Without Longmuir.

[rgauci]

Given Tarrant has just started full training and isn't expected to be ready until round 2 or 3, Longmuir must be further off because he still isn't doing full training.

It got me thinking which teams will be able to exploit our lack of a 2nd ruckman. Warnock should be close to ready but i'm sure more experienced 2nd ruckman will be able to exploit him.

We don't really have any other options unless someone like Gilmore, Dodd or M.Carr are used in the ruck as they have been known to do on occasion.

I'd back Warnock against the 2nd ruckman at:

Adelaide: Yes, just as inexperienced as him. He may lose the battle but won't be thrashed.
Brisbane: Gee tough one here, Beau McDonald is no world beater and one thinks he'll have competition from the likes of Leuenberger for 2nd ruck. Especially if Brisbane go into development mode. In saying that he's experienced enough to exploit Warnock but possibly not talented enough. I don't think Brisbane's 2nd string ruckman would humiliate him in the ruck.
Carlton: He'd be exploiting them.
Collingwood: Again if Richards stays injury free perhaps. Not a huge concern against their 2nd ruckman.
Essendon: They are just as inexperienced as him. Laycock may cause problems but again not a huge concern.
Geelong: We could be hurt here. Ottens could really give him a bath. Similarly Mooney if given a run on the ball. Definately a worry. We play them 1st in round 8 luckily. Hopefully longmuir is up and running by this stage.
Hawthorn: No recognised top flight second string ruckman, not a huge concern.
Kangaroos: Ouch, they look like giving us a real bath when it comes to 2nd stringers. Luckily don't play them till round 15.
Melbourne: a huge concern, particularly since we are playing them at the G in round 4. Longmuir will need to be back in the mix. Jamar will hurt us if given free reign.
Port Adelaide: Again another tough ask. We play them round 1 !! Huge concern over Sandi dealing with Lade and Brogan so early on in the piece. I'm worried about round 1. Especially since its at home. Could be a shaky start to the season.
Richmond: not too worried hear. No notable 2nd string ruckman. Knobel could exploit. He could also quite easily be out of the team.
Saints: Only time will tell, no idea who their ruckman will be. Though you would expect even Brooks to exploit Warnock.
Sydney: OMG, ouch, ouch, ouch. Everitt and Jolly pose huge concerns without Longmuir. Luckily round 14.
West Coast: Seaby is good enough to exploit Warnock quite badly. Also we play them quite early, round 3. Definately a worry.
Western Bulldogs: Again their 2nd ruckman could give young Warnock a bath. I cringe at the thought. Again luckily round 12 we meet them.



So to summarise i've got big concerns over rounds 1,3,4 if Sandilands has to go it alone against some of the best pairs in the business. Sydney and Western Bulldogs are the other pairs in the mix, but i'm confident Longmuir will be available by the time we face them.

 

[Ripper]

Saints have Gardiner and Clarke now, which will be a worry.

Maybe that is where MJ the "Midfielder" has come from.

They may have him earmarked to play a Goodes type role in the ruck when the Big fella is having a spell.

Sandi was running games out far better and playing more minutes at the end of the year as he got fitter.

We managed last year without Stringer Warnock at all so We are really in a stronger postion in 2007.


Even Murph could pinch hit there occasionally , I would not think that there would be a great deal of difference between Him and Polly playing ruck.

 

[shibz_1989]

As mentioned before, MJ did/can do a pretty good job in the ruck even if it's while Sandi is off for a rest. Polak was another one who assisted well in the ruck (well, maybe not assisted...but was put in the ruck none the less) but he's gone now. Hasn't Pavlich been put in a few times?

 

[Tarkyn_24]

No, don't waste Pavlich in the ruck. You don't want an injury like Adam Goodes in 2004 vs West Coast.

 

[chook2734]

Are we ever going to see JLo in full training though? I thought his knee/knees were at a point that they will need to be 'managed' for the rest of his career. Maybe the thought is to not overload him with work in the pre-season and allow him to ease in with a few scratch matches and the like. Taz needs his fitness as a power forward, JLo just needs to be able to get through the game and can build up his base over time - he doesn't need to have bursts of speed. I'm sure that my buddy Sandi will be taking the bulk of the ruck work this year anyway, but I wouldn't write off Longmuir yet.

 

[Ripper]

Are we ever going to see JLo in full training though? I thought his knee/knees were at a point that they will need to be 'managed' for the rest of his career. Maybe the thought is to not overload him with work in the pre-season and allow him to ease in with a few scratch matches and the like. Taz needs his fitness as a power forward, JLo just needs to be able to get through the game and can build up his base over time - he doesn't need to have bursts of speed. I'm sure that my buddy Sandi will be taking the bulk of the ruck work this year anyway, but I wouldn't write off Longmuir yet.

You are probably right on the mark there Chook.

Round 1 Justin only really needs to be fit enough for 4 x 5 minute bursts although I am sure he will be good for a lot more than that.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Gee, maybe we should try that with Richards. Instead of giving him 4 x 20 minute bursts on the bench...

 

[shibz_1989]

Ripper, Chook, do you guys mean keep Longmuir on the bench for a majority of the match, just bringing him on while Sandi rests?

 

[Tarkyn_24]

What do you do if Sandy gets injured...

That is the biggest question.

Btw, do you think the PIes should play Fraser ruck or forward and risk the inexperienced Richards in the ruck?

 

[shibz_1989]

What do you do if Sandy gets injured...

That is the biggest question.

