2nds Ruck Discussion

[Tulip]

Alright, with all ruck discussion being spread around different threads, just wanted to get the consensus in a clear way of who we want to be the man in the middle as long as Russian is out.

INJURED:
Jamar
Spencer
Fitz

RECOVERING
Campbell
Martin(?) - not sure if this rumour is accurate

AVAILABLE
Gawn
Newton

Wouldn't be the worst idea to throw Gawn in, people say his development could stall but Goldy's hardly the biggest bodied fella going around and H is out.

Martin, I've heard, is injured and may not play which isn't good.

Juice surely can't handle full rucking duties against Goldstein and then in the back line vs Petrie.

Robbie Campbell may be fast-tracked, but can't see it happening before Round 9 at least.

Fitz is in good form, but looks like he'll be out for a few weeks.

Russian and Spencer going down in the same week is terrible

 

[eliasd82]

I reckon we put Dunn in there and get all our players in there to shark opposition taps... like in parts of the Adelaide game. Our hands our tie really.

 

[melbournemartin]

I hardly reckon playing Gawn would stall his development. That would only happen if he got injured.

 

[SkulZ]

May not be ideal but maybe saying to Gawn we're going to throw you In for a month to get a taste of it. When Jamar Is fit your going back to Casey. He'll probably get the shock of his life going up against players like Hille and Ryder, Jolly etc... but hey at least he'll relise where he needs to get too.

Like I said not ideal but we dont have much to play with.

 

[Headless]

May as well just play another midfielder..

.. or re-draft van Schaik.

 

[DonMare]

I reckon giving Gawn a run for a month will be good. He'll get to know what is required to ruck an AFL game.
Bring in Newton or Martin (if available) to help him out.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Alright, with all ruck discussion being spread around different threads, just wanted to get the consensus in a clear way of who we want to be the man in the middle as long as Russian is out.

INJURED:
Jamar
Spencer
Fitz

RECOVERING
Campbell
Martin(?) - not sure if this rumour is accurate

AVAILABLE
Gawn
Newton

Wouldn't be the worst idea to throw Gawn in, people say his development could stall but Goldy's hardly the biggest bodied fella going around and H is out.

Martin, I've heard, is injured and may not play which isn't good.

Juice surely can't handle full rucking duties against Goldstein and then in the back line vs Petrie.

Robbie Campbell may be fast-tracked, but can't see it happening before Round 9 at least.

Fitz is in good form, but looks like he'll be out for a few weeks.

Russian and Spencer going down in the same week is terrible

Warnock will go to Petrie. Did a solid job on Tippett, so no reason why he can't keep Petrie to only 2-3 goals.

tbh, I'm really not sure what Bailey will do. It's a tough situation for him to be in. Personally, I wouldn't throw Gawn or Campbell in just yet. Cambpell has literally played a half of footy this season for the Casey 2nds, he's nowhere near ready.

Gawn on the other hand has played most of the season thus far and is a more viable option. Has the height covered, so the tapouts he will be competitive against Goldstein. It's around the ground he will struggle with. Goldstein moves quite well for a big bloke. He will expose Gawn around the ground big time.

Newton is an interesting proposition. He was literally elevated onto the senior list for this very reason. He has a very strong leap on him, so will lose most tapouts, but should be at least competitive. Around the ground shouldn't be a problem for him. In fact, I think he could expose Goldstein going forward. Seems most likely to get the nod at this stage, with Dunn as back up ruck like last week.

Another unspoken option is if Rivers is fit, Warnock might get some time as ruckman. Has done it before(not very successfully), but it is another option open to Bailey.

Martin of course will come in as first ruck option when fit(maybe this week, maybe next). But to me, I feel Gawn is too raw and Campbell too unfit. We need to employ a third man up strategy at the throw ins and bounces around the ground. This is where we can compete against the kangas rucks. Watts, Sylvia and Dunn all did it last week against Adelaide, and did it well. No reason why we can't employ that tactic again.

 

[MAXIMUM GRUNDAGE]

Another unspoken option is if Rivers is fit, Warnock might get some time as ruckman. Has done it before(not very successfully), but it is another option open to Bailey.

That being said, Matt is still the best ruckman in his family.
I say it's time to unleash the Gawn Dog!

 

[TheBoss]

Chuck Jack Watts in there.

He will not win the hit outs, but he has the height and the leaping ability to be able to compete. He also has the ability to be a handy player around the ground with his athletism, skills and his newly found contested marking.

 

[Captain Jack]

Chuck Jack Watts in there.

He will not win the hit outs, but he has the height and the leaping ability to be able to compete. He also has the ability to be a handy player around the ground with his athletism, skills and his newly found contested marking.

This.
Not sure why this has barely been mentioned yet. His third-man-up taps on Sunday were excellent, so with his basketball background why can't he take that further and ruck 15-20% of the game on Saturday?

 

[demonfan9]

Cos he'll get crunched and we can't risk a valuable young gun like him getting his ribs and knees smashed.

