Injury Season 2025 - Geelong Injury Thread

[goyoucatters]

End of the day, none of the options we have are going to be in the top handful of ruckmen across the league, but I don't think we need them to be - we made a GF this year and lost to a team running with Fort and a broken down Big O, and I don't recall any games (including the GF) where the ruck decided/significantly influenced the result.

More/better contested mids are far more important imo.

For all the bluster we hear about the importance of the ruck role, this is just so clearly true. Not a single one of our losses this year could be attributed to getting dominated by an opposition ruckman. Which probably goes a long way to explain our 'moneyball' approach to the role over so many years now.

That conviction got tested again by the intransigence of the Saints around RoMa. And the club again held firm to their philosophy around the level of investment they are prepared to make in looking to acquire an 'elite' ruck.

We're clearly not for changing on this issue under the current regime. And the continued capability of the team to contend despite this supposed 'Achilles heel' is strong evidence that the approach is completely defensible from a list management perspective.

IWWT.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

For all the bluster we hear about the importance of the ruck role, this is just so clearly true. Not a single one of our losses this year could be attributed to getting dominated by an opposition ruckman. Which probably goes a long way to explain our 'moneyball' approach to the role over so many years now.

That conviction got tested again by the intransigence of the Saints around RoMa. And the club again held firm to their philosophy around the level of investment they are prepared to make in looking to acquire an 'elite' ruck.

We're clearly not for changing on this issue under the current regime. And the continued capability of the team to contend despite this supposed 'Achilles heel' is strong evidence that the approach is completely defensible from a list management perspective.

IWWT.

Bucks wouldn't have helped that either.

One of the only other coaches in the game to rival Scott's lack of respect for the ruck position - and in particular hitouts.

They had Grundy though. Who they drafted themselves (as we all know) who is more than just a ruckman, so it was never put to the same test as our moneyball approach until late when he preferred Cameron.

Still though, he'll be more than happy to work with our committee style ruck corps, and focus on developing Smith, Holmes, Worpel, Bruhn, Atkins, and Dempsey into the best players they can be.

With the focus the guy has on skills, it wouldn't surprise me if he tries to develop Dempsey, Lawson, or Miers into full time mids either.

 

[TheWoodenSlug]

For all the bluster we hear about the importance of the ruck role, this is just so clearly true. Not a single one of our losses this year could be attributed to getting dominated by an opposition ruckman. Which probably goes a long way to explain our 'moneyball' approach to the role over so many years now.

That conviction got tested again by the intransigence of the Saints around RoMa. And the club again held firm to their philosophy around the level of investment they are prepared to make in looking to acquire an 'elite' ruck.

We're clearly not for changing on this issue under the current regime. And the continued capability of the team to contend despite this supposed 'Achilles heel' is strong evidence that the approach is completely defensible from a list management perspective.

IWWT.

Yep. Might have been in the same press conference I alluded to earlier, but I recall Scott saying something along the lines of Stanley being the most "valuable" player in the league based on output compared to salary.

 

[foxdog50]

Not as worried as many on this board tbh.

I remember a press conference Scott had toward the end of the year where one of the questions was around our lack of ruck depth - not 100% sure when it was, but probably when Stanley was injured pre-finals. Scott essentially said he disagrees with the idea that we have poor ruck depth, it's just that a lot of the depth is already in the side (i.e. Blicavs, Neale & SDK).

I've loved what I have seen from Conway and Edwards, so the seriousness of Conway's injury is disappointing but hopefully Edwards can put on some size over the pre-season and get some games under his belt next year.

Another pre-season for O'Sullivan and Kolo back in will free SDK up - he looked great in the ruck early in the year and during finals. I actually reckon he can be better than Marshall would have been for us - needs to work on his actual ruckwork, but he's great around the ground and has a habit of snagging goals when playing ruck. He'd probably be my first choice as #1 ruck going into 2026.

Of course, Stanley is still there hearteyes though I really don't think he should be playing as many games as he did this year.

End of the day, none of the options we have are going to be in the top handful of ruckmen across the league, but I don't think we need them to be - we made a GF this year and lost to a team running with Fort and a broken down Big O, and I don't recall any games (including the GF) where the ruck decided/significantly influenced the result.

More/better contested mids are far more important imo.

I wish I had your faith.. but I'm really concerned . Blitz and Stanley will be mid 30s.
Iv got no hope in Conway sadly as he keeps braking down.
Iv got heap of faith in Edwards as I think he could be the one, but I only expect him to play 2 or 3 games next year as his only a kid and will take time.
I really think we need to look for a backup, eg even if its Harry Boyd, but I'm sure there is a good state league player out thete that can do the job

 

[TheWoodenSlug]

I wish I had your faith.. but I'm really concerned . Blitz and Stanley will be mid 30s.
Iv got no hope in Conway sadly as he keeps braking down.
Iv got heap of faith in Edwards as I think he could be the one, but I only expect him to play 2 or 3 games next year as his only a kid and will take time.
I really think we need to look for a backup, eg even if its Harry Boyd, but I'm sure there is a good state league player out thete that can do the job

Gotta have faith (get the **** up)!

Thoughts on SDK as ruck?

 

[foxdog50]

Gotta have faith (get the **** up)!

Thoughts on SDK as ruck?

I hate it ....
Look i don't mind if he goes in there for a 5 minute period a quarter. But that's it.

