Ruckmen Problems

[Vinnie Vegas]

Just looking quickly over the ruck divisions of different clubs:

Adelaide - A decent club to trade with, given that even with Clarke likely retiring, they still have Biglands, Hudson, Maric and Meesen. One would think that it would be possible to shake someone loose there, with Hudson and Meesen probably the most likely.

Brisbane - Probably won't get anything from them, as Charman is untouchable, McDonald is the backup, and Wood is the future. I'm assuming Keating is pondering retirement.

Carlton - Not likely, and not much to choose from anyway.

Essendon - Similar to Carlton.

Fremantle - Outside of Sandilands and the pinch hitting Longmuir, they're thin in this department themselves.

Geelong - Ottens and King are staying, and Blake is the only other tested ruckman on the list. Considering he's a 21 year old father-son selection, he's also staying.

Hawthorn - Unless we want to take a punt on Spida, there's nothing there. Honestly, I'd love us to make a play for Robert Campbell, but he's not the kind of player you see dealt very often.

Kangaroos - Really only have Hale and McIntosh, so are probably too thin to trade either. Hale seems untouchable, anyway.

Melbourne - Jamar is a possibility, but after letting Jolly go, and being stuck without a backup, I think they'll know better next time. Paul Johnson might be worth a look, as he has shown form at AFL level, but unfortunately has gone from one strong ruck department to another.

Port Adelaide - Lade is possibly the best ruckman in the league, so he's not going anywhere. However, they'll likely try to move Brogan, if they're confident that DeLuca or Minson could be a ruckman of the future. I don't know if we should go near him though.

Richmond - Simmonds is like Lade, but even with Stafford retiring, Knobel could find himself behind kids like Adam Pattison and Angus Graham. Knobel is a target if we want a ruckman.

St Kilda - Why bother looking? Their ruck division is actually weaker than ours (not counting Kosi, who's definitely not physical enough for the position)

Sydney - They have Jolly, who's not moving, Doyle, who's suffered injuries, and Chambers who isn't an AFL caliber ruckman. Not much there.

West Coast - I hope we don't look at Gardiner, and with him out, I'd say Seaby will stay alongside Cox.

Western - One wouldn't look for height that was for sale on Western's list.

If I had to make a list, I'd say our targets should be (in a rough order):

#1: John Meesen
#2: Trent Knobel
#3: Paul Johnson
#4: Spida Everitt
#5: Dean Brogan
#6: Michael Gardiner

 

[Murray]

out of interest what did Melbourne get for Jolly?

Not sure - was it a first rounder?

Edit: LF50 gave the answer

 

[Murray]

Gardiner. Will be cheap. Has still got 'it' and can perform now. Plus we need a crash and bash ruckman who can soften the opposition for Fraser.

Gardiners knees are stuffed, he can'r ruck at AFL level anymore

 

[FIGJAM]

A bloke I've heard a bit about and saw on last night's news, is Ashley Eames from the Frankston Dolphins.

He's a 200cm ruckman, who is 27 years of age. He was a former strongman, World Wide of Sports style and decided to shed the excess poundage and play some footy two years ago.

The highlights of him showed enough to suggest he would be at worst a better second ruck than McKee ever was. He isn't a slug and is very strong.

Ignoring his age, his #1 deterrent would be that he was not picked up by Essendon after a pre-season there last year, but drafting 26 year olds who haven't played AFL is unheard of.

The strategy would be to draft the best available ruckman with our first or second pick depending on our rankings, and to draft a mature age ruckman like Eames later on.

Richards will be delisted. No doubt. Fanning is about a 2% chance of making it as an AFL ruckman. Cam is permanently injured in the shoulder and isn't a genuine ruck option anyway. We're in real trouble and need to think laterally and actually draft a ruckman who is not a ****en string bean!!

I'd kill for us to pick up Luenberger.

 

[Murray]

A bloke I've heard a bit about and saw on last night's news, is Ashley Eames from the Frankston Dolphins.

He's a 200cm ruckman, who is 27 years of age. He was a former strongman, World Wide of Sports style and decided to shed the excess poundage and play some footy two years ago.

The highlights of him showed enough to suggest he would be at worst a better second ruck than McKee ever was. He isn't a slug and is very strong.

I've seen him a few times down here.
He is very very slow.
I don't think he would make it at AFL level

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Not sure - was it a first rounder?

Theres an echo in here.

 

[FIGJAM]

I've seen him a few times down here.
He is very very slow.
I don't think he would make it at AFL level

Fair enough then.

Still, as evidenced by vinnie's analysis, the cupboard is friggen bare (or ultra-expensive) and we need to consider getting support for Josh ASAP.

I agree with vinnie that our #1 target should be Meesen.

 

[Murray]

Fair enough then.

