Ruck Problem

[Bartram_Class]

Interesting to note last year how our mid-season slump seemed to coincide with a loss of form to Jeff White. We all know when Whitey plays well, Melbourne usually win, but i think we have a problem in that when Whitey's off his game, we have no decent back-up who can cover him.

Last year especially, White usually had to ruck out entire games or at least 20 minutes a quarter and he did this for 22-23 games, Paul Johnson and Mark Jamar arent bad ruckmen but arent good enough to compete with the likes of Everitt, Cox, King etc. Getting rid of Jolly was a major mistake, as in my opinion was getting rid of Simmonds before him, having a good back-up ruckman is essential IMO, look at Sydney and WCE, both having solid back-ups in Seaby and Ball.

Daniher needs to blood Johnson and Jamar much more, otherwise how are they going to improve? Johnson looks like a real find, exceptional below his feet and a handy tap ruckman as he showed when he won the Liston but he needs more gametime if hes ever going to become a good AFL class ruckman and this requires Danners giving him more than 5 minutes a quarter.

 

[Vandal]

I agree that Jamar and Johnson both need more gametime at the highest level. White isn't getting any younger (I think he is about 28??) and there is going to come a time when he won't be able to to ruck 20 minutes a quarter, 20+ games a year. I think this is when good backup ruckman are really going to be required.

 

[Bartram_Class]

I hear there is a query about Johnson's ability to mark the ball?

Apparently hes no good.

 

[Vandal]

I hear there is a query about Johnson's ability to mark the ball?

Apparently hes no good.

Yeah for a big man he isn't a great mark. He can do that extra for a big man and get to the ground but needs to work on his marking.

 

[The Shev]

I was hoping last year would be the year that either Jamar or Johnson was given a big go in the ruck, but it didn't happen. It's almost now or never for our ruck department, if we don't develop someone soon then we will be screwed when Whitey retires.

 

[Brock Machine]

I hear there is a query about Johnson's ability to mark the ball?

Apparently hes no good.

More a query regarding his ability to take a contested mark, Jamar is simular in that department.

White doesn't take a lot of contested marks either, all three really need to improve in that area to be dangerous up forward for flexibility. Can't just always rest on the pine.

 

[Bartram_Class]

More a query regarding his ability to take a contested mark, Jamar is simular in that department.

White doesn't take a lot of contested marks either, all three really need to improve in that area to be dangerous up forward for flexibility. Can't just always rest on the pine.

White used to be quite good in the contested marking situations, with his leap, but in the last couple of years, a contested mark for Jeff have been few and far between.

Possibly a result of his shin problems?

 

[melbournemartin]

Jamar can take a big pack mark at VFL level where he has confidence. As for Johnson....what's the point of being 106 KGs when you play like you are 76 KGs

 

[AllStar7]

Firstly, we didn't get rid of Jolly, he wanted out. And I am confident that Dunn is going to be one hell of a player.

I don't think we have a ruck problem, we simply have a problem with playing more than one ruck at a time. For some reason, Daniher seems to think that having a ruckman on the bench is a waste.
I agree with him to an extent, especially these days when the game is faster and you need as many midfield rotation and flexibilty with your bench as possible. A way to solve this, would be to rest a second ruckman up forward instead of on the bench. I'm positive that with the right coaching, one of Jamar or PJ could become a decent forward.

Of course none of this is going to happen unless they get some game time to prove themselves. I agree that Whitey is very important to our success, but I think that it has a lot to do with clearance players (or lack thereof). A good midfield can succeed under an average ruckman who breaks even, a poor midfield can't. Having a combination of both would be super, but that all depends on the willingness of our coach to play these young ruckmen.

 

[Bartram_Class]

Firstly, we didn't get rid of Jolly, he wanted out. And I am confident that Dunn is going to be one hell of a player.

You say we didnt get rid of Jolly, that he wanted out which is true but why did he want out?

Because Danners didnt give him a fair go, he was an under-rated ruckman and deserved more game time which Daniher didnt give him so he went looking for a coach who believed in his ability which he found and look what hes achieved. We as good as got rid of him.

 

[davey_magik]

Firstly, we didn't get rid of Jolly, he wanted out. And I am confident that Dunn is going to be one hell of a player.

I don't think we have a ruck problem, we simply have a problem with playing more than one ruck at a time. For some reason, Daniher seems to think that having a ruckman on the bench is a waste.
I agree with him to an extent, especially these days when the game is faster and you need as many midfield rotation and flexibilty with your bench as possible. A way to solve this, would be to rest a second ruckman up forward instead of on the bench. I'm positive that with the right coaching, one of Jamar or PJ could become a decent forward.

Of course none of this is going to happen unless they get some game time to prove themselves. I agree that Whitey is very important to our success, but I think that it has a lot to do with clearance players (or lack thereof). A good midfield can succeed under an average ruckman who breaks even, a poor midfield can't. Having a combination of both would be super, but that all depends on the willingness of our coach to play these young ruckmen.

I agree with the bit about resting our 2nd ruck forward. If one of them can develop it will push Holland out of the side and would be very handy having a genuine ruck-forward.
Hopefully Sam can help us out with this as well.