Ruckman first priority

[Blue Fury]

After securing the best available player with pick 2 in the National Draft and hopefully selecting Steven in the preseason draft I believe Carlton must focus on recruiting a back up ruckman. Apart from French who is coming off an ordinary year the blues have no other ruckmen.

Beasy is not a ruckman and Angwin is on the rookie list. Having a strong presence and getting first ball out of the centre is important.

 

[95&eyenoit]

I agree, but our defense is still a problem. Theyre young and unproven and scary! It would be incredibly frustrating to have a loaded midfield, forward line and still get beaten by 10 goals.

I guess it begs the question - Is a Ruckman more important than a Backman?

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Yes a ruckman is more important than a backman at this stage. We got killed in the ruck in 2002 with Allan out, McKernan on one leg and Hotton and Smith trying to fill the hole. In 2003 it was our midfield that hurt us the most and we have addressed that. We thought our ruck stocks were better with Allan back on deck, French and McKernan and Mathews seemingly over his injuries not to mention young Hedge on the rookie list. Now Allan, McKernan, Mathews and Hedge are no longer there and only French and rookie listed Angwin are there. If French goes down, we are screwed majorly. The best we can hope for is to pick up a couple of young insurance policies to work in tandem with Beasy and try to struggle through. We really are putting an awful lot of pressure on Barnaby in 2004. Having said that I agree that all of those ruckmen bar Hedge deserved to go.

At least Prender, Morrell, Whitnall, Livingston and Kouta can pinch hit at CHB and rotate if we are getting killed there. Expect Kouta to do a lot of ruck work around the stoppages.