.

[kevind]

but once again, is that MM's fault?

Fraser would make a difficult match up at CHF, I dont know why we havent given him a season there, see what it brings. Move Cloke deeper into the forward line.

Fraser will never be a ruckman, and to say he is the best option there is like saying that we know he cant ruck, but we will waste him there anyway.

If he cant ruck, and Wood can barely ruck, what does it matter who rucks then? We aint going to win the rucks either way. But Fraser could be more use somewhere else, somewhere less injury prone than the ruck as well!

He may be difficult to match up with his height but that's where it ends as an advantage. He lacks physical presence, struggles to outmark anyone and lacks the sort of agility needed for a CHF. Therefore, I don't think he would be any good as a CHF.

It would also force us to play Wood, Bryan and Fraser all in the one side. In today's running game, that would spell disaster. He is easily our best ruck, largely due to the ineptitude of the other 2 candidates.

Apparently he has a bad back. If it is a disc problem, I can sympathize with him. Having had a prolapsed disc and subsequent operation, I can tell you that the pain is indescribable and the desire for physical contact such as footy is something less that zero. Never been a fan of his football but I admire his courage enormously.

 

[kevind]

Don't be mistaken, Fraser is our most important player and probably the greatest finals player in the clubs history (you won't be able to name me a better one). He's missed the last month, and if he gets his run going he'll be a force

That is laughable. I could name you about 20 but let's start with Nathan Buckley, Billy Picken, Gavin Brown, Darren Millane, Graham Wright.....I could go on but there are just too many to name.

 

[FuManchu]

He may be difficult to match up with his height but that's where it ends as an advantage. He lacks physical presence, struggles to outmark anyone and lacks the sort of agility needed for a CHF. Therefore, I don't think he would be any good as a CHF.

It would also force us to play Wood, Bryan and Fraser all in the one side. In today's running game, that would spell disaster. He is easily our best ruck, largely due to the ineptitude of the other 2 candidates.

Apparently he has a bad back. If it is a disc problem, I can sympathize with him. Having had a prolapsed disc and subsequent operation, I can tell you that the pain is indescribable and the desire for physical contact such as footy is something less that zero. Never been a fan of his football but I admire his courage enormously.

I still think he is worth a gamble there, because he's only battering himself to an early footballing death by rucking. Until we see what he is like there, we just dont know. I saw him play some handy football 6 or so years back deep up forward, especially one out. He is not too bad at ground level and he is more mobile than any ruck that probably would have to play on him

And its that mismatch he creates that could be used to effect. They may be forced to play 2 rucks at any time, whereas we really are still playing only one if you dont count fraser as a ruck, because I never have! And in effect you would still only need one other ruck that rucks from the full back line thru to the HF line as fraser could do forward rucking duties. Its just a thought.

But as it stands we dont win effective ruck contests with him, so why waste him there?

 

[mdc]

Why would you play a ruck on him? When he plays up forward, he plays basically as a leading flanker, not as a tall. I hate the idea, fwiw.

 

[FuManchu]

Why would you play a ruck on him? When he plays up forward, he plays basically as a leading flanker, not as a tall. I hate the idea, fwiw.

Because he would be 2 to 3 inches taller than most CHB's and in a marking contest, he probably would have an advantage. He is also quite mobile. Either way he creates a mismatch, he is too mobile for a ruck and maybe too tall for a key back.

FWIW, its only an idea, and he has gone forward before and been quite handy for us. And he kicks straight, and thats a bit of a rare commodity for our key forwards

 

[DaVe86]

Fraser has sucked me in again. He was looking amazing throughout the pre-season until he broke down and missed the last 2 games. I still thought he looked in top shape and picked him in my DT.


He fronts up round 1 looking like he is injured, cant be bothered and has no run.



He is not a forward. He is a good swing option up there because teams lack a matchup. But if he were to start as a forward, he would get a good opponent and be beaten.

Yes he is versatile for a tall...but he is not Buddy Franklin or Trav Cloke versatile or Nick Riewoldt versatile. He is also slower than these guys and cannot take a contested mark due to his size.


Josh is a ruckman who uses his mobility to beat his opponents. What he needs more than ever is a backup. Someone who can also have an influence. Bryan can do it from time to time...Wood should be the guy who takes charge from the hitouts. But neither have established themselves.

 

[didaka]

firstly, learn to use fullstops and punctuation. Secondly, Fraser is one of the best players in your team. now THAT is the sad truth.

Sentences begin with capital letters.

 

[Optimax]

firstly, learn to use fullstops and punctuation. Secondly, Fraser is one of the best players in your team. now THAT is the sad truth.

Capital letters

Also you are by far the one of the weirdest posters on this forum and we have a multi isp weirdo that appears spasmodically, so yeah good luck with that

 

[#1 pies]

Fraser has sucked me in again. He was looking amazing throughout the pre-season until he broke down and missed the last 2 games. I still thought he looked in top shape and picked him in my DT.


