Strategy Using Our Rucks Like Baseball Pitchers

[shewho]

The last few weeks have shown us that we have 3 pretty decent ruckmen. None of them are world beaters but each has their strength. Soldo is the strongest, most seasoned but least mobile. Visentini the slightest, rawest but most mobile. Sweet sits in the middle.

Why not rotate them on a needs basis, sort of like MLB franchises do with their pitchers. For instance, if it is decided that Soldo is the man for Gawn, give him the week off beforehand and let Visentini take De Koning this week. If Sweet is fresh and Soldo a bit beaten up, rest Soldo and let Sweet take Darcy Cameron

14

Darcy Cameron

Age

28

Ht

204cm

Wt

103kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

6.0

1star

K

3.3

1star

HB

2.7

2star

CL

0.3

2star

HO

5.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

CL

0.5

3star

HO

3.5

5star

D

6.0

2star

K

3.3

2star

HB

2.7

3star

CL

0.3

2star

HO

5.3

5star

. Make it a “horses for courses” approach and let all 3 play at least 6 minor round games as 1st Ruck.

It makes sense seeing we have 3 good options in ruck and it is the best way to avoid repeating the debacle we had in last year’s finals series where we had a banged up shell of a ruck struggle in the major round.

Rucking in the AFL is tough on the body and whilst there is a theory that midfielders get better if they get a run of games in a row, there is no hard evidence that this is true for rucks.

 

[longdonkey]

The last few weeks have shown us that we have 3 pretty decent ruckmen. None of them are world beaters but each has their strength. Soldo is the strongest, most seasoned but least mobile. Visentini the slightest, rawest but most mobile. Sweet sits in the middle.

Why not rotate them on a needs basis, sort of like MLB franchises do with their pitchers. For instance, if it is decided that Soldo is the man for Gawn, give him the week off beforehand and let Visentini take De Koning this week. If Sweet is fresh and Soldo a bit beaten up, rest Soldo and let Sweet take Darcy Cameron. Make it a “horses for courses” approach and let all 3 play at least 6 minor round games as 1st Ruck.

It makes sense seeing we have 3 good options in ruck and it is the best way to avoid repeating the debacle we had in last year’s finals series where we had a banged up shell of a ruck struggle in the major round.

Rucking in the AFL is tough on the body and whilst there is a theory that midfielders get better if they get a run of games in a row, there is no hard evidence that this is true for rucks.

Do you trust Hinkley to choose the correct ruckman for each opposition ruckman?

 

[dirty2]

Do you trust Hinkley to choose the correct ruckman for each opposition ruckman?

Wouldn't trust Hinkley taking my dog for a walk.

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

The only proven concept under Ken is that we are better with a tap ruckman than one that becomes a shitty midfielder.

 

[Powerage]

What is it 2 seasons ruined by not having a decent backup ruck (or not using them)? 2016 with Trengove when Ryder was banned by WADA and 2022 with Finlayson when Lycett was injured and Hayes wasn't used.

Big failures on the part of Hinkley and, to an extent, list management. We are actually blessed to have 3 halfway decent rucks on our list at the moment.

I'm not completely sold on the idea of rotating them in a horses for courses type manner. You can never tell when a particular ruckman is going to rise to the occasion or get surprising beaten. I am pleased though that all 3 of our ruckman have had an opportunity to play games this season though.

The problem in my view is that none of them can hold down a position somewhere else on the ground, mind you Dante is very young and may end up being ok somewhere else. Alternatively, Scully may end up being a decent second ruck with time. If they can't do that, you can't really justify playing 2 rucks in a game.

I'd give my left nut to have another tap ruckman like Brendon Lade

Brendon Lade

Age

47

Ht

199cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.4

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

4.0

3star

HO

15.1

5star

No current season stats available

D

11.2

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

4.4

4star

HO

9.6

5star

who averages 5 marks and a goal a game on our list.

 

[Duck Farmer]

If we can do this with coaches, I'm in.

 

[philthy05]

The last few weeks have shown us that we have 3 pretty decent ruckmen. None of them are world beaters but each has their strength. Soldo is the strongest, most seasoned but least mobile. Visentini the slightest, rawest but most mobile. Sweet sits in the middle.

Why not rotate them on a needs basis, sort of like MLB franchises do with their pitchers. For instance, if it is decided that Soldo is the man for Gawn, give him the week off beforehand and let Visentini take De Koning this week. If Sweet is fresh and Soldo a bit beaten up, rest Soldo and let Sweet take Darcy Cameron. Make it a “horses for courses” approach and let all 3 play at least 6 minor round games as 1st Ruck.

