Rucks in the draft

[ianh]

It seems to me we need to look at another ruckman (or maybe pinch hitting ruckman) in the draft. I think we would all agree that none of them are worth pick 3 and in my view pick 10 is too early also although some might rate Hayes that highly. Hayes I would certainly take at 30 if he were still around but I can’t see him sliding that far. There is no other uck I would look at for pick 30, though some might suggest Crossley (who is a beast which offers a point of difference to what we have) or Coleman-Jones, either of whom I grab at 73 if they were still around, likewise Haydn McLean although he is more a forward who can have a run in the ruck but at 196cm not going to be primarily a ruckman. There are a number of others who , if those guys were gone, might be considered as a late draft pick, but more likely rookie (or in some cases PSD) such as (in at least roughly my order of preference) Reeves (who at 208cm offers a point of difference to what we already have) and Griffiths (another beast) from the Chargers, Amartey (athletic ru/fwd maybe more forward at VFL given 196/84), Xerri, De Koning, Meek (another big unit), all from TAC cup, Jones (mature) and Miller from the West or Kreuger from SA or Lachlan Keeffe from the Pies, although we probably would prefer a Key Forward / ruck rather than a Key Defender/Ruck which seems to be more Keeffe’s go. If by any chance all of those guys were gone there a few guys I’d consider to rookie but only as rookies – Strachan from Essendon VFL (mature traditional ruck) and Redhead from WA (athletic quick code-hopper, intriguing possibilities but very new to the game) probably at the head of that queue but also names like West, Hollenkemp, Olango, Patterson, Richards, Sweet or (if only for the name alone) Zerk-Thatcher show signs that would warrant a spot for a team that wants to rookie a ruckman – which may well be us if we don’t grab someone earlier.


What type of ruckman do we want to go for? I’d like to see one that has a genuine prospect of being able to rest forward and otherwise has a point of difference to what we have – whether that be athleticism, height or physicality.



Hayes, Sam

Pick 30 (prob gone)

Size 203/93

From Eastern Ranges

Plays Ru/Fwd

Comment All-round footballer

Crossley, Brayden

73 (prob gone)

198/101

Gold Coast Academy

Ruck can go fwd

Mumford like beast

Coleman-Jones, Callum

73 (prob gone)

201/99

Sturt

Ruckman/fwd

Good leap, sloppy kck

McLean, Hayden

73 (prob gone)

196/83

Sandringham Dragons

Fwd can ruck

Hits packs hard

Reeves, Ned

Late/rookie

208/95

Oakleigh Chargers

Ruck can go fwd

Height a difference

Griffiths,Bailey

Late/rookie

201/96

Oakleigh Chargers

Ruck

Project beast

Amartey, Joel

Late/rookie

196/85

Sandringham Dragons

Fwd/ruck

Athletic codehopper

Xerri, Tristan

Late/rookie

202/96

Western Jets

Ru/fwd

Athletic & good mark

De Koning, Tom

Late/rookie

200/90

Dandenong Stingrays

Fwd/ru

Good skills

Meek, Lloyd

Late/rookie

202/106

GWVRebels

Ru/fwd

Big body

Jones, Scott

Late/rookie

204/112

E Perth

Ruck

Mature

Miller, Ben

Late/rookie

196/93

Subiaco

KPU can ruck

Skilled athletic util

Kreuger, Nathan

Late/rookie

196/89

Sth Adelaide

KPU or follower

Athletic but raw

Keeffe, Lachlan

Late/rookie

204/101

Collingwood

KPU esp def and ruck

AFL experience

Strachan, Kieran

Rookie

203/92

Ess VFL

Ruck/forward

Mature skilled.

Redhead, Aaron

Rookie

204/90

E Perth

Ru/fwd

Athleitc v qk & v raw

 

[sosos]

Good research. Can we have more than one beast at a time?

 

[Jeremias]

I think people are overstating our need to draft a young ruck. From my perspective it's certainly not a position of need with Kreuzer, Lobbe and Phillips a fine ruck division to carry into 2018 and even 2019.

Wouldn't go near a ruck with 3 or 10 and at 30 the only ruck I'd consider is Crossley - but I suspect the Suns will gladly match any bid on him that comes in that range.

From memory we were linked earlier in the year to Scott Jones. Would be OK looking at him with a late pick in the ND or even as a rookie.

 

[CJMB]

I think people are overstating our need to draft a young ruck. From my perspective it's certainly not a position of need with Kreuzer, Lobbe and Phillips a fine ruck division to carry into 2018 and even 2019.

