What does it all mean?

[AndyWalkersGirl]

Sorry to bring up the Gibbs/Leuenburger debate, but I'm just wondering what people think will happen, now that De Luca has gone.

This leaves us with Ackland, McLaren and Bryan. I'm a Bryan fan, but i dont think he can be our full-time ruck. McLaren I'm not too sure of because i haven't seen him play too many times. Ackland, i'm not sure of either, i have read contradicting reports - some say he's ok, some say he's injury-prone.

So i was wondering, does this mean that we will take Leuny at no.1, hoping that McLaren/Ackland can get us through this year, leaving Leuny to develop in the Bullants, and then he can start to have a more full-time job with the Blues from 2008 on?

I just dont think taking a ruck at no.1 is the best choice, and thankfully, i'm not Wayne Hughes! I figure there are bound to be good-ish ruckmen around later on, and that if half of the hype over Gibbs is true, then we'd be silly not to take him.

Also, can someone please fill me in on Aisake's development? I have never seen him play, as i dont live in Victoria. I am really interested in his progress, so if anyone can give me some info, that would be great

 

[navier-stokes equation]

How will Deluca quitting affect whether we draft a ruck or not?

It's not as though he could actually ruck.

 

[AlecDuncan]

It's not as though he could actually ruck.

Touché. I hope we go for either Gibbs or Hansen, and take a punt on a lower-rated ruckman.

 

[HBF]

I've been thinking about that as well AWG. We have 3 ruckman on our senior list, Ackland, McLaren and Bryan.

If one of them gets an injury, we could really be in dire trouble. Even though i've selected Gibbs in the PD on the D&T board, it would not surprise me if we take Leuey in the real deal. In fact, now that DeLuca has retired, Leuey might now be favoured to be taken at #1.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

If one of them goes down long term, then Aisake will be elevated. I'd say we will take a ruck in the draft and probably one as a rookie as well.

 

[deluxeman]

I've been thinking about that as well AWG. We have 3 ruckman on our senior list, Ackland, McLaren and Bryan.

If one of them gets an injury, we could really be in dire trouble. Even though i've selected Gibbs in the PD on the D&T board, it would not surprise me if we take Leuey in the real deal. In fact, now that DeLuca has retired, Leuey might now be favoured to be taken at #1.

I'm thinking a bit differently HBF. When French retired many people were prepared to go into the 07 season with Deluca, Bryan and McLaren as our only ruckmen. By replacing Deluca with Ackland we have greatly improved our ruck situation and haven't left us in such a dire need for a ruckmen next season.

We should take best avaliable with pick 1 and not worry about our ruck situation. Then draft 2 young ruckmen with 1 in the ND draft and 1 in the rookie draft. Along with Aisake, they develop in the ressies and if a situation arises where two of our ruckmen get injured then worst case scenario, we promote one of the ruckmen and play them as a backup ruckman during the game.

Drafting Leuy next year will not improve our ruck situation for next year. Instead by investing in a few young ruckmen this draft and then potentially picking up a highly rated ruckman next draft, we are increasing our chances of one of them working out. We should have been drafting young ruckmen in previous NDs, but we haven't and that needs to change this ND.

 

[navier-stokes equation]

I've been thinking about that as well AWG. We have 3 ruckman on our senior list, Ackland, McLaren and Bryan.

If one of them gets an injury, we could really be in dire trouble. Even though i've selected Gibbs in the PD on the D&T board, it would not surprise me if we take Leuey in the real deal. In fact, now that DeLuca has retired, Leuey might now be favoured to be taken at #1.

I highly doubt we'll use our #1 pick on a ruckman just because one of the 3 you mentioned might go down with injury

 

[HBF]

I highly doubt we'll use our #1 pick on a ruckman just because one of the 3 you mentioned might go down with injury

Fair enough, but Leuey is still well and truly on the radar at Princes Park. If WH and his team think he is the best player in the draft, then we should select him. Bit of a dilemma though when you look at who Gibbs and Leuey have been compared to:

Gibbs - Buckley
Leuenberger - Cox

 

[HBF]

If one of them goes down long term, then Aisake will be elevated. I'd say we will take a ruck in the draft and probably one as a rookie as well.

My question is whether he'd be ready to play AFL footy if he is elevetaed ODN?

 

[ClayBlue87]

My question is whether he'd be ready to play AFL footy if he is elevetaed ODN?

As of the end of season '06, Aisake is still not ready for the AFL level of rucking. Displayed great tapping ability and general athletesism around the ground. Like his brother, needs more time to develop skills. Im hoping that Setanta and Aisake can do some kick to kick work in the park in their holidays. And is Aisake can develop as fast as his brother, we are in for a treat. 2x 200cm boys, bothe fast, strong, agile, and take a good mark.

I'd say Irish Experiment a success.

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

So you dont see Aisake getting delisted at the end of his time as a rookie next year?

 

[blues4flag]

Not much, I woulsn't think, considering Deluca would have hardly played ruck anyway. Only issue now would be our ruck depth. Aisake seems a far way off, so if someone is injured, won't do him much good, other than give him experience and fasttrack his development (well, maybe it will do some good ).

 

[deluxeman]

So you dont see Aisake getting delisted at the end of his time as a rookie next year?

I think its going to come down to how he performs next year. Last year he was stuck playing Bullants ressies because we had guys like Deluca and Bryan getting the first ruck in the Bullants Seniors. Now, assuming we don't draft any more old ruckmen, we should only have either Bryan or McLaren in Bullants seniors which will give Aisake more of a chance to step up and take the no1 ruck position in the Bullants. Really hope he does well because we desperately need a young, tall and talented ruckman!

