NicNat v The Giant

[PRANKSTER666]

There is no doubt Sandilands is the best ruckman in the land, but if you had to build a team from scratch, i.e. the Gold Coast which player would you pick right now going forward?

Sandilands is really starting to show just how dominant he is, both in the ruck contest and now around the ground.

NicNat is already one of the best ruckman in the comp IMO, he has an awesome tap, is a clearance machine, wins contested ball and has freakish speed and x-factor, just how good can he become?

 

[Quinz]

Naitanui from a marketing perspective and for the future. If you want to be competitive right now, you'd take Sandilands.

 

[blitzer]

I reckon Sandilands. I think both are going to be dominant for years to come. But Sandilands is just about unstoppable due to his sheer size and he's pretty athletic on top of that. I just don't think there are any strategies that really work against Sandilands. I think some coaches may be able to figure out how to curb Naitanui's influence in the future by playing shorter taggers on him after the tap or something like that but what can you do to counter pure size/strength?. Also i tend to think Sandilands has probably 5 years of top level football still ahead of him at least. Even if he slows down a bit it probably won't hurt him the way it will other players. I think these two will make up the AA ruck division more than once in the future even though they will likely peak at different times.

 

[quotemokc]

Nicnat is not that great so I take Sandi so I could win EVERY ruck comp

 

[samwise]

I think a lot of people will be surprised when they meet. I think NicNat will beat him in the centre square but around the ground Sandilands has everyone easy.

 

[Spartan]

I think a lot of people will be surprised when they meet. I think NicNat will beat him in the centre square but around the ground Sandilands has everyone easy.

You're missing the point of the thread.

Sandilands is currently the best ruckman in the league and by a fair margin.

However a fit Cox is as good or better and if Naitanui improves as expected he too will be the better player.

This thread asks which player would you pick if you were GC.

I'd pick Naitanui.

He is younger and will develop with GC's young team as well as being the marketing tool for a new team. Sandilands is a player for a team currently challenging for a flag. If Freo are to win a flag imo they need to do it with Pav and Sandilands still in form. I reckon their best chance is going to be 2011-2012.

 

[hellfire]

If I were the GC, NicNat easily.

 

[Schulzenfest]

I'd definitely pick 10-15 years of Naita than about 5 years of Sandi.