Wouldn't go near a ruck with 3 or 10 and at 30 the only ruck I'd consider is Crossley - but I suspect the Suns will gladly match any bid on him that comes in that range.

From memory we were linked earlier in the year to Scott Jones. Would be OK looking at him with a late pick in the ND or even as a rookie.

3, 10 and 30 should be reserved for best available mids (or mid-ish types). Maybe 5th round or later pick could be used on one but not the first three picks.

 

[bluedabadee]

If they're not going to bounce it any more Ned Reeves at 208cm might be worth a speculative pick 73.
Though personally I like Schloithe here.

 

[ianh]

Missed that Lachlan Keeffe has signed at GWS.

 

[Jeremias]

Missed that Lachlan Keeffe has signed at GWS.

He's also not a ruckman.

 

[Jimmae]

Pretty much Amartey late as a forward/ruck prospect, otherwise I don't really see it happening. We certainly don't need a mature age ruck.

If we were in the market for a starting ruck, I'd be looking at Crossley, Meek, Coleman-Jones and Reeves.

 

[PumpyChowdown]

Would take Crossley at 73 in a heartbeat. Can't see him slipping that far though.

 

[Captain crippa]

Good research. Can we have more than one beast at a time?

I like Beast mode!

 

[Metalcrusher]

What is the fascination of Ruckman these days?? Grigg rucked the GF FFS.

 

[Wheels On Meals]

In the rookie draft maybe, not in the national draft.

 

[smashbox gill]

Wish we could find a ruckman like Freo did Darcy last year.

Give me a 205cm beast who loves to tackle and throw his weight around.

 

[esoteric]

Don't mind Meek very late or rookie.

 

[gbatman]

Wouldn't be against getting a ruck with a later pick though I think we are fine for rucks, happy to do what most successful sides do and just trade rucks in when we need them. The way the game has gone there is only room for one genuine ruck with a key forward to pinch hit. But yes, if there's a ruck late or in the rookie draft then perhaps worth a pick. would rather spend late picks on smaller players with potential.

 

[BlueGum]

i don't think we need to get one this year. unless there was some ruck savant going for a mega late pick.

maybe revisit next year when we see how phillips and lobbe have gone?

 

[Jabba73]

Don't mind Meek very late or rookie.

Not enough mongrel in his name.

 

[DIG]

If Phillips is a bust then all we have is Kreuzer and Lobbe, both 28 and Lobbe's looked poor for a few years now.

OP is right, we should definitely look at a ruck option but only with a later or rookie pick, I don't think Hayes is worth pick 10.

Prefer a mobile option to a dinosaur too these days.

 

[GapInIkonPark]

If Phillips is a bust then all we have is Kreuzer and Lobbe, both 28 and Lobbe's looked poor for a few years now.

OP is right, we should definitely look at a ruck option but only with a later or rookie pick, I don't think Hayes is worth pick 10.

Prefer a mobile option to a dinosaur too these days.

Casboult is in the Ones and relieves Kreuzer. Phillips and Lobbe are back up for injuries, etc.

We do not have an urgent need to take a ruck this year, if we do, I think it would be via the RD. I think it is more likely that we will get a young ruck next year.

 

[smashbox gill]

Freo picked up Sean Darcy at pick 38 last year.
He as a 19yo has already shown he will be a 10 year ruckman, with his size and aggression. Give me someone like that

 

[Jimmae]

Freo picked up Sean Darcy at pick 38 last year.
He as a 19yo has already shown he will be a 10 year ruckman, with his size and aggression. Give me someone like that

Crossley is the closest thing in this draft, and he's part of GC's academy.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Freo picked up Sean Darcy at pick 38 last year.
He as a 19yo has already shown he will be a 10 year ruckman, with his size and aggression. Give me someone like that

At the time he was drafted, many people thought it was a reach picking Darcy at 38.

 

[LanceRomance]

Desperate for a good ruck. Really need to fill that hole.

 

[TGR]

I doubt he'll get there but if Hayes was there at 30, I'd take him. Biggest query seems to be work ethic, the talent is immense. We have 2 absolute work horses in Kreuz and Lobbe. He'll learn what is required working with them.

 

[thebluelagoon]

We don't need another ruck on the list this year, but few ruckman are likely to be any good before 22... we probably will be in desperate need for a ruck in 4 years time if we don't put one on the list now...