Btw, do you think the PIes should play Fraser ruck or forward and risk the inexperienced Richards in the ruck?

If Sandi gets injured, wouldn't it be most likely that Warnock debuted?

 

[Rob]

You are probably right on the mark there Chook.

Round 1 Justin only really needs to be fit enough for 4 x 5 minute bursts although I am sure he will be good for a lot more than that.

We'd be better off playing another KPP. It would just be wasting everyone's time having a player only used for 20 minutes a match.

 

[Ripper]

Ripper, Chook, do you guys mean keep Longmuir on the bench for a majority of the match, just bringing him on while Sandi rests?

Too start with I would.
They obviously don't want to overload his bung knee too early.

He will get fitter and fitter as the season goes on.

 

[chook2734]

Ripper, Chook, do you guys mean keep Longmuir on the bench for a majority of the match, just bringing him on while Sandi rests?

It would probably depend on his fitness and the structure of the rest of the team. He's certainly more than handy in the forward line but if we've got Pav, Taz and Murphy down there I'm not sure what the dynamics would be with another tall. Don't worry shibz, we want to see him out there just as much as you do

 

[rgauci]

I agree with the idea of playing an extra tall who's not necessarily a noted ruckman. I'm sure they could pinch hit in their with enough success without us looking too depleted.

 

[mini bus]

I know it's about 2 months before the season starts but from what i saw on Monday Longmuir is a mile behind the eight ball, he had a very noticable limp and he was only doing a very slow jog. I would be surprised to see him play any of the preseason games and at this point in time doubt he will be available for the opening rounds. Warnock may get his chance but to me he still looks a year off, lets just hope Longmuir makes a speedy recovery.

 

[theGav56]

Given Tarrant has just started full training and isn't expected to be ready until round 2 or 3, Longmuir must be further off because he still isn't doing full training.

Given??? I thought Tarrant was expected to miss the pre-season matches, and would play round one. Where had you heard he would miss the first few games?

 

[dont bowl there]

Given??? I thought Tarrant was expected to miss the pre-season matches, and would play round one. Where had you heard he would miss the first few games?

I dont know where that came from either, all i have heard is that he is right on track for round one.

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

I know it's about 2 months before the season starts but from what i saw on Monday Longmuir is a mile behind the eight ball, he had a very noticable limp and he was only doing a very slow jog. I would be surprised to see him play any of the preseason games and at this point in time doubt he will be available for the opening rounds. Warnock may get his chance but to me he still looks a year off, lets just hope Longmuir makes a speedy recovery.

We don't know for sure that he didn't just have a knock on the knee, or somewhere else. He might have a badly corked thigh for all we know. Need more information.

 

[Sailor]

In the first instance, who is going to be silly enough to get in Sandi's way to hurt him? This a seriously big body. So apart from Sandi breaking his own jaw again he is more likely to put other ruckmen on chairs in the emergency ward at RPH.
Would you stand under the ball when you can feel the ground shudder with each step.
These must be the martyrs that shiek el sad wally wonker was refering to recently.
That said, Warnock from last year isn't the same body as this year. 15 kg extra weight we are told.
At the end of the day opportunities present themselves when they will. Some grab it with both hands, hopefull Warnock is one of those people because I believe he has huge potential. I see similarities to Dean Cox.

 

[theGav56]

I thought the pic in todays west was a great shot of Warnock. How perfect is it for him having Sandilands to learn from. Also if he is now weighing something like 95kgs, he may be under-weight for his height, but at least he is starting to put on the muscle, and isn't one of those kids who seems doomed to remain weedy (Thornton).

 

[dont bowl there]

Warnock is apparently playing a guest role on the tv show "heroes".

 

[Cheetah]

Tallmuir will be there when the time counts, he always is.

I can still remember that mark and goal against the Saints in the dying minute, what a night! Longmuir was brilliant, stood up when it counted.

His ability to play with injury is uncanny and one wonders how much better he could be if they can get his knee pain-free?

Regardless Warnock will definetely get a taste of it in 2007.

 

[dominguez]

As has already been mentioned Warnock is around 95kg now and would be physically ready to play 4 x 5 minute bursts to let Sandi have a break. With JLo struggling we will probably see Warnock in 2-3 preseason games, so we will get a better indication of where he is at by round one.

JLo has struggled when stationed inside 50, and seems to kick just as many goals from the ruck drifting forward. With the arrival of Tarrant and the improvement of Sandi, I think Longmuir's role going forward is as a bench player who spends 30-40 min on the ground each game. A forward line consisting of Tarrant, Pavlich, Murphy and JLo would be too top heavy, especially with Solomon being groomed as a forward too. The only way I see JLo spending extended periods as a forward is if he gets his knees right and Pavlich moves into the middle.

Ideally in 2007 we will have Sandi and JLo both fit and playing well, with Sandilands rucking 3/4 of the time most weeks but Justins input increasing from time to time to allow Sandi a break on the bench or the forward line.

 

[pinkus maximus]

pretty exciting to hear warnock has put on 15kg

i remember watching a wp match last year when he led out from ff, gathered a half volley off his shins,turned around and snapped a goal

the other teams wont know whats hit them

 

[shibz_1989]

pretty exciting to hear warnock has put on 15kg

i remember watching a wp match last year when he led out from ff, gathered a half volley off his shins,turned around and snapped a goal

the other teams wont know whats hit them

If that's the case, lets give him a run against WC in the NAB cup

It'll give everyone a taste of what's to come...