Josh Fraser

[MarkT]

The main reason the opposition had more hitouts than Fraser was that it was two against one. By the last quarter he was buggered.

It was more than double. I don't know what the first Q stats were but I doubt they were even close to even.

I am not having a go at Josh. He just isn't much of a tap ruckman. He has other attributes. The fault lies with list management and in this instance also with selection. Did you hear MMs reason for not taking a second ruckman? I couldn't believe it. He said it was to awaken Josh from his slumber because he had been below par this year. I agree he had but you wouldn't think so from this board or a few others. That is no reason to go up against the competition favorites with the best ruckman in the comp with no support.

 

[hotpie]

I'll think you'll find most of the ballups occured in the second half when Josh was cactus. I recall the commentators saying the umpire had not even called a ball up by half way through the second quarter.

He's not the best in the business and never will be, I'll give you that. Cox on the other hand probably is the best. But he is a more than capable ruckman, and when give support by a Richards or Cloke, is effective in the ruck.

 

[toorakbum]

I tend to agree with Mark on Josh's rucking through his career, however this season he has stepped up in his ruckwork. He was beaten by Cox. No shame in that. But I agree we need a top class ruckman to win a flag.

 

[Jabso]

Josh doesn't win enough hitouts, but has an ok hitout to advantage ratio. He is improving, just needs to work not on his actual tapping but his jumping in ball ups and contesting in the throw ins.