Mooney into the ruck?

[year of the cat]

Big Cam seems a bit out of touch and struggling to have an impact at the moment. With Blake out of the side it has been Hawkins who has up until now been given the responsibility for the second rucking role. I just wonder whether Bomber should look at Mooney sharing responsibility here. It may free him up to play as a ruck rover around the ground and just get him into the play a bit more.

It only need be for relatively short periods as he would be changing with Hawkins. It would also relieve Tom to play as a CHF with Pods playing deep. Tom generally plays better with a bit more space.

What do you reckon?

 

[kellykellykelly]

Bomber kept Hawkins in the ruck for long periods last night, and I thought he did quite well.

His decision making in traffic is great - always gets the hands off to the widest player who is most in the clear. This is not an easy thing to do when you have two or three closer and more obvious options.

T-Hawk to monster Leigh Brown next week!

 

[winty]

Big Cam seems a bit out of touch and struggling to have an impact at the moment. With Blake out of the side it has been Hawkins who has up until now been given the responsibility for the second rucking role. I just wonder whether Bomber should look at Mooney sharing responsibility here. It may free him up to play as a ruck rover around the ground and just get him into the play a bit more.

It only need be for relatively short periods as he would be changing with Hawkins. It would also relieve Tom to play as a CHF with Pods playing deep. Tom generally plays better with a bit more space.

What do you reckon?

Hello Mr. Walls!

 

[year of the cat]

Hello Mr. Walls!

NO!!!! A thread was bumped a little while ago from 2006 when I suggested that we replace Thompson with Walls. I thought that I may have exorcised him from my thinking!!!

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Don't think it will happen, unless they get Hawkins in the centre square bounces, then switch him with Mooney around the ground. Mooney had McPharlin (Freo's best defender by about as far as you can imagine) on him last night and by commanding McPharlin's constant attention and always making a contest, he made the job so much easier for Stokes, Johnson, Byrnes and Pods.

Geelong's forward line has never been about individuals during the reign at the top. It's pretty unusual for a Geelong forward to kick more than four goals in a game. If the six starting forwards combine for 12 goals, they've had a fair return

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Get real. Only ruckmen can play in the ruck, surely this Hawkins experiment has proved that. Blake is fitter, taller and better at rucking than Mooney and Hawkins. Why is it that our forwards are so shit we have to 'work them into the game' for christs sake its not as if they are getting lack of supply.

Drop Hawkins, bring back Blake. Give Cam a kick up the arse and tell him to take it in the hands and stop playing cute football.

 

[Turbocat]

I always remember that game in the finals as Cams best game. V Melb in 05.

However Cams days as a ruck are done I think. Ruck Rover maybe as a shock tactic on the ground IF we really are getting hurt and we need a couple of hard hitters in the middle.

Last week Cam was good. This week not so , I hope he doesn't blame himself for that free kick it was hardly his fault. Im confident he will have a good game this week , he always seems to be at his best when we are backed into the corner , not when we playing a training game like last night.


AS for the ruck position:
I'd have to say as good as the MC have been the last 4 years ,I think they have been below par in our Ruck determinations. I say again. We should have had either West or Hawkins playing at CHB for several games thru the year. Both are strong overhead than Lonergan , both a big bodies and could be a stopper if trained for the position. Its the family position for Hawkins after all. This would have allowed an extra utility type in the side.

 

[kanyewest]

Although it is definitely a Robert Walls type call, I don't think it's necessarily a bad one. Moons is another option in the ruck, and can swap fairly easily with Tomahawk. I reckon it's hard to really say though. If he has been doing some work in training, then yes. If not, then no. I wouldn't want him just thrown in there on game day without any kind of preparation.

 

[alfy!]

One week after he was in our best versus the Saints, this isn't needed.

 

[RegHickeyStand]

Cam was quiet last night, but I thought he has played well this last month.

He really put out (albeit with little success) last week against St Kilda.

 

[MAXIMUM GRUNDAGE]

Hello Mr. Walls!

 

[STC]

It's a bit of a cliche granted but I've been advocating this one for two years now. We tried it last year against Hawthorn in round 17 and it worked a treat. I wouldn't be opposed to him sharing the Hawk's ruck rotation. But this week we really need Otto to shoulder at least as much responsibility as Jolly. We can't afford to have the Hawk or even Mooney going up against him. Let them go up against Leroy Brown.

 

[winty]

I always remember that game in the finals as Cams best game. V Melb in 05.

However Cams days as a ruck are done I think. Ruck Rover maybe as a shock tactic on the ground IF we really are getting hurt and we need a couple of hard hitters in the middle.

Last week Cam was good. This week not so , I hope he doesn't blame himself for that free kick it was hardly his fault. Im confident he will have a good game this week , he always seems to be at his best when we are backed into the corner , not when we playing a training game like last night.

IIRC, Mooney was actually playing as a ruck rover in that 2005 final, rather than in the ruck.

In regards to last night, I thought Mooney did try hard to get involved last night, but it seemed to me McPharlin was holding onto his arm a lot, and wasn't penalised for it. Even Dennis Commetti noticed it at one stage. But when you've got about 2/3rds of the team getting on the score sheet, you don't really need a 15 possession, 10 mark game from your key forward. I'm sure he'll fire up on Friday night, kick 3 or 4 and set up another couple.

 

[Vdubs]

Blake was good enough to keep Mumford out of finals last year, he has not deteriorated this year, is fit and can give our mids first use of the ball and allow Ottens to roam around and go forward.

Like an opposition supporter said to ,me today, we have nobody on our forward line that is really scary for opposition defences. About time Hawkins becomes that imposing FORWARD. Mooney was and is definitely in the twilight. Pods is a blessing. Hawkins is not rucking material.

 

[hamG]

Yeah lets put Mooney in the ruck for the first time in five years, its only a prelim.

Now would be a good time to see what West can do as a CHF, lets play him too. And before we lose Gamble, lets give him one last chance in the back line. Time to give Enright a rest.

 

[Belisarius]

Never happen with Hawkins in the team.

Mooney is far too structurally important as a lead up CHF - and occasionally drifting down to the goal square.

Also is likely to draw 2 backman in a contested marking situation.

As long as Hawkins runs with Leigh Brown most of the night and Ottens can improve and negate Jolly's influence the ruckman have done their job for mine.

I just hope Ottens and Hawkins are match fit enough to be competitive enough ALL night.

Geelong have enough excellent mid-fielders - if on their game to get enough ball to beat Collingwood.

I somehow think we could do with as much pace as we can get this night. But it won't happen (Thunt say for JHunt). We need to match their running down the wings and put more pressure on their players bringing the ball into their forward 50.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Blake was good enough to keep Mumford out of finals last year, he has not deteriorated this year, is fit and can give our mids first use of the ball and allow Ottens to roam around and go forward.

Like an opposition supporter said to ,me today, we have nobody on our forward line that is really scary for opposition defences. About time Hawkins becomes that imposing FORWARD. Mooney was and is definitely in the twilight. Pods is a blessing. Hawkins is not rucking material.

Blake won't play against the Pies with Brown.

Hawkins I agree is not a ruck, but that's what we'll go with.

Mooney shouldn't be in the ruck, no need for him to be.