanui which seems okay (just using their alternate strengths in ruck contest) however two on one seems a little different.

 

[grimlock]

We have been doing it to a lesser extent with Reid and sometimes Parker as the third man up so for purely selfish reasons I wouldn't like to see anything done with the rule

 

[Skeparovic]

Interesting that an article has now been written about the same thing on afl website showing Sam Reid is 6th on the rankings at 19 3rd man ups compared to Blicavs number one ranking of 71 at the half way mark of 2015. Total last year for leading 3rd man up player Jordan Lewis over whole season who ranked number 1 was 63 showing massive increase in trend.

Looks like umpires are going to watch it closely as they have been discussing it this week.

 

[Skeparovic]

Okay so the problem with 3rd man up is outlined yet again by umpires boss on afl website article titled "Campbell admits confusion over head-high rule tweak". See 3/4 way down where he acknowledges free paid to Natanui was incorrect and directly resulted in a 50m penalty and goal to Natanui when Troy Chaplin voiced his displeasure over the poor umpiring decision.
When is this going to get addressed? Coaches keep saying they're unconcerned however I'm awaiting the discussion to begin. Am I the only person annoyed by current interpretation?

 

[Millky95]

Okay so the problem with 3rd man up is outlined yet again by umpires boss on afl website article titled "Campbell admits confusion over head-high rule tweak". See 3/4 way down where he acknowledges free paid to Natanui was incorrect and directly resulted in a 50m penalty and goal to Natanui when Troy Chaplin voiced his displeasure over the poor umpiring decision.
When is this going to get addressed? Coaches keep saying they're unconcerned however I'm awaiting the discussion to begin. Am I the only person annoyed by current interpretation?

I don't see how hard it can be for this.

Don't block the ruckman. OK simple. This guy is my ruckman. That guy is the other team's ruckman. We stay out of their way, everyone we can block. Why is this so hard?

 

[The King!]

Just block anyone forget the rule full stop