Analysis Geelong ruck coach

[2022andbeyond]

Cats have the second most rucks on their list 8 after Essendon.Stanley, Blicavs, Neal, De koning, Conway, Edward’s, Mollier & Pike.



With Steven king

Steven King

Age

47

Ht

201cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.9

4star

CL

1.3

3star

HO

16.8

5star

No current season stats available

D

11.8

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

HO

8.8

5star

departing and bucks replacing him as a midfield coach.



With the trade period miss on Marshall to get an interim Ruck in.



I think Brad ottens

Brad Ottens

Age

45

Ht

202cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

6.3

4star

CL

2.7

4star

HO

16.9

5star

No current season stats available

D

7.6

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.6

3star

HO

7.4

5star

may be still involved but sounds very part time.



The cats need a full time ruck coach similar to Todd Goldstein

17

Todd Goldstein

Age

37

Ht

201cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

5.7

2star

HB

7.5

5star

CL

3.1

5star

HO

32.5

5star

D

16.7

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

7.4

4star

CL

7.0

5star

HO

32.9

5star

D

5.2

2star

K

2.6

1star

HB

2.6

3star

HO

10.0

5star

at Essendon to fast track our 6 young rucks development.



Here are a few options

#	Coach	Club	Notes
1	Mark Jamar	Melbourne Football Club	Joined as ruck coach for the 2025 season. melbournefc.com.au+1
2	Matthew Kreuzer	Carlton Football Club	Listed as the club's ruck coach. carltonfc.com.au
3	Ivan Maric	Richmond Football Club	Ruck Coach & Player Development Manager at Richmond. richmondfc.com.au
4	Sam Baulderstone	Adelaide Crows	Appointed the men’s ruck coach for Adelaide. afc.com.au+1
5	Matthew Lobbe	Port Adelaide Football Club	Listed as Ruck Coach / Head of Development. portadelaidefc.com.au
6	Brett King	West Coast Eagles (AFLW)	Appointed ruck coach in AFLW program. westcoasteagles.com.au
7	Greg Stafford	Melbourne (former)	Was ruck coach at Melbourne (appointed in 2013). melbournefc.com.au
8	Matthew Clarke	Adelaide (former)	Long‑time ruck coach at Adelaide; shifted focus to AFLW. ESPN.com+1
9	Beau McDonald	Fremantle Football Club	Former ruckman appointed to Fremantle’s tall/ruck coaching. (Reported)
10	Aaron Sandilands	Fremantle (former)	Although better known as a player, was involved in mentoring/ruck coaching at Fremantle.
11	Todd Goldstein	Essendon Football Club	While still an active ruckman, is also taking on internal mentoring/coaching of younger rucks. Reddit
12	Damian Monkhorst	North Melbourne Football Club (historical)	Historically listed as ruck coach at North Melbourne.

 

[iameviljez]

The cats need a full time ruck coach similar to Todd Goldstein at Essendon to fast track our 6 young rucks development.

I don't think it's a great idea given the existence of the soft cap.

 

[CatsDoItBetter]

Agree we need a ruck coach but if those names are all already at another club I don’t think they’ll be coming. We’ve also had a coach to work with key position players more broadly so that could be an option.
Giving them a second role at the club seems to help with spreading the money like higgins, Byrnes etc.

 

[Lana]

I think we Stanley and Blicavs we have enough experience in the group that we probably don't need a full time ruck coach. Wouldn't surprise me if we have someone working part time in that area.

 

[standupand]

Cats have the second most rucks on their list 8 after Essendon.Stanley, Blicavs, Neal, De koning, Conway, Edward’s, Mollier & Pike.



With Steven king departing and bucks replacing him as a midfield coach.



With the trade period miss on Marshall to get an interim Ruck in.



I think Brad ottens may be still involved but sounds very part time.



The cats need a full time ruck coach similar to Todd Goldstein at Essendon to fast track our 6 young rucks development.



Here are a few options

#	Coach	Club	Notes
1	Mark Jamar	Melbourne Football Club	Joined as ruck coach for the 2025 season. melbournefc.com.au+1
2	Matthew Kreuzer	Carlton Football Club	Listed as the club's ruck coach. carltonfc.com.au
3	Ivan Maric	Richmond Football Club	Ruck Coach & Player Development Manager at Richmond. richmondfc.com.au
4	Sam Baulderstone	Adelaide Crows	Appointed the men’s ruck coach for Adelaide. afc.com.au+1
5	Matthew Lobbe	Port Adelaide Football Club	Listed as Ruck Coach / Head of Development. portadelaidefc.com.au
6	Brett King	West Coast Eagles (AFLW)	Appointed ruck coach in AFLW program. westcoasteagles.com.au
7	Greg Stafford	Melbourne (former)	Was ruck coach at Melbourne (appointed in 2013). melbournefc.com.au
8	Matthew Clarke	Adelaide (former)	Long‑time ruck coach at Adelaide; shifted focus to AFLW. ESPN.com+1
9	Beau McDonald	Fremantle Football Club	Former ruckman appointed to Fremantle’s tall/ruck coaching. (Reported)
10	Aaron Sandilands	Fremantle (former)	Although better known as a player, was involved in mentoring/ruck coaching at Fremantle.
11	Todd Goldstein	Essendon Football Club	While still an active ruckman, is also taking on internal mentoring/coaching of younger rucks. Reddit
12	Damian Monkhorst	North Melbourne Football Club (historical)	Historically listed as ruck coach at North Melbourne.

Any of them got PhD in sports rehabilitation?

 

[jim boy]

Rucking is a skill that requires specialist coaching, but honestly, it isn't that much of a skill and a FT coach is overkill. Our developing rucks aren't playing seniors, not because they cant ruck, but because they are not good enough footballers in a general sense.

 

[Generalissimo]

Rucking is a skill that requires specialist coaching, but honestly, it isn't that much of a skill and a FT coach is overkill. Our developing rucks aren't playing seniors, not because they cant ruck, but because they are not good enough footballers in a general sense.

Or in Conway's case because he's perpetually injured. If uninjured and match-fit he's a lock for best 22.

 

[Cataholic]

Or in Conway's case because he's perpetually injured. If uninjured and match-fit he's a lock for best 22.

I reckon there's a pencil line through Conway as a viable player for the GFC.

It sounds like he has a mountain to climb to again be considered as capable of AFL, which is a shame.

 

[jim boy]

I reckon there's a pencil line through Conway

I'm not so sure - the foot injury he has is serious and may well end his career, but I've not heard of any prognosis. Until he has recovered from surgery and the doctors examine how well he has healed I doubt any call will be made. There is no benefit to club to make an early call on this.

 

[Cataholic]

I'm not so sure - the foot injury he has is serious and may well end his career, but I've not heard of any prognosis. Until he has recovered from surgery and the doctors examine how well he has healed I doubt any call will be made. There is no benefit to club to make an early call on this.

The club won't walk away unless / until they deem he's done, but listening to thegerman outline their experience with the exact same operation suggests Conway has a real battle on his hands.

 

[jim boy]

The club won't walk away unless / until they deem he's done, but listening to thegerman outline their experience with the exact same operation suggests Conway has a real battle on his hands.

Yeah totally agree - only have to look at Matty Egan. But then there was James Hird, who did recover, but even then that was after a two year saga. Just too early to say which way it will go. As Conway signed a two year extension shortly before the issue flared, then, unless he retires, the club will give him every opportunity if there is hope during those two years, but they'll plan for the worst.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I think we Stanley and Blicavs we have enough experience in the group that we probably don't need a full time ruck coach. Wouldn't surprise me if we have someone working part time in that area.

Otto was previously.