Still, as evidenced by vinnie's analysis, the cupboard is friggen bare (or ultra-expensive) and we need to consider getting support for Josh ASAP.

I agree with vinnie that our #1 target should be Meesen.

I think your other option was better
Leuenberger.

This is what Wisby says of him
"Genuine ruck height, good mobility and can take a good mark. Willing to take his own kicks and not just handball off. Not all clubs want a giant ruckman these days which hurt Wood last year and might hurt Leuenberger this year"

He may still be there when our pick comes around.

 

[silverphoenix]

I think your other option was better
Leuenberger.

This is what Wisby says of him
"Genuine ruck height, good mobility and can take a good mark. Willing to take his own kicks and not just handball off. Not all clubs want a giant ruckman these days which hurt Wood last year and might hurt Leuenberger this year"

He may still be there when our pick comes around.

he will only still be there if we finish lower than the doggies and stkilda, both will be looking for ruckmen

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

he will only still be there if we finish lower than the doggies and stkilda, both will be looking for ruckmen

There is a prevalent theory that the Dogs will want a ruckman, but with Will Minson and Peter Street, there is absolutely no chance in hell they ignore a key position player again. They have one adequately sized key defender, and with Chris Grant retiring, no adequately sized key forwards (that have been AFL tested, at least).

Ruck is not at all a need for the Doggies, considering that with Minson and Street, they have a pretty strong ruck duo. No chance they take one in the first round with the depth that this draft has in KPP stocks. There's a strong chance that a talent like Jack Riewoldt, Andrejs Everitt or Ben Reid slips to them, and they would be a big chance to pick up Reid because he only just misses out on a Father-Son selection for them.

St Kilda are a possibility, but they are in all-out "win-now" mode, so they might take someone more ready to contribute than a skinny ruckman.

I'm not saying that he'll definitely fall to us, but it's a realistic chance.

 

[FIGJAM]

I think your other option was better
Leuenberger.

This is what Wisby says of him
"Genuine ruck height, good mobility and can take a good mark. Willing to take his own kicks and not just handball off. Not all clubs want a giant ruckman these days which hurt Wood last year and might hurt Leuenberger this year"

He may still be there when our pick comes around.

I assume we'll hold onto our pick, which let's face it, will probably be 8-12.

If this kid's available, I'd require a thesis from Hiney explaining why we picked the other kid.

Alternatively, if Luey's gone, then we may have a dip at something juicy which we rated top handfull.

If we can pry someone like Meesen with second round + player (if he's not signed up, then he can go to the Filths for nothing!), then that'd be smart too. We wont want to thrash an 18 year old. Richards is all but gone and Flaps is pretty hopeless.

If we could hypothetically end up with a ruck division as exciting as Fraser (who's more a natural forward), Meesen and Leuenberger, then I'd happily give up our second pick and say Rusling.

Dependant on a million variables of course, but FFS, the Fraser as only ruck situation is negligent. Fraser should sue Malthouse if his career is shortened!

 

[Hadders]

A bloke I've heard a bit about and saw on last night's news, is Ashley Eames from the Frankston Dolphins.

He's a 200cm ruckman, who is 27 years of age. He was a former strongman, World Wide of Sports style and decided to shed the excess poundage and play some footy two years ago.

The highlights of him showed enough to suggest he would be at worst a better second ruck than McKee ever was. He isn't a slug and is very strong.

Ignoring his age, his #1 deterrent would be that he was not picked up by Essendon after a pre-season there last year, but drafting 26 year olds who haven't played AFL is unheard of.

The strategy would be to draft the best available ruckman with our first or second pick depending on our rankings, and to draft a mature age ruckman like Eames later on.

Richards will be delisted. No doubt. Fanning is about a 2% chance of making it as an AFL ruckman. Cam is permanently injured in the shoulder and isn't a genuine ruck option anyway. We're in real trouble and need to think laterally and actually draft a ruckman who is not a ****en string bean!!

I'd kill for us to pick up Luenberger.

Not sure of the rules surrounding the rookie list so this could be a really stupid comment. But couldn't we rookie list a player like this? There's no age limit is there, more on AFL experience I thought.

This way we could take a punt, wouldn't cost a spot on the list and if it doesn't come off he can be chopped a lot easier.

 

[Palmer Stoat]

If we're sifting through AFL lists for ruckmen, I think Jason Laycock is worth a look. He's behind Hille and Essendon picked up Ryder last year too. Three ruckman-forwards won't fit into a 22. Laycock has had more than his fair share of injury problems -- which has to be factored into the equation -- but when he's been fit, he's looked very promising in my book.

With Hille in front of him and with Ryder likely to pressure him for the second-string ruck position, Laycock might be looking for opportunities elsewhere and Essendon may be prepared to trade.

Certainly one to keep in mind.