He fronts up round 1 looking like he is injured, cant be bothered and has no run.

The last couple weeks he's been playing really good. Without the back up ruckman.

 

[Xx_Toomey_xX]

Truth is Fraser is one of our best players if he had played in the 2007 Preliminary Finla we would have won and hes a hell of alot better then the other two dopes.

 

[rotten pie]

Josh is doing ok. I traded Hille for Josh (in the SC) 3 weeks ago and it's paid handsome dividends.

Ok, Josh will never be a great tap ruckman (he miss times his run alot) but he is just about the best ruckman around the ground (and i don't mean boundary throw inns). I think he has the same problem as Wood as in his frame is to thin and no matter how many weights he does this will never change.

I don't understand why he isn't given more chances in the forward line, like he was early in his career, when things arnt working for us, like last week (i know he was the only real ruckman we had last week). I would have thought Trav or Rocca would have been a better option last week than L.Brown as the back up.

I agree we should have looked for a more solid ruck over the last few years, wich would have made Wood and Bryan work a little harder for their spot rather than just thinking it was a given considering our options. King would have been a very handy pick up for next to nix, but the facts are we don't have a King or even a Gardiner and we can't change that now.

So rather than bag Josh, who has never had a helping hand - Fanning - Richards - C.Cloke - Lets be thankfull we at least have the bloke.

 

[Keele]

Josh would be leading the Copeland at the moment.

Not bad for someone many want to get rid of and doing the Ruck virtually as a loner

 

[Mrs Meddles]

Josh would be leading the Copeland at the moment.

Not bad for someone many want to get rid of and doing the Ruck virtually as a loner

I agree.

 

[rose jam]

Anyone here actually watching the matches? Fraser is tapping the ball into good spots (left side at centre bounces for the right side handball flip, and over the back at boundary throw ins for the breakaway), getting plenty of the ball and using very well as he always does (field kicking is exemplary as always). Guy is the league's form ruckman and only Lockyer would be on his hammer in the Copeland.

 

[shawthing09]

Fraser has been playing well in the last couple of weeks but hasn't had decent opposition. Tomorrow will be a good test for him.

As for the copeland Pendles has both Tarks and Fraser covered to date.

 

[mdc]

As for the copeland Pendles has both Tarks and Fraser covered to date.

Yeah, Pendles first, with Fraser, Lockyer and Cox chasing.

 

[Heater39]

^ Clarke and Swan too.

 

[mattys123]

Yeah, Pendles first, with Fraser, Lockyer and Cox chasing.

There's this guy named Prestigiacomo who hasnt had an opponent beat him yet, who would easily be in the top 3-4 of the Copeland at the moment.

Josh has been bloody good though, would love to see him win a Copeland.

 

[rose jam]

There's this guy named Prestigiacomo who hasnt had an opponent beat him yet, who would easily be in the top 3-4 of the Copeland at the moment.

Josh has been bloody good though, would love to see him win a Copeland.

if Josh is AA, we are top 4.

 

[mattys123]

if Josh is AA, we are top 4.

I said pre season that a fit and firing Josh is in the top 5 ruckmen in the league, and I was laughed at.

And I agree, if Josh makes AA, it means he has played 20+ games, most as solo ruck, and we are probably around the top 4 mark.

 

[MAL FUNCTION]

I don't get all this anti Josh stuff ?
sure he looks a bit awkward n' stuff ( ..but so does Fevola when kicking, and look what he does ! ) - Fraser is perhaps not the ultimate of ruckman, but Josh has done alot for us in just about evey other area and not just where someone tall was needed ! - i think he's pretty good in his versatility and his shots for goal's, he often makes good weekly important contributions.
For his height, his versatility is pretty good compared to the majority of Rucks in the league surely !

I could easily omit other players out of the team well before Josh had his turn.

 

[BornBredBleed]

autumn leaves is going great!!

lol ........

 

[Axl the great]

Disgaceful effort from this poor excuse of a ruckman, Ryder was the difference because Fraser let him, Lets us down far too often and i for one have had a gutfull of him!

 

[Crazy Tails]

Poor showing today from the big fella after a month of really good footy. He looked really tired and could hardly get off the ground at the centre bounces. Ryder just kept jumping over the top of him.

Although what can we expect when you are carrying the ruckload week in week out.

 

[the_fresh]

I don't get all this anti Josh stuff ?
sure he looks a bit awkward n' stuff ( ..but so does Fevola when kicking, and look what he does ! ) - Fraser is perhaps not the ultimate of ruckman, but Josh has done alot for us in just about evey other area and not just where someone tall was needed ! - i think he's pretty good in his versatility and his shots for goal's, he often makes good weekly important contributions.
For his height, his versatility is pretty good compared to the majority of Rucks in the league surely !

I could easily omit other players out of the team well before Josh had his turn.

You don't? WATCH TODAYS REPLAY AGAIN! the guy is not a ruckman's a-hole, he was beaten by a fill in half back flanker who at one stage was laughing at Josh.