Next year

[Jelly Bean]

No he is useless in the ruck that’s why we are so reluctant to put him in there

Keep Grundy as the first ruck as he is our best ruckman

Yeah, not only that, but Grundy would be a poor full time midfielder.

Wouldn't be able to cover the 15+km each game, couldn't go with another midfielder defensively, not agile enough, not fast enough, couldn't get the ball well enough off someone else's taps, etc.

 

[Pistol Night]

Don’t think that’ll be a problem until he gets injured running through the banner.

Can we use 1 ply crate paper as a precaution?

 

[yuba]

Yeah, not only that, but Grundy would be a poor full time midfielder.

Wouldn't be able to cover the 15+km each game, couldn't go with another midfielder defensively, not agile enough, not fast enough, couldn't get the ball well enough off someone else's taps, etc.

I think you’ve not really understood what I’m saying. People say 3 talls won’t work yet checkers is the same height as the bont who almost won a Brownlow. Let’s not classy people by position. Multiple key forwards can work as long as they are agile amd don’t turn like a boat. Checkers and (hopefully) Krueger are mobile. Again whilst not the same type of players of Cripps and bont can play midfield, checkers and Krueger aren’t too bad as KPF.

Have I said let’s play Grundy as a midfielder? That would imply cox is the only ruckman and my whole point is we need 2 ruck. One big as a key marking target coming out of defence. One also big but more mobile to be a link up player and marking option(Grundy) the guy was AA when Gawn was seen as the better ruck but Grundy the ruck/mobile player kicking goals amd tackling people etc.

 

[Jelly Bean]

I think you’ve not really understood what I’m saying. People say 3 talls won’t work yet checkers is the same height as the bont who almost won a Brownlow. Let’s not classy people by position. Multiple key forwards can work as long as they are agile amd don’t turn like a boat. Checkers and (hopefully) Krueger are mobile. Again whilst not the same type of players of Cripps and bont can play midfield, checkers and Krueger aren’t too bad as KPF.

Have I said let’s play Grundy as a midfielder? That would imply cox is the only ruckman and my whole point is we need 2 ruck. One big as a key marking target coming out of defence. One also big but more mobile to be a link up player and marking option(Grundy) the guy was AA when Gawn was seen as the better ruck but Grundy the ruck/mobile player kicking goals amd tackling people etc.

Yeah, my reply wasn't based on your comments, it was based on that of Aussie Pie.

 

[Jelly Bean]

I had this thought a while back that Cox plays #1 ruck and Grundy is played as a big bodied midfielder. Imagine that, I know it’s silly but sometimes Grundy really looks better in that mid role not taking the tap.
No I haven’t been drinking

... this one...

 

[Black_White]

Grundy is not a true “onballer”.
It is correct that his second efforts in the square, normally after losing the ruck contest, are above normal for a ruckman, his around the ground efforts, marking etc, are well below what is expected from an onballer.

 

[Anzacday]

Can we use 1 ply crate paper as a precaution?

Sounds like crepe to me

 

[yuba]

Grundy is not a true “onballer”.
It is correct that his second efforts in the square, normally after losing the ruck contest, are above normal for a ruckman, his around the ground efforts, marking etc, are well below what is expected from an onballer.

ok so what do you suggest we do then? We have a ruckman that isn’t a true "onballer" yet is also more a mobile ruck than a true tap ruckman. Stuck in the middle of both worlds whilst somehow being all Australian. If he isn’t a real "onballer" how do you suggest we utilise him to max effect?

 

[ZEV]

ok so what do you suggest we do then? We have a ruckman that isn’t a true "onballer" yet is also more a mobile ruck than a true tap ruckman. Stuck in the middle of both worlds whilst somehow being all Australian. If he isn’t a real "onballer" how do you suggest we utilise him to max effect?

I think we all need to take a deep collective breath with Grundy.

Play him in the ruck next year.

Get our centre square setup properly.

The way things are at the moment he could have been putting every single ruck contest down our mid's throats and it still wouldn't make a difference.

 

[Carringbush2010]

If Grundy can somehow be this mid that the op is suggesting then he could well be worth the money we're paying him.

Truth is though he is definitely not mobile enough to be this quasi mid.

I get the op's theory re Gawn / Jackson and JK / Darling but we don't have that quality cattle to pull that off.

 

[LarryKinn]

If Grundy can somehow be this mid that the op is suggesting then he could well be worth the money we're paying him.

Truth is though he is definitely not mobile enough to be this quasi mid.

I get the op's theory re Gawn / Jackson and JK / Darling but we don't have that quality cattle to pull that off.

we will have a 3 tall set up FFS Cameron, Krueger, Mihocek with Cameron providing Ruck relief. It's not rocket science
IF Cox is retained he will provide injury depth and 1st Ruck in VFL where he should try and learn not to be pushed out of the contest,
just like when he tries to take a mark.
I hope he's let go so he doesn't stifle our young bigs development but if MaCrae wants him OK

 

[kickitolachie]

I don't see the need for this change of Grundy to some sort of Giant midfielder. The distinctive feature of Grundy is that he is a ruckman who provides extra ball winning, tackling and transition handball options over and above what is normally expected of a ruckman. At the same time his marking is only average for a ruckman. His tap skills are good but not unusually so. All in all, this says he is playing in the right category already. He is in the centre of the action all of the time anyway and doesn't need another giant there clogging things up.
He needs good specialist midfielders around him who can then benefit from his ground level skills. The new personnel in the middle of the ground next year could, if they are good enough, make Grundy stand out from the crowd again.

