We got trounced

[Deepthroat]

Can't we start Cox in the ruck, Gardi at CHF and Johnson on the pine.

If Cox is struggling he can have a spell, Gardi can regain control and Johnson can wreak havoc up forward.

If the backline is small on a day suting forwards the tall on the bench can relieve a small up forward.

I think the beauty of having so much tall timber in the squad is choice and options. And these boys should be providing plenty this year.

There's a bloke called Keating for Brisbane who's been cotton-balled for finals action in recent years to great effect. Why don't we use Gardiner when really needed and not risk such a great asset in until the hour required.

 

[DanielKerr4]

My question has always been, can Coxy win games for us like Gardy does off his own ruckwork? I think the answer is no, but he can break evene at BEST. I just don't think we should leave the best ruckman in the league up forward! Just my opinion, everyone has different views.

 

[steve_rat]

i remember when melbourne used to have the problems with jeff white and we had gardy going well and i was like sucked in melbourne we got the best ruckman yours sucks and always gets injured.

on this totally off on a tangent note.. who remembers when allan jakovich kissed glen.

 

[Mead]

Originally posted by Deepthroat
Can't we start Cox in the ruck, Gardi at CHF and Johnson on the pine.

If Cox is struggling he can have a spell, Gardi can regain control and Johnson can wreak havoc up forward.

If the backline is small on a day suting forwards the tall on the bench can relieve a small up forward.

I think the beauty of having so much tall timber in the squad is choice and options. And these boys should be providing plenty this year.

There's a bloke called Keating for Brisbane who's been cotton-balled for finals action in recent years to great effect. Why don't we use Gardiner when really needed and not risk such a great asset in until the hour required.

Pretty much my thoughts exactly. Given Gardies' lack of preseason and injury prone nature, if we're winning a game comfortably, I would be quite happy to see him spend extended periods up forward or on the pine. Again, its worth remembering that Gardiner has NEVER got through an entire season without breaking down. As good as he is, he has never once managed to play out the year as first ruck without copping an injury at some point or another- If we can get our 14 or so wins without overusing Gardiner for the regular season, we'll have a fresh, fit and firing Gardie on offer by the end of the season. Given how outstanding his ruckwork is, doesn't it make sense to do what we can to ensure we have him rested and injury free in september, when every ruck knock counts?

As for Cox's ability to hold down #1 ruck, if anyone feels bored, I suggest you take a gander at Gardiner's stats over his first three years and compare them to Cox's, and then have a look at the quantum leap which Gardiner took in his fourth year.
Cox is a young, extremely talented player who has come on steadily since he debuted, and sometimes I think the only reason people tend to write him off as a second string ruckman for his entire career is because he was a no name off our rookie list rather than a high draft pick. Certainly, on the basis of his preseason, Coxxy looks to have stepped up a lot since last year- destroyed McKee and Fraser in Gardinerish fashion, and soundly beat a very good ruckman in Jeff White. He's doen enough to suggest he'll be able to handle more minutes this year.

 

[Hamburger]

There is no doubt Gardiner is the number 1 ruckman at the club, but there is also no doubt he is fragile.
Last year, and the year before, Gardiner was missing for critical matches. That we were able to do so well without him was due to Cox rising to the occasion. He was not as good as Gardie, but he did well enough. his form so far this preseason suggests he has improved a bit on last year.
Gardiner is injured again, after coming off an operation to fix a problem he carried for a while last year, and has played how many minutes of the intra club and preseason games?
The last thing I would do is throw him into the ruck first up against Darcy in round 1.
Cox has already shown so far in the practice games that he has improved, has the form and the match fitness (as much as is possible).
If Gardiner is fit at the start of the season I think he will play CHF, and that is where he is likely to be most damaging. Really all Cox has to do is break even in the ruck in the first few games, and if the midfield gets a half share of the ball, then having Gardiner at CHF and MacDougall at FF should mean we are more than competitive going forward.
IMO he should spend a few minutes each quarter in the ruck, giving Cox a spell.
At those times maybe Johnson comes off the bench to CHF.
Many of you have already identified the first 6 or so games as a tough ask......in all the matchups we look better placed with Gardie at CHF.