 

[BlueBelle]

I believe a ruck combo of Ackland & Bryan will suffice in 2007.

Chris Bryan has a big tank and can run all day. I don't think Pagan has given him enough game time for anybody to really make a final decision on him. I think him rotating from ruck to our backline could even work??

I do agree with majority though re Gibbs/Leuey. For a while there, a friend had convinced me enough to have me leaning towards Leuey, but after much consideration, I think we should draft Gibbs with pick #1 and get another ruckman with a later pick

 

[celtic_pride]

It is a lay down misere that we will draft Bryce Gibbs.

 

[Silvagnis]

61885!

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

I don't think it will make us pick Leuenburger but I think it may cause us to grab Renouf at 19.

 

[ClayBlue87]

Aisake was drafted in 2005 under the international rookie system. This means that his 3yrs are up at the end of '07. Either way he has shown enough as a ruckman to get an elevation to the senior list and an additional contract so that he may continue to develop. We endevoured with Setanta, we will follow suit with Aisake.

Dont make reservations about Gibbs yet. We may still draft Leuenberger.
If not there are still some good ruckman around. The most likely targets will be Kurt Tippet or Brent Renouf. And a slight possiblity we will take a punt on Todd Goldstein.

Next years draft offers many ruckman aswell, with a clear no.1 draft pick of Matthew Kreuzer. Also Crozier and Bellchambers are quality ruckman. However we cant just assume we will take one of the above next year.

We have 3 senior ruckman on our list, listed at 196, 196 and 197cm and all similar age. The obvious lack of hight is quite scary, not to mention quality. We WILL take a ruckman this year, the question is which one?

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

I agree with you Bluegal. I'm hoping for Gibbs, and that we pick up a later ruckman. But i'd really like to hold onto Aisake, just for the romance

Draft is a few weeks away... i'm getting scared, someone hold me?

 

[mediumsizered]

We have 3 senior ruckman on our list, listed at 196, 196 and 197cm and all similar age. The obvious lack of hight is quite scary, not to mention quality. We WILL take a ruckman this year, the question is which one?

I wouldn't be too scared of their lack of height. Both Clark Keating & Jamie Charman are listed at 197cm, Jeff White 195cm, Justin Koschitzke 197cm, Rhett Biglands 200cm, Darren Jolly 200cm. They just need to be taught the finer points of ruckwork & you would like to think that if anyone can teach them, Gary Dempsey is the one. Ackland, McLaren & Bryan are all at an age when their best years are still ahead of them. The outlook is not totally grim.

 

[ClayBlue87]

Draft is a few weeks away... i'm getting scared, someone hold me?

There There...it will be OK.
Im going to the draft so I can hug my new family members.

 

[ClayBlue87]

I wouldn't be too scared of their lack of height. Both Clark Keating & Jamie Charman are listed at 197cm, Jeff White 195cm, Justin Koschitzke 197cm, Rhett Biglands 200cm, Darren Jolly 200cm. They just need to be taught the finer points of ruckwork & you would like to think that if anyone can teach them, Gary Dempsey is the one. Ackland, McLaren & Bryan are all at an age when their best years are still ahead of them. The outlook is not totally grim.

Unfortunately red, you have named a lot of GOOD ruckmen. Im not dishing out our ruckman at all. Cant touch Ackland yet as he is yet to play for us. Havent seen much from McLaren. Love Bryan everytime he plays but just never see enough of him. Give me a quality 195cm ruckman anyday of a 205cm+ lightpost who cant jump and is useless around the field. My point is there is no use having ruckman who cant ruck well, irrelevant of hight. But jeez having a big boy would help.

 

[mediumsizered]

Unfortunately red, you have named a lot of GOOD ruckmen. Im not dishing out our ruckman at all. Cant touch Ackland yet as he is yet to play for us. Havent seen much from McLaren. Love Bryan everytime he plays but just never see enough of him. Give me a quality 195cm ruckman anyday of a 205cm+ lightpost who cant jump and is useless around the field. My point is there is no use having ruckman who cant ruck well, irrelevant of hight. But jeez having a big boy would help.

Fair comment, but what I have named is 3 premiership ruckmen, plus the number one ruckman for a top 4 side, plus 2 other ruckman (one a #1 draft pick, the other a #2 draft pick) who are highly rated. I was just pointing out that you don't necessarily have to have an Aaron Sandilands or a Dean Cox in your side to be competitive in the ruck. The next 12 months to 2 years will tell us if either of our 3 are going to be good enough to carry our ruck division.

 

[navier-stokes equation]

The next 12 months to 2 years will tell us if either of our 3 are going to be good enough to carry our ruck division.

I think we've already seen enough from McLaren and Bryan to know that they are not the future. Both had numerous opportunities to cement a place in the ruck in the worst team in the competition but were unable to do so

 

[mediumsizered]

I think we've already seen enough from McLaren and Bryan to know that they are not the future. Both had numerous opportunities to cement a place in the ruck in the worst team in the competition but were unable to do so

I'm basing my comments on their current age more than anything. History tells us that you can't expect much out of ruckmen who are under 24-25 years of age. McLaren & Bryan both turned 24 this year. The best ruckmen in the AFL are all older than that. We will have a better indication of their capabilities after the next 1-2 years.