I honestly would have a look at Harry Boyd.
We can pick him up for free, and if it doesn't work well , we haven't lost a thing.
I wish Conway was our no 1 man. But him getting injured all the time, I don't think his body is made for AFL

 

[TheWoodenSlug]

I hate it ....
Look i don't mind if he goes in there for a 5 minute period a quarter. But that's it.

I honestly would have a look at Harry Boyd.
We can pick him up for free, and if it doesn't work well , we haven't lost a thing.
I wish Conway was our no 1 man. But him getting injured all the time, I don't think his body is made for AFL

Agree to disagree re SDK.

I'd never heard of Harry Boyd until you mentioned him - picked up at the start this year as a 27 year old, played one game, then delisted at the end of the year...not filling me with a lot of hope! I've obviously never seen him play so can't really comment on his ability, but I'd back SDK to do a better job.

Agree re Conway - I'd hoped he'd be number 1 ruck by now, but I haven't given up hope yet. Big Max Gawn was riddled with injuries early on and took until his 6th year to break out (ruined Enright's 300th in doing so). He'd only played 26 games in the previous 5 years. Next year will be Conways 5th season on the list, so 2027 would be the "break out year" if he followed Gawn's trajectory (though Conway has only played 6 games so far, so would need to play 20 next year to match Gawn's tally after 5 years...all but impossible, unfortunately).

I'm grasping at staws a little there with the Gawn comparison - different player and different injuries, but...ya gotta have faith!

 

[foxdog50]

Agree to disagree re SDK.

I'd never heard of Harry Boyd until you mentioned him - picked up at the start this year as a 27 year old, played one game, then delisted at the end of the year...not filling me with a lot of hope! I've obviously never seen him play so can't really comment on his ability, but I'd back SDK to do a better job.

Agree re Conway - I'd hoped he'd be number 1 ruck by now, but I haven't given up hope yet. Big Max Gawn was riddled with injuries early on and took until his 6th year to break out (ruined Enright's 300th in doing so). He'd only played 26 games in the previous 5 years. Next year will be Conways 5th season on the list, so 2027 would be the "break out year" if he followed Gawn's trajectory (though Conway has only played 6 games so far, so would need to play 20 next year to match Gawn's tally after 5 years...all but impossible, unfortunately).

I'm grasping at staws a little there with the Gawn comparison - different player and different injuries, but...ya gotta have faith!

Yeah i agree on what people say on Conway- Gawn. But Gawn at least played alot more vfl games then Conway and I think people are just using that as more hope than anything.
Boyd won the SANFL league medal , so his not a dud. And St Kilda rearly played 2 ruckman in a game until next year they will do.
I think we should sign him up , on a 12 month contract, nothing to loose tbh.
As SDK plays his best football as a defender. When he goes in the ruck I personally cringe.

 

[TheWoodenSlug]

Yeah i agree on what people say on Conway- Gawn. But Gawn at least played alot more vfl games then Conway and I think people are just using that as more hope than anything.
Boyd won the SANFL league medal , so his not a dud. And St Kilda rearly played 2 ruckman in a game until next year they will do.
I think we should sign him up , on a 12 month contract, nothing to loose tbh.
As SDK plays his best football as a defender. When he goes in the ruck I personally cringe.

That is exactly what I am using the Gawn comparison for! I'm sure there are far more examples of injury prone ruckmen that never get their body fit for AFL, but it CAN happen.

Fair enough re Boyd - sounds a lot like Orren Stephenson and Darcy Fort. So I guess either delisted after a year (already happened) or 2 time premership ruckman...

 

[patience]

Just saw Tom Stewart. Still wearing an arm brace.

 

[cats_09]

Just saw Tom Stewart. Still wearing an arm brace.

Why is Stewart wearing an arm brace?

Did he have shoulder surgery or something post season?

 

[patience]

Oh yeah. It was Jez who broke his arm. I didn’t ask Tom what the problem was. He was doing dad things. It was on his forearm. Right I think.

 

[Tony Barber]

Oh yeah. It was Jez who broke his arm. I didn’t ask Tom what the problem was. He was doing dad things. It was on his forearm. Right I think.

Even if it was Jez, I dont understand why you'd think that he'd be out of a brace after 6 weeks.

 

[PzBlinky]

Why is Stewart wearing an arm brace?

Did he have shoulder surgery or something post season?

Didn't he hurt his wrist / arm in the prelim? Same incident where he got concussed. Pretty sure he came off holding his arm.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Didn't he hurt his wrist / arm in the prelim? Same incident where he got concussed. Pretty sure he came off holding his arm.

Yep, best part of 200kgs landed on his wrist with his arms pinned.

Would actually be surprised if there wasn't a fracture or two.

 

[patience]

Even if it was Jez, I dont understand why you'd think that he'd be out of a brace after 6 weeks.

I didn’t think it was Jez. It was Stewart. I didn’t bother counting the weeks. It’s all just a distant bad memory.

 

[Vdubs]

Bucks wouldn't have helped that either.

One of the only other coaches in the game to rival Scott's lack of respect for the ruck position - and in particular hitouts.

They had Grundy though. Who they drafted themselves (as we all know) who is more than just a ruckman, so it was never put to the same test as our moneyball approach until late when he preferred Cameron.

Still though, he'll be more than happy to work with our committee style ruck corps, and focus on developing Smith, Holmes, Worpel, Bruhn, Atkins, and Dempsey into the best players they can be.

With the focus the guy has on skills, it wouldn't surprise me if he tries to develop Dempsey, Lawson, or Miers into full time mids either.

And what about Mullin? Has MF written all over him, imho.