3rd man up is very different to being an actual ruckman.

 

[Demon 16]

Jamar - end of discussion unfortunately.

We are ****ed!

 

[d33my]

Warnock will go to Petrie. Did a solid job on Tippett, so no reason why he can't keep Petrie to only 2-3 goals.

tbh, I'm really not sure what Bailey will do. It's a tough situation for him to be in. Personally, I wouldn't throw Gawn or Campbell in just yet. Cambpell has literally played a half of footy this season for the Casey 2nds, he's nowhere near ready.

Gawn on the other hand has played most of the season thus far and is a more viable option. Has the height covered, so the tapouts he will be competitive against Goldstein. It's around the ground he will struggle with. Goldstein moves quite well for a big bloke. He will expose Gawn around the ground big time.

Newton is an interesting proposition. He was literally elevated onto the senior list for this very reason. He has a very strong leap on him, so will lose most tapouts, but should be at least competitive. Around the ground shouldn't be a problem for him. In fact, I think he could expose Goldstein going forward. Seems most likely to get the nod at this stage, with Dunn as back up ruck like last week.

Another unspoken option is if Rivers is fit, Warnock might get some time as ruckman. Has done it before(not very successfully), but it is another option open to Bailey.

Martin of course will come in as first ruck option when fit(maybe this week, maybe next). But to me, I feel Gawn is too raw and Campbell too unfit. We need to employ a third man up strategy at the throw ins and bounces around the ground. This is where we can compete against the kangas rucks. Watts, Sylvia and Dunn all did it last week against Adelaide, and did it well. No reason why we can't employ that tactic again.

I agree with this post.

 

[Canary]

Chuck Jurrah in the ruck

 

[Chip_]

I hardly reckon playing Gawn would stall his development. That would only happen if he got injured.

Agree with this. Gawn is the 2nd tallest bloke in the AFL to Sandilands iirc & mfc lists his weight at 107kg, so it's not like he's a lightweight who will get crushed.

The only reason I see not to play him is if they think he's too raw & it'll be a hindrance to our side, mostly likely this will be the case if he's not so great around the ground & Goldstein is a pretty good mover.

I have read somewhere that he's been tried as a forward a bit this year, but don't think I've seen him listed in the goal kickers.

 

[d33my]

I don't know much about this kind of stuff, but 107kg might still be considered 'light' for someone his size? Can someone confirm/deny this?

 

[Fairtex]

I don't know much about this kind of stuff, but 107kg might still be considered 'light' for someone his size? Can someone confirm/deny this?

His BMI calculates to be 24.7..which is slightly overweight for someone of his height..so I say chuck him in..he's a very big boy, he will be able to compete.

 

[Jordie_tackles]

My only worry is that he has had knee troubles should he be allowed to get some match fitness in the VFL, yes he has played all year, but AFL will be a whole new kettle of fish....
Gawn will be an assett to us if fit in a couple of years time, but cant afford to do his knees again anytime soon, already dont them twice yeah? once pre-draft then once during first season?

 

[00Stinger]

His BMI calculates to be 24.7..which is slightly overweight for someone of his height..so I say chuck him in..he's a very big boy, he will be able to compete.

I hope you know that BMI is not suppose to be used for professional athletes

 

[Chip_]

I don't know much about this kind of stuff, but 107kg might still be considered 'light' for someone his size? Can someone confirm/deny this?

Despite the BMI thing saying he's slightly over weight, as said it's not meant for athletes & is only a guide anyway, doesn't take into account muscle mass, etc.

He's probably a bit lighter he'll eventually end up if he continues to progress & plays AFL, I'd guess he'd end up about maybe 112-115kg (depending on his frame), but he's bigger than plenty of AFL ruckman. In comparison Jamar is 198cm & 104kg, Goldstein 201cm & 102kg, Sandilands is 211cm & 122kg (but he's a monster).

 

[Demon 86]

Martin has been named! As has Juice

 

[Gazza_11]

Why oh why couldn't Fitz not be injured :/

 

[TheBoss]

Cos he'll get crunched and we can't risk a valuable young gun like him getting his ribs and knees smashed.

3rd man up is very different to being an actual ruckman.

Take the cotton wool off. She'll be fine.

 

[demonfan9]

Take the cotton wool off. She'll be fine.

Ridiculous.

If there's one position where you need a big, strong body, it's the ruck.

We all discuss how Watts is still raw for a KPP, what makes you think he can crash and bash into +100kg men in ruck contests for 2 straight hours?

Anyway, Martin and Juice named, so there's your ruckmen.

 

[TheBoss]

Ridiculous.

If there's one position where you need a big, strong body, it's the ruck.

We all discuss how Watts is still raw for a KPP, what makes you think he can crash and bash into +100kg men in ruck contests for 2 straight hours?

Anyway, Martin and Juice named, so there's your ruckmen.

He isn't made of glass. Besides, he'd be going up against Todd Goldstein, he couldn't even bruise an old banana