It makes sense seeing we have 3 good options in ruck and it is the best way to avoid repeating the debacle we had in last year’s finals series where we had a banged up shell of a ruck struggle in the major round.

Rucking in the AFL is tough on the body and whilst there is a theory that midfielders get better if they get a run of games in a row, there is no hard evidence that this is true for rucks.

Soldo is our best ruck, why on earth would we want to have him on the sidelines and play a lesser player?

also, sweet is not very good. And we don’t want him playing unless we absolutely have to.

And the mlb pitchers is not a good comparison

Teams would field their best pitcher 100% of the time if they could and they needed to.

But

Teams throw around 150 pitches a game, with games every few days , often back to back in an 162 game season.

It’s an absolute necessity for that sport.

They also have the ability to rotate pitchers in game, which is not something we can do with rucks.

 

[VineValerian]

Wouldn't trust Hinkley taking my dog for a walk.

Good point. Well made!

 

[JimmyBC]

I'd go with whoever has the best knuckleball

 

[Us against the rest]

Why don't we use Ollie Wines, Oh wait.

 

[davesnothere]

We have 3 rucks.

We play Soldo when fit because he is currently our best option.

We play Dante when Soldo is not fit and we play Dante to manage Soldo because Dante is our next best option and the experience he gets being exposed to afl level this year will be to our advantage next year.

Sweet is our 3rd best option. He plays when we have broken Soldo down though mismanagement and we need to manage Dante.

 

[Fizzler]

If we can do this with coaches, I'm in.

Hmm... Carr could take the reins against probably 18 of the coaches in the league, and then how many would that leave Hinkley with?

 

[JimmyBC]

Dante is the best of the three potentially I liked how he didn't look cumbersome in some general play moments.

 

[Cheesey Mac]

I'm just thankful that our fat old coach doesn't have to wear the same kit as the players on the field like a fat old baseball manager does.

 

[JimmyBC]

I'm just thankful that our fat old coach doesn't have to wear the same kit as the players on the field like a fat old baseball manager does.

Nah that would be awesome

 

[Ant Bear]

I'm just thankful that our fat old coach doesn't have to wear the same kit as the players on the field like a fat old baseball manager does.

You take that back...

 

[Coobk001]

Idea completely ignores the fact that consistency is a key component to why rucks play well. Be that playing as a #1 ruck for most of the game rather than being chopped and changed, or being played week after week and working into a groove.

Resting is stupid, messes with form and disadvantages the team.

 

[backtozero]

Haven't seen enough of Sweet or Visentini this year to say that one is clearly better than the other. The board seems pretty split on who the better option is.

Visentini could be anything in the future though, which is exciting.

 

[El_Scorcho]

MLB teams would start their best pitcher in every game if they had a game every week instead of every day.

 

[VineValerian]

MLB teams would start their best pitcher in every game if they had a game every week instead of every day.

Difference is, ruckmen get crashed and bashed physically every game. Legs, torsos, etc. Hence why blokes like Lycett were hobbling around for half the season like they needed a Zimmer frame to move.

 

[sobrave]

What if we use our rucks like baseball bats instead and get ollie to pick up Dante and swing him by his legs to take out the oppositions best player?

 

[Cheesey Mac]

You take that back...

View attachment 1989712

I knew that photo was going to come... Feedback noted and taken on board.

Next time I'll add a negative adjective to "fat old coach" to underscore talking about Bottom 10 Ken.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

also have the ability to rotate pitchers in game, which is not something we can do with rucks.

sorry to intrude - was intrigued by the title, but thought this comment the most easily modified into our game. Baseball has both Starting Pitchers and Relievers (close to our 1st/2nd ruck situation). Adapting this into our game "could" provide flexibility to include another running option.

Pick two rucks, play one as the sub. Still use a "2nd ruck" option from another tall player to rest your main, but your 1st ruck plays 90% of the first half with only a few brief rests. Give them one more go after half time until redlined, then sub them out for a fresh ruck.

Given how taxing the ruck position is, it's likely to create a mismatch in the second halves - a fresh, fit ruck who can physically dominate an already tired opponent, either in the taps or through being an option around the ground.

 

[JohnHinckleyJr]

 

[El_Scorcho]

Difference is, ruckmen get crashed and bashed physically every game. Legs, torsos, etc. Hence why blokes like Lycett were hobbling around for half the season like they needed a Zimmer frame to move.

Throwing a ball 90MPH about 100 times in 2.5 hours has a pretty big impact on your body. Baseball pitchers get a lot of stress related shoulder and elbow injuries.