Player Watch James Peatling

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

A ruckman is only 1 player out of 22. How much influence can one player have? It's not basketball

You need a good midfield which is at least 6? players out of 22

Yeah, no shit a group of 6 will have more influence than one guy

 

[spenze]

Would be interesting to see what sort of offers Rob gets as a FA next year, will it be the same as M Crouch?

 

[AFC979810]

I was editing my post when you replied.
You don’t think Grundy had any influence on Warner gulden Heeney and rowbottom having their best years?

Not really.

Heeney just wasn't played through the middle until 2024. In 23/24 he only had 150 CBA's compared to 495 in 2024.

I think Gulden & Warner benefited more from Mills/Parker stepping down and getting an opportunity (plus hitting that magical 50 games mark - 4+years in the system).

Sydney lost Franklin who contributed 70 goals over 22/23 so it’s hard to compare the team year on year.

True. I just think you put ROB in that team surrounded by all those midfielders and they dont go backward by much.

 

[AFC979810]

A ruckman is only 1 player out of 22. How much influence can one player have? It's not basketball

You need a good midfield which is at least 6? players out of 22

Yeah, no shit a group of 6 will have more influence than one guy

So if the footy gods guaranteed us one player in 2025 to be the absolute best at his position - you wouldn't care if that player was a ruckman or a forward or a midfielder or a back pocket?

 

[AFC979810]

Would be interesting to see what sort of offers Rob gets as a FA next year, will it be the same as M Crouch?

Absolutely.

Its interesting for us with both ROB, Strachan and TMurray all out of contract.

Feels like there are few Ruckman OOC in 2025.

Both Geelong/Carltons DeKoning's / Mason Cox / Nick Bryan / Visentini (Both Essendon & Port)/ Reidy / Stanley / Lloyd Meek / Verrall / Teakle / Maley / Soldo / Hayes Brown / Ladhams

 

[Velvet George]

Yes.

2022 - No Grundy - 16 wins and smashed in Grand Final.
2023 - No Grundy - 12 wins, Lose an elimination final by 6 points.
2024 - Grundy - 17 wins and smashed in Grand Final.

Lets not act like Grundy was the difference between 23 and 24.



Yes.


If you replaced Grundy/Oscar with ROB those teams still make the GF.

Hickey turned out a reasonable ruckman.

You’ve just shown 23 & 24 where Swans recorded 5 less wins and said Grundy made no difference.

You mean the ruckman who was dropped from a shit team would have had the same input as Oscar and Grundy? Thats a stretch.

Do you think our side would be better with Grundy/Oscar or ROB?

 

[AFC979810]

Hickey turned out a reasonable ruckman.

Yeah - and I thinK Rob is a reasonable ruckman.

You’ve just shown 23 & 24 where Swans recorded 5 less wins and said Grundy made no difference.

Correct. I dont think he moved the needle. They won 16 games in 2022 with a reasonable ruckman and got killed in the grand final. They won 1 game more in 2024 with a very good ruckman and got killed in the grand final.

You mean the ruckman who was dropped from a shit team would have had the same input as Oscar and Grundy? Thats a stretch.

Not really a stretch. As long as you have an average ruckman - you are fine. What matters is the rest of the team.

Do you think our side would be better with Grundy/Oscar or ROB?

We would be better with those two, but not by a whole lot IMO. I would definitely not pay a lot to upgrade the position.

If given the choice - I would upgrade us elsewhere in a heartbeat before I upgraded the ruck position.


Edit - What did you / do you think of the Luke Jackson trade for Freo?

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

So if the footy gods guaranteed us one player in 2025 to be the absolute best at his position - you wouldn't care if that player was a ruckman or a forward or a midfielder or a back pocket?

If it's Dean Cox or Shaun Rehn, I'll squeeze him in

 

[AFC979810]

If it's Dean Cox or Shaun Rehn, I'll squeeze him in

So you would take a Dean Cox or Shaun Rehn over a Judd or McLeod?

