Rix

[NeXus_Helen]

Rix is a good ruckman at VFL level. At AFL level he has one problem.

He can not get the ball.

 

[Qsaint]

He did not improve in 2007 and is clearly a limited player. At the age of 26/27 then not too much is going to change.

.

Rix was a reasonable pick up at the time


We had no ruckman who either were up to it or could stay on the Park. Allhe was bought in to do was a bit of bash and crash and nullify as much as possible the other ruckman

 

[sainter]

Savatage is back.

Hopefully we'll see you at the intra-club sir.

I don't think we ever need to see Blake in the ruck again. At least I hope not.

It remains to be seen whether there's a role for him in the team as a tagger but it's a role he could possibly fill due to his terrific endurance. He had a good game on Crawford the night Ball destroyed the Hawks last season. I don't really like him as a backman and if we're in the situation where we need him to play as an undersized key defender we're in a bit of trouble. Can you imagine the amount of free kicks he would give away?

I must rate Rixy a little higher than most of you but having said that I'm hoping we don't see a lot of him next season because that will have meant King and/or Gardiner have stood up. It is true that he doesn't get enough of the ball. We can't expect him to be a Goodes/White running type ruckman but I'd like to see him as more of an old school ruckman that takes the strong pack mark a kick behind play.

 

[Persevering Saint]

Foxy Dal, It's not another one of those membership calendars is it, which set the boys up like a Male-strip calendar... Woah were those bad... I can't believe Butterss and Co sent those out to all us members.

Re: Rix, he has two big things going for him...

he's not Knobel.

he's not Ackland.

 

[foxy_dal]

Foxy Dal, It's not another one of those membership calendars is it, which set the boys up like a Male-strip calendar... Woah were those bad... I can't believe Butterss and Co sent those out to all us members.

Nah not one of those, just a calendar i got from the shops and if i am reading correctly its an official afl one.

 

[Squizz]

Can I please re-open the open wound that is Michael Rix and pour some salt in.

Does he have a role to play for the club? This is the second time I've seen him do a job as a shut-down defender. Max is well suited to Russell Robertson / Delidio / Welsh / Sherman / O'Loughlin types, and I think Sam F should stay up-field in the dasher role he does so well.

We seem to struggle against the third tall at times, and I don't think Gwilt can do it. Maybe Blake, maybe Goddard, but Rix seems suited to a number of players - Lade, Cloke, McGregor, Clark (Bris), Hale/Petrie, Polak (obviously), Newton (Melb), Hampson/Kruezer, Hille/Laycock etc.

I'll expect the usual Rix-haters to weigh in, but wonder whether there are any other thoughts.

 

[FredNurks]

I think if he can play the way he did on Friday on the above mentioned names he could do alright, although Blake looks like he could play a similar role.

not sure if there would be room for Blake and Rix in a full team

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

It's difficult to see how he would go. He's obviously been earmarked for a change in his role because he is noticeably leaner. His work around the ground in previous years has been ordinary and if he played down back I'd be a little concerned about his reading of the play. That being said though he did a great job on Friday night (I attribute it to changing from a socks up to a socks down man) and his strength and height could be of benefit in certain scenarios, playing on a ruckman resting up forward for instances. I thought he may have taken Richo on Friday night. He might take Ottens if he goes up forward on Saturday???

 

[35Harvs]

It's difficult to see how he would go. He's obviously been earmarked for a change in his role because he is noticeably leaner. His work around the ground in previous years has been ordinary and if he played down back I'd be a little concerned about his reading of the play. That being said though he did a great job on Friday night (I attribute it to changing from a socks up to a socks down man) and his strength and height could be of benefit in certain scenarios, playing on a ruckman resting up forward for instances. I thought he may have taken Richo on Friday night. He might take Ottens if he goes up forward on Saturday???

that would be interesting to see....would like another week to see before judging, of course the socks helped.

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Gilbert, R.Clarke, Dempster, Gwilt and Ferguson would be ahead of him in that role. And if Miles was on the senior list he would be as well.

For 2008 Rix is an emergency ruck in case King, Gardiner and Kosi all go down and the last resort FB if Max, Goose and S.Fsher are all injured.

 

[The Punter]

In think this is what Rix is being trained for in 2008 - ruck AND key defender depth. While I think Maguire will be first choice to take the "gorillas" this year - the bigger, lumbering forwards/resting ruckmen, I think Rix could capably perform this role if injuries hit, and obviously Lyon has been thinking about this over the off-season.

 

[Persevering Saint]

So is there a chance there's a kinda "zoning" ruck idea coming out here - Rix in the back, Kosi in the front when he's not marking as FF, Blake and Gardiner focussing on the centre? I could be way off base here, but just a thought...

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Gilbert, R.Clarke, Dempster, Gwilt and Ferguson would be ahead of him in that role. And if Miles was on the senior list he would be as well.

