The Mounting Ruck Problem

[BringFevBack2021]

Both Pittonet and Grundy angled their knees across their bodies and attempted to use their shins to fend off and protect the drop of the ball. They were sitting ducks for PCL's.

Knee on knee contact will happen in ruck work but the aim should be to get the knees up in to the body of an opponent rather than hanging a leg out there to be crunched in to.

Wouldn't be a surprise if ruck coaching has taken a hit from the soft cap and that might be contributing to some of the injuries.

Carlton have Kreuzer as their ruck coach and I don't believe he ever did a PCL.

Matthew Kreuzer

Sponsored by: Westkon

www.carltonfc.com.au

Someone that knows what their talking about in the Sports Science space will have an idea to fix this problem that is very much, unique to AFL. For mine, protective gear makes sense as I don't see anything wrong with what Sean Darcy did.

 

[dee64]

Could this spate of ruck injuries be due to this nonsensical blocking rule? Ruckmen now get penalised for having the skill to jump early and take the space of the opposing ruckman. Now they're forced to jump at each other.

Another ridiculous new rule interpretation gone wrong.

 

[Aristotle Pickett the3rd]

Carlton have Kreuzer as their ruck coach and I don't believe he ever did a PCL.

Matthew Kreuzer

Sponsored by: Westkon

www.carltonfc.com.au

Someone that knows what their talking about in the Sports Science space will have an idea to fix this problem that is very much, unique to AFL. For mine, protective gear makes sense as I don't see anything wrong with what Sean Darcy did.

Protective gear is an American thing and is not part of our game.
Just ban using the knee and make it about jumping rather than collision.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

Yep like these with gel pads inserts over the knee View attachment 1384867

Good point would anyone have a problem with introducing some minor knee protection for ruckmen who constantly bash knees? No? Problem solved, next.

 

[BringFevBack2021]

Protective gear is an American thing and is not part of our game.
Just ban using the knee and make it about jumping rather than collision.

They literally use shin guards already

 

[Aristotle Pickett the3rd]

They literally use shin guards already

Once knee pads go on, you might as well call it American gridion roller derby.

 

[Madas]

Protective gear is an American thing and is not part of our game.
Just ban using the knee and make it about jumping rather than collision.

I don’t want more whistle blowing stoppages at Ruck contests
They already wear shin pads so it’s no big deal

 

[Purple Suit]

Only one player was looking at the ball

Yep, Darcy. Pittonet got his knee smashed so didn’t change his view to look up as he was in pain.

 

[RAPPA]

Yep, Darcy. Pittonet got his knee smashed so didn’t change his view to look up as he was in pain.

Pretty sure it was a reference to eye contact prior to when the knees collided. Darcy was looking at Pittonet up to and including when contact was made, only after which he looked up at the ball.

 

[10571z]

Perhaps we should adopt Netball center bounces? So two ruckman go for the ball but can only jump on the spot and tap it. So all it relies on is verticle jump/ No knee to opposition ruck.

EDIT: Actually that how it normally is with throw ins from boundary. Wow. Why don't we adopt that for center bounces?

I honestly don’t hate this. Take away the run up and just wrestle

 

[unplugged]

Throwing it up instead of bouncing the ball might actually prevent a ruckman from holding their position (if the ball is bounced towards them) or from trying to force position (if the ball is bounced towards their opponent). Also means it's more likely both ruckman always know where their opponent is going to be.

Time to get rid of the bounce.

 

[Purple Suit]

Pretty sure it was a reference to eye contact prior to when the knees collided. Darcy was looking at Pittonet up to and including when contact was made, only after which he looked up at the ball.

My observation is that Pittonet does/try’s to do the same thing, his camera angle isn’t as good to see it clearly though.

If he’s going into every contest not observing his opposing ruck, he’s doing it wrong.

 

[Purple Suit]

Throwing it up instead of bouncing the ball might actually prevent a ruckman from holding their position (if the ball is bounced towards them) or from trying to force position (if the ball is bounced towards their opponent). Also means it's more likely both ruckman always know where their opponent is going to be.

Time to get rid of the bounce.

I was wondering this, but I assume the Pittonet injury was a throw as it was dead centre of the circle. The irregular bounce could lead to less injuries as it can be unfair except it can be recalled so they are having to do more each game for no reason.

It’s a tough one to solve, I think there needs to be more data and not these knee jerk reaction rule changes.