 

[Cromulant]

So you would take a Dean Cox or Shaun Rehn over a Judd or McLeod?

Different game now of course, but those 2 played enormous roles in their premiership sides. As did the 2 you mentioned to be fair.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

So you would take a Dean Cox or Shaun Rehn over a Judd or McLeod?

Why are they the choices?

Would you take Judd over Wayne Carey? Or over Simon Madden?

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Edit - and why does it matter?

The point is that equating a team's success based on the strength of ruckman (one player) vs the strength of the midfield (multiple players) is brainless

 

[AFC979810]

Edit - and why does it matter?

The point is that equating a team's success based on the strength of ruckman (one player) vs the strength of the midfield (multiple players) is brainless

Equating the importance of a Ruckman is the discussion here. Not sure who was comparing the strength of a midfield group against the importance of a ruckman.

Why are they the choices?

They are the choices because it highlights that the ruck position isnt as important as the key forward position or a midfield position.

Would you take Judd over Wayne Carey? Or over Simon Madden?

I would take Judd and Carey over any ruckman.

I would take Carey over Judd probably.

 

[AFC979810]

Different game now of course, but those 2 played enormous roles in their premiership sides. As did the 2 you mentioned to be fair.

Absolutely. And I think Ruckman were far more important in the 90's and early 2000's.

Shit - 2 ruckman won the Brownlow in the 90's. 1 half ruckman won but was disallowed and a couple of others had top 3 finishes.

In the last 10 years two ruckman have made the top 10 of the Brownlow.

Smart Teams are spending less on acquiring ruckman. Less and less first round draft capital is being used to acquire them.

 

[StonesThrow]

I've said this forever. I don't think a ruckman is that important. There are a lot of pieces your need to get right to win a flag and I think no more than a mediocre ruck is required.

 

[AFC979810]

I've said this forever. I don't think a ruckman is that important. There are a lot of pieces your need to get right to win a flag and I think no more than a mediocre ruck is required.

Many on this board disagree.

The dynasty teams of Brisbane, Geelong, Hawthorn and Richmond all agree - Just get an AFL capable ruckman and build up the more important positions.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Would be interesting to see what sort of offers Rob gets as a FA next year, will it be the same as M Crouch?

I feel Rob is rated much higher outside of our supporter base than we give him credit for.

 

[jackster83]

I feel Rob is rated much higher outside of our supporter base than we give him credit for.

Let's just hope he can play until he's 35+.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Let's just hope he can play until he's 35+.

with our recruitment strategy regarding ruckmen we might need him to

 

[Velvet George]

I feel Rob is rated much higher outside of our supporter base than we give him credit for.

Yes as shown by his results in our B&F for the last 3 years and being dropped

 

[Velvet George]

Many on this board disagree.

The dynasty teams of Brisbane, Geelong, Hawthorn and Richmond all agree - Just get an AFL capable ruckman and build up the more important positions.

Reckon you’re undervaluing all their rucks who were far better than ROB

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Yes as shown by his results in our B&F for the last 3 years and being dropped

Like I said, I feel he is rated higher outside of the AFC.

When he was dropped there was wide confusion or surprise as to why, whereas internally within our supporter base it was seemingly overdue.

While this isnt the thread for it, I am not sure Sam Draper potentially coming in is going to be silver bullet some may think it is.

 

[spenze]

I feel Rob is rated much higher outside of our supporter base than we give him credit for.

I think he is highly rated for endurance and somewhat for tap work. His contested marking, especially when he outbodies his opponent and then drops the mark would be a big cross and his foot skills would be even bigger

 

[Velvet George]

Like I said, I feel he is rated higher outside of the AFC.

When he was dropped there was wide confusion or surprise as to why, whereas internally within our supporter base it was seemingly overdue.

While this isnt the thread for it, I am not sure Sam Draper potentially coming in is going to be silver bullet some may think it is.

Just to clarify you said outside our supporter base, not the club

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Just to clarify you said outside our supporter base, not the club

Yes I did, you mentioned the club not me