For 2008 Rix is an emergency ruck in case King, Gardiner and Kosi all go down and the last resort FB if Max, Goose and S.Fsher are all injured.

Can't agree with that I'm sorry. Miles is too small to play a key back role.

Rix has trimmed down noticeably so I believe the coaching staff have something specifically in mind for him. No ruckman goes about losing weight when you are already undersized.

 

[Squizz]

Fergie 188cm, Gwilt 188cm, Miles 186cm, Raph 189cm - can't see any of them taking Ottens (202cm). Nor Gilbo (194cm) or Dempster (192cm) as they are both running players.

Hopefully Goose will return soon, although we need to accept that he is 190cm and is returning from a serious injury (has relied on a good spring in the past to counter taller opponents along with a bit of push & shove).

In the meantime, I hope they do persist with Rix (198cm) on the 195+cm forwards, and let someone like Sam F run riot off half back.

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Can't agree with that I'm sorry. Miles is too small to play a key back role.

I would have said that as well before I saw him play on Friday. But the guy is a very close checking defender, has lightning-quick closing speed, good spoiling skills and was millimeters off breaking the AFL's all-time vertical leap record last year. As long as he doesn't let himself get into a situation where he is wrestling with his opponent under a footy coming down (in which case there is a free kick paid 90% of the time) I think his athleticism makes up for his lack of height.

Although ideally he would still be playing on the shorter key forwards (188-192cm).

 

[Rough_Edges]

Rix is simply not quick enough off the makr to play a Key back Role imo.

He is a back up at best.

 

[Red Gum]

Gilbert, R.Clarke, Dempster, Gwilt and Ferguson would be ahead of him in that role. And if Miles was on the senior list he would be as well.

For 2008 Rix is an emergency ruck in case King, Gardiner and Kosi all go down and the last resort FB if Max, Goose and S.Fsher are all injured.

Rix is bigger, stronger, taller than those others you mention. I reckon the extra versatility is a great asset for him. I'd have Rix monstering the likes of Petri, Laycock, et al. Especially if it means we free up the likes of Fisher to play free and Goddard / Gram / Gilbert to be dashers from the flanks.

Interesting suggestion to put him on Ottens and just as a battle of heavyweights I'd love to see him and Brown in a one-out contest (Tipping Browny would run him ragged but if the ball sat up and they got in a wrestle...?)

 

[bubblegoose]

Rix is bigger, stronger, taller than those others you mention. I reckon the extra versatility is a great asset for him. I'd have Rix monstering the likes of Petri, Laycock, et al. Especially if it means we free up the likes of Fisher to play free and Goddard / Gram / Gilbert to be dashers from the flanks.

It would be awesome for Rix to really improve out of sight and make this role his own, as you've mentioned Gummy it would free up another of our running backmen. I can't see it happening though. His lack of speed, co-ordination, ball/player awareness and accountability would put this role beyond him.

 

[Squizz]

I don't think he lacks for speed (noting he would not play against some forward lines e.g. Bulldogs) or accountability at all. His role would be on the taller third forward that we haven't been able to cover in the past. If you've got to match up on :
Ottens (202), Mooney (195), Johnson (189) and Hawkins (197) or
Bock (193), Gill (193), Hentchel (193), McGregor (195), and Sellar (195) or
Tredrea (194), Lade (199), Westhoff (199) and White (193) or
Bradshaw (191), Brown (195), Clark (198), Patfull (190) or
Franklin (196), Boyle (194), Croad (190), Roughead (193) and Thorp (194)
I do like the idea of another tall in our backline options.

There is the issue of footy nouse, but many of the other options in our list are not lifetime backmean either. Sam F came to the club as a CHF!!!

 

[Super_Dal]

Won't see Rix Vs Ottens inside 50 this week, is likely the only time the two will meet is at centre bounce as Gardiner and King wont play this week...

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Won't see Rix Vs Ottens inside 50 this week, is likely the only time the two will meet is at centre bounce as Gardiner and King wont play this week...

If you're going to make a statement like that at least provide some evidence as to why. Of course they'll both play.

 

[Super_Dal]

If you're going to make a statement like that at least provide some evidence as to why. Of course they'll both play.

both blokes coming off injuries, wouldnt want them playing consecutive games at this early stage, i imagine they would be eased into the start of the season to ensure they are firing at the end of the yr... but time will tell

 

[Rough_Edges]

both blokes coming off injuries, wouldnt want them playing consecutive games at this early stage, i imagine they would be eased into the start of the season to ensure they are firing at the end of the yr... but time will tell

Gardiner playing and King not.

You were half right Super Dal.

 

[Otiman]

Still 2-4 changes to be made, I still expect Gardiner to miss.

 

[Otiman]

As long as he doesn't let himself get into a situation where he is wrestling with his opponent under a footy coming down

In which case we would have a guy like Gram, Goddard or R. Clarke floating back to fill the space and take front position.