Strategy Rhys Stanley - going forward

[RegHickeyStand]

He is 24. The MC have put Dawson out. Clark doesn't look like he is there to be first ruck. Barring a huge form slump, I'm guessing Stanley is designated as our No 1 ruckman this season. Others seem permanently injured or fragile.

I don't know enough. Are there many 24 year old rucks in the AFL that much better? How injury prone is he? Stanley doesn't get it to his mids that often, but he gets it a fair bit. Any ideas about how that develops in a player like him?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

It's too early to tell because he hasn't played many games in his career as no1 ruck so he is still learning the caper.

On an early look he can leap and tap ok and his follow up work in terms of tackles and getting hands on the ball and spreading hard forward is good. I am not sure whether he will ever become the top ruck we need but he is more chance than McIntosh and Simpson who are both close to finished, and given Scott's pointed comments when Simpson was dropped, I think thats the way the coaches see it also.

We need to give Stanley the rest of the year as no1 ruck so we can find out if he is up to that role, because we need to know by year's end if we need to trade for a top ruckman or not (assuming we could get one).

 

[Inferno]

Stanley's been impressive considering his interrupted pre-season, plus the fact he hasn't played this role for long periods of time ever, plus the fact he's matched up against probably the 2 best rucks in the league in Sandilands and Goldstein. He's also the best ruck we have atm by a fair margin and the combination of him + Blicavs as 3rd man up is at least a solid combo, but I don't see him getting near AA level or being top 5 in the league and he needs to put on another 5-10kg since he looks a bit underweight for a ruckman.

Not really any other place for Stanley in the team either. Taylor, Lonners and Rivers are the designated tall defenders, Hawkins, Clark and Walker the tall forwards with Blicavs the utility where ever we need him. We already have a tremendous volleyball or basketball team but I fear we're going way too tall for a footy team atm.

 

[Turbocat]

60 games and two years behind Goldstein. Let alone games played in the ruck. I can not see a better option for us to play. Certainly not worth playing Read at this stage way too green. Vardy is not playing yet. Unlike in our past few years , our side has now devolved to the point that the ruck is not our huge single causation. Not to my mind anyway. That many new faces , so much in experiences , annoying little mistakes and at times glaring uncertainty.

 

[BotsMaster]

He has surprised me as I honestly thought he was a potato.

 

[hamG]

If the primary reason we traded for him was to use him as a #1 ruck then ok, I will reserve judgement until mid year. But - frankly we can't trade in a 24 year old and then 'develop' him into a ruckman. We can't spend another 3 years working on a hope. He has to show he can do the job this year.

Alternatively, Blicavs needs to show he can be a full time midfielder which releases the 2nd ruck role to a guy like Stanley which suits him perfectly.

If we had enough quality mids we could get away with average rucking. But we don't, so we double down on inefficiencies and it hurts the team.

 

[Stig_90]

Yeah I think we need to give him time as no. 1 ruck, although if he is really struggling I wouldn't be opposed to bringing McIntosh back in.

 

[iameviljez]

He has surprised me as I honestly thought he was a potato.

Yeah, me too. Dropped a few crucial marks at the last moment today, but you'd like to think that with one more pre-season that would stop.

 

[catswhiskers]

Easily our best option ATM. Being beaten by Goldstein puts him in very good company.

 

[Cursed Cat]

He can actually a) get out on the park, and b) run out four quarters, so on that alone he is ahead of all our other options bar Blicavs.

I've liked his efforts so far, I thought he was solid last week against Smith but pretty clearly beaten by Goldstein today - as a tap ruckman at centre bounces and boundary throw-ins, he's going to have his work cut out for him against the AFL's best.
But he's strong (Goldstein certainly never rag-dolled him at the throw-ins), can leap when required and hopefully he can at least nullify the oppostion's ruckmen more often than not.

Around the ground he offers a genuine link-up option; it was good to see him back his pace on a couple of occasions today - his hands are quick enough for a big man and he can kick the pill a long way. I reckon his marking will start to improve in the coming weeks (there's already been a couple of signs and he has clunked at least 2 that I can remember in the past 2 weeks), but already he's miles ahead of Simpson on that front.

 

[Willo_]

I've said a few times he has all the tools for me... it's if he can put it together or not that is the question.