 

[And_ROOS]

Why don’t they wear knee pads for impact ?
I know the landing action is still a problem but the Pittonet and Grundy injuries where knee on knee crunches weren’t they ?

When I rucked in juniors upto under 18s my club gave us shin guards and basic knee pads like these volley ball ones

Never saw a knee injury from our club, only heard about it happening at others. Utterly surprised players don't wear them. They aren't uncomfortable, I didn't notice I had it on, but I am sure it saved my knee a couple of times.

 

[00Stinger]

Easy fix

Stop ****ing paying a free kick against a ruckman when he puts his arms out to protect himself

 

[Obeanie1]

Why don’t they wear knee pads for impact ?
I know the landing action is still a problem but the Pittonet and Grundy injuries where knee on knee crunches weren’t they ?

Some form of knee protection for the knee they smash intoeach other would be a good start. Two bad pcl injuries in the same weekend. The AFL could consider banning lifting knees in a centre bounce contest but not sure if that can be practical.

End of the day its physics. They are bigger, heavier and due to being so tall the leverage factor just puts so much more pressure on ankles and knees.

 

[Obeanie1]

If you want to eradicate the rucks, just alternate a handball possession from bounces and boundary line throw ins for each team.

Not sure if serious......Jeez....talk about over the top solution. This oneis terrible.

Mate before that happens you'd just stop them running and jumping at each other. Ruck contests would become wrestling contests, not jumping contests. Smashing into one another.

 

[Aristotle Pickett the3rd]

Not sure if serious......Jeez....talk about over the top solution. This oneis terrible.

Mate before that happens you'd just stop them running and jumping at each other. Ruck contests would become wrestling contests, not jumping contests. Smashing into one another.

I was saying if rucks were eradicated that would be a fair solution.
You can't kick a goal and can't get much difference, it would be exciting to watch.

 

[master bate]

Only one player was looking at the ball

And?? There’s nothing in the rules that says you have to look at the ball, especially when your opponent is camping out between you and the ball. Darcy has only one way to get the hit out, which is to crash through Pittonet, take the body and get up over him. Of course he’s looking at him to work out where he is.

It’s an unfortunate injury but Darcy did nothing wrong.

 

[master bate]

Protective gear is an American thing and is not part of our game.
Just ban using the knee and make it about jumping rather than collision.

Not sure you can ask players to run in to each other and not use their knees as protection. Anyone who jumps on one leg is going to raise a knee automatically.

Either it’s a physical contest or it switches to a basketball style jump ball.

 

[Bigger]

Only one player was looking at the ball

I'm seeing this a bit and it annoys me. Pittonet was keeping an eye on Darcy as well. Ruckmen have to know where the other bloke is - making useful contact and getting leverage is the essence of ruckcraft. Darcy looked at the ball plenty. He tapped the ****ng thing.

master bate correctly identified the problem a few posts ago. Pittonet angled his leg too far across.

 

[Aristotle Pickett the3rd]

Not sure you can ask players to run in to each other and not use their knees as protection. Anyone who jumps on one leg is going to raise a knee automatically.

Either it’s a physical contest or it switches to a basketball style jump ball.

In basketball they jump without using a knee.

 

[Crashy]

I'm seeing this a bit and it annoys me. Pittonet was keeping an eye on Darcy as well. Ruckmen have to know where the other bloke is - making useful contact and getting leverage is the essence of ruckcraft. Darcy looked at the ball plenty. He tapped the fu**ng thing.

master bate correctly identified the problem a few posts ago. Pittonet angled his leg too far across.

You couldn't be more wrong, watch the vision

Darcy was solely looking at Pittonet until he deliberately took out his knee. He only looked up after he made contact.

 

[WillHayward]

Can we start picking randoms from bush league again? Im sure there will be a gentlemen agreement for whichever team picks up Mummy to not give him the piss-test till you get at least one full time ruckman back from a Long term injury

Instead of mid season draft combine testing we could have a mid season sausage eating comp for rucks.

 

[Obeanie1]

I was saying if rucks were eradicated that would be a fair solution.
You can't kick a goal and can't get much difference, it would be exciting to watch.

It cant be fair if you take turns and gift possession to one team.

To be fair you need some form of contest.

You just need to remove the risk of major injury in that contest.

Would you like to lose a grand final with a team being given free possession from the centre with 30 seconds remaining and they handball, kick into a 6 on 6 and they goal? Or a ruck handballs, they just kick it to a free defender and run the clock down and win?

It would be a terrible look.