 

[yuba]

I don't see the need for this change of Grundy to some sort of Giant midfielder. The distinctive feature of Grundy is that he is a ruckman who provides extra ball winning, tackling and transition handball options over and above what is normally expected of a ruckman. At the same time his marking is only average for a ruckman. His tap skills are good but not unusually so. All in all, this says he is playing in the right category already. He is in the centre of the action all of the time anyway and doesn't need another giant there clogging things up.
He needs good specialist midfielders around him who can then benefit from his ground level skills. The new personnel in the middle of the ground next year could, if they are good enough, make Grundy stand out from the crowd again.

I’m really not saying make him some giant midfielder. I’m more saying we can replicate the Melbourne/west coast sides with a 3 tall forward and 2 ruck. Checkers isn’t big. He is mobile and a good mark. So we can leave all 3 forward and rotate a huge slow ruck (cox) second ruck not midfielder is Grundy who can then do more handball link up amd still be a marking option around the ground. Yea he needs to improve his marking but I think if he can play a bit more loose and not be the sole ruck against 2 big bodies he might have more energy. If we go with 1 ruck and Cameron as relief. This works but then I fear we again have our players kicking into 50 with only Krueger and checkers as options. The more tall options up front that we can utilise to spread a defence, the more the stalls can crumb. A lot depends on Henry, if he continues to develop as we saw and starts to play a bit like Gunston. Then I’m all for Cameron being ruck relief.

 

[yuba]

Bump….. early days obviously but we had a look at a taller lineup. How do we think it worked having cox, Kruger, checkers Grundy etc. All playing tall and allowing smalls to get around them.

 

[gouki88]

Bump….. early days obviously but we had a look at a taller lineup. How do we think it worked having cox, Kruger, checkers Grundy etc. All playing tall and allowing smalls to get around them.

Kreuger is atypical in his ability to provide pressure on the ground, and Mihocek is fairly mobile in his own right. Certainly worth trying I reckon.

 

[yuba]

Yeah I agree. To me checkers is a great third tall. He does amazing given his size. If he can be the third option he can be so dangerous. Kruger as the second tall who is mobile and cox as the point of difference. We can then play 2 ruck and have Cameron rotate with cox in the ruck or occasional push forward as an extra option. It’s tall but I think ginnivan, mcreery etc can work with it and the fact checkers and Kruger are so mobile helps it work.

People seem to think it’s not possible but it’s worth a try I think

 

[doppleganger]

I think will definately roll with it on occasaions

But we still have option of going smaller at times too with DeGoey, Elliott and Henry as smaller targets.

 

[jonbe54]

I think will definately roll with it on occasaions

But we still have option of going smaller at times too with DeGoey, Elliott and Henry as smaller targets.

Having that option is crucial in today's football, law changes have given backs a significant advantage in general play.

The most successful forward lines are those that are - to a certain extent - plug and play.

The aim of the game is to stay - strategically - one step ahead of the opposition, never let them settle.

 

[legendstatus]

I thought Henry shows enough to prove he will be the pick of the bunch


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[sr36]

I thought Henry shows enough to prove he will be the pick of the bunch


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Beautiful hands and should develop a pretty impressive physique in years to come. His future role is the question mark - I'm not convinced he'll be a forward long term - just because mediums aren't very fashionable - he might have more scope as an interceptor.

 

[Pie eyed]

I thought Henry shows enough to prove he will be the pick of the bunch


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

If Henry could be a Bruest/Gunston type forward, swing on a wing into the forward line I would be more than happy

 

[Mollythedolly]

Kennedy 196cm
Darling 191cm
Vardi 199cm
Lycett 200cm

The problem with your theory is that Kennedy and Darling are both natural forwards as is Brown. Grundy can't play forward and Cameron is still improving. Cox is just finished and we haven't even got Krueger yet who really is a hopeful more than anything

You mistakenly align Cox or Cameron who we generally use as ruck-forwards with Kennedy/Darling or Brown. Far more accurate to align their place in the team with Vardy/Lycett or Jackson who ruck-forwards in those teams. It’s Checkers who is the actual KPF in our team. We use JDG and we’ve also tried Kelly. Hopefully Kreuger or Johnson or Kelly or McMahon (less likely now that he seems to be getting played in defence) can come on this year and stake a genuine best 22 claim. Begg will have a development year this season but he’s being groomed to assume the Cameron/Cox KPF-ruck position longer term.

 

[Mollythedolly]

How quickly we forget that Cox could not get a game for most of the year and didn't even make much of an impression at VFL level. Yet in the off season, he is suddenly good enough at 31 to take over the main rucking role while Grundy lumbers around as a midfielder.

It’s been done to death but Cox was averaging 2 goals a game his first 3 games last year. Had 1 quiet game and was dropped.

 

[Mollythedolly]

Jackson’s athleticism is far superior to Cox or Cameron that’s why it works

I think you’re over stating Jacksons contribution.

Luke Jackson and Darcy Cameron AFL Stats Comparison

Luke Jackson and Darcy Cameron AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

And Jacksons stats boosted by his GF performance I’d have thought. Kid will be an absolute gun but he’s predominantly a luxury they can afford to carry at this stage.

How they resolve the Jackson - Brown - Weideman - McDonald mix this year will be very interesting to watch.

 

[jmac70]

I think you’re over stating Jacksons contribution.

Luke Jackson and Darcy Cameron AFL Stats Comparison

Luke Jackson and Darcy Cameron AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

And Jacksons stats boosted by his GF performance I’d have thought. Kid will be an absolute gun but he’s predominantly a luxury they can afford to carry at this stage.

How they resolve the Jackson - Brown - Weideman - McDonald mix this year will be very interesting to watch.

Nice problem to have. As opposed to our dilemma of Cox or Cameron?