I don't think he has been disgraced in his 2 games there against arguably 2 of the top 5 ruckman in the league.

Need to leave him there (which I'm pretty sure is the plan) and see what comes of it.. offers so much more than anyone else we have it isn't funny (bar Clark)

 

[David the Cat]

I thought Stanley was ok today. We all knew Goldstein would crucify us, but I thought Stanley was serviceable.

 

[Commando]

He's got to learn to hit a handball target two metres away!

 

[Bobby_]

I thought Stanley was ok today. We all knew Goldstein would crucify us, but I thought Stanley was serviceable.

not really. Go read the preview thread and you will see a lot of posters talking him up as a chance to keep it very interesting indeed.

 

[JUBJUB]

He has surprised me as I honestly thought he was a potato.

Well Mr Potato is doing an okay job so far.Stick with him in ruck.Him and Blitz also add some midfield run,which Simpson or McIntosh could never do.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

Hes ok thats it - and the best bet for the ruck position at the moment

Funny thing - when you look at him from the back - how he moves etc - youd swear it was Bluey Hampshire

 

[RegHickeyStand]

OK. No more chopping and changing then!

If his form is alright, and he can keep uninjured, get some games into him. At 24, it's a good age to start this.

 

[sonnywalters]

Sorry to intrude. When he was at the Saints, we experimented with him down back and then attempted to turn him into a permanent fwd out of worry about life beyond Riewoldt. He never ever got a sustained run in the ruck. Blind freddy can see Rhys is predominantly a ruckman and not a KPP. He loves to run around freely and doesn't naturally have the footy smarts to play KPP (timing your leads etc) . But I think if you stick with him as a pure Ruckman he will be good.

 

[Willo_]

Sorry to intrude. When he was at the Saints, we experimented with him down back and then attempted to turn him into a permanent fwd out of worry about life beyond Riewoldt. He never ever got a sustained run in the ruck. Blind freddy can see Rhys is predominantly a ruckman and not a KPP. He loves to run around freely and doesn't naturally have the footy smarts to play KPP (timing your leads etc) . But I think if you stick with him as a pure Ruckman he will be good.

Positive intrusion is always welcome

 

[Biscut]

I though Rhyce went ok today, certainly offers a fair bit around the ground. Quite a few times during the game he beat Goldy to the ball in the middle. Give him the year and I think you will be pleasantly surprised what we got for pick 21.

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

He's going OK. We have no other options really.

 

[Bobby_]

Sorry to intrude. When he was at the Saints, we experimented with him down back and then attempted to turn him into a permanent fwd out of worry about life beyond Riewoldt. He never ever got a sustained run in the ruck. Blind freddy can see Rhys is predominantly a ruckman and not a KPP. He loves to run around freely and doesn't naturally have the footy smarts to play KPP (timing your leads etc) . But I think if you stick with him as a pure Ruckman he will be good.

I'm very surprised to read this. Coming from a St Kilda man as well speaks volumes as you guys obviously know your team and players well.
I've often thought he looks more comfortable forward, but if the fans say he's a ruck, then so be it.

All those years I took Ottens for granted. I would give my right pinky finger to have another ruckman of Ottens' caliber again.

 

[dazbroncos]

Given our options, his sum of the parts may be the best overall. Does that make him the best in the league - not even close but best on our list - probably.
Daws - Big, good taps. Reasonable 2/3 efforts but gives nothing else in the game. Cant run out a game.
Hmac - Big, more mobile and gets around the ground better. Not much in the 2/3 efforts on the ground and has not provided much else around the ground. Can't jump, can't play out a game.
Stanley -Bigish. Reasonable 2/3 efforts. Can run out a game. (better than the other two on a limited preseason ). Provides best options in general play and has best marking/kicking skills. Jumps at bounces as well.

Im not listing Blitz as he is not being considered as a #1 ruck.

Once again however, GFC finds itself back in 2012 after Otto left with no real true #1 ruck man playing regular game, even thought its considered there are 2 on the list.

GO Catters

 

[cynical]

He looks like a serviceable ruck a bit like Trent West.

We wont be winning a flag with Stanley as our no1 ruck but hopefully he will be durable enough to be competitive and allow us to get rid of all our injury prone rucks.

Picking him up was still a terrible decision.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

He'll do as long as he stays on the park.