Position 2025: RUCK DISCUSSION
- Thread starter KLo30
- Start date
Very keen on set n forget here and try to eliminate, as much as possible, the trade merry-go-round that I've been on for the last couple of years.
Flex now gives the option of starting, or jumping on, rookie or MP rucks that look to be getting good minutes, whereas previously we only had R3, so if 2 good cash generating options presented then a decision had to be made whether or not to downgrade R2.
Looks like the forwards could also be a 'set n forget' line as well, which allows me to just concentrate on upgrading a couple of spots in defence and possibly 4 spots in the Mids. That narrowing of focus is beneficial for me as I can get confused with the plethora of options when considering all lines
Gawn & Xerri
Boyd, Fort or Flynn for the other 2 spots
Flex now gives the option of starting, or jumping on, rookie or MP rucks that look to be getting good minutes, whereas previously we only had R3, so if 2 good cash generating options presented then a decision had to be made whether or not to downgrade R2.
Looks like the forwards could also be a 'set n forget' line as well, which allows me to just concentrate on upgrading a couple of spots in defence and possibly 4 spots in the Mids. That narrowing of focus is beneficial for me as I can get confused with the plethora of options when considering all lines
Gawn & Xerri
Boyd, Fort or Flynn for the other 2 spots
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Very keen on set n forget here and try to eliminate, as much as possible, the trade merry-go-round that I've been on for the last couple of years.
Flex now gives the option of starting, or jumping on, rookie or MP rucks that look to be getting good minutes, whereas previously we only had R3, so if 2 good cash generating options presented then a decision had to be made whether or not to downgrade R2.
Looks like the forwards could also be a 'set n forget' line as well, which allows me to just concentrate on upgrading a couple of spots in defence and possibly 4 spots in the Mids. That narrowing of focus is beneficial for me as I can get confused with the plethora of options when considering all lines
Gawn & Xerri
Boyd, Fort or Flynn for the other 2 spots
Flex now gives the option of starting, or jumping on, rookie or MP rucks that look to be getting good minutes, whereas previously we only had R3, so if 2 good cash generating options presented then a decision had to be made whether or not to downgrade R2.
Looks like the forwards could also be a 'set n forget' line as well, which allows me to just concentrate on upgrading a couple of spots in defence and possibly 4 spots in the Mids. That narrowing of focus is beneficial for me as I can get confused with the plethora of options when considering all lines
Gawn & Xerri
Boyd, Fort or Flynn for the other 2 spots
There may even be another two WCE rookies in Barnett and Reid playing as KPD and KPF for R3. Barnett may get dp D/R and Reid is already R/F
Very keen on set n forget here and try to eliminate, as much as possible, the trade merry-go-round that I've been on for the last couple of years.
Flex now gives the option of starting, or jumping on, rookie or MP rucks that look to be getting good minutes, whereas previously we only had R3, so if 2 good cash generating options presented then a decision had to be made whether or not to downgrade R2.
Looks like the forwards could also be a 'set n forget' line as well, which allows me to just concentrate on upgrading a couple of spots in defence and possibly 4 spots in the Mids. That narrowing of focus is beneficial for me as I can get confused with the plethora of options when considering all lines
Gawn & Xerri
Boyd, Fort or Flynn for the other 2 spots
Flex now gives the option of starting, or jumping on, rookie or MP rucks that look to be getting good minutes, whereas previously we only had R3, so if 2 good cash generating options presented then a decision had to be made whether or not to downgrade R2.
Looks like the forwards could also be a 'set n forget' line as well, which allows me to just concentrate on upgrading a couple of spots in defence and possibly 4 spots in the Mids. That narrowing of focus is beneficial for me as I can get confused with the plethora of options when considering all lines
Gawn & Xerri
Boyd, Fort or Flynn for the other 2 spots
Quick(ish) summary of my thoughts on the options:
Gawn - The legend. Great bye. Durability a worry but no real backup is a good thing. Should be a lone ruck if fit. Probably fully priced but he can start big and if he did, becomes very restrictive to get in before damage is on the board.
Xerri - Amazing finish to last year. Durability has been horrific. Not sure if improving midfield helps or hurts, more HOtA are good, less stoppages are bad and more clearances to others also hurts. His bye is terrible though which doesn't help.
Marshall - File him not being the #1 ruck in the absolutely baffling coaching moves folder if it happens. Bye great, durability has been better of late. That a rookie is a threat is a worry.
Nank - Actually can see upside here, rule changes last year really suited him, perhaps more than anyone else, and about all his midfield actually can do well is tackle so should be more repeat stoppages. Bye is great. Durability is not. To risky for mine but I wouldn't actually be surprised if he put up 120 this year.
English - Opposite of Nank, ruck rules really hurt. The concussion that wasn't a concussion that took out his preseason last year was huge and he never did recover. I don't think Darcy was a big factor, he rucked about as much as Lobb, but he just wasn't good last year. Still capable of 120 and good price. Horrible bye.
Witts - Back problems at his age/size not a great thing. That his backup is an elite prospect also doesn't help. With r0 bye, he's just not worth the risk to me, he's not cheap enough to take all that on, is capable of 120ish though.
Grundy - He could also improve, his good last year was close to his best but his consistency was woeful. There's a good case for 120 here also but I'm not at all confident in it and the r0 bye makes it a real "why risk it" type move.
Cameron - The first I'm not sold on the 120 factor, would need to be the lone ruck for mine. r0 bye just further hurt.
Meek - Actually really like him, if he didn't have the r0 bye I'd be strongly considering him as I do think he can push further, great talent who finally got his chance, he must be awful at training because he's so much better than the other Hawks rucks it's genuinely confusing it took so long. Again, wouldn't surprise if he pushed 120 but I don't think it's worth the punt with the bye, barring a massive preseason showing.
TDK - This is a hard one. He's a truly awful ruckman but does some amazing things around the ground. Pittonet is basically the polar opposite. I still think they're better with Pittonet but TDK has more potential if he can work out how to actually do the ruck part of the job. Rule change definitely hurts him as well. Bye is terrible. Has had issues staying on the park also. Upside is obvious though, if he works out how to ruck and stays on the park, 120 is definitely possible. Personally think that Xerri with a 130 possibility is a better use of that bye though if burning one in the ruck.
Darcy - Not for me. When you being "in shape" is showing up 15kg overweight that's a major concern. The guy puts in less yards in the o***eason than your average office worker. That the puff piece articles were out with photos this year that required some serious squinting to kind of sort of almost make out some definition in one of his arms from the perfect angle is a telling sign. Until he takes football serious I have a hard time taking him serious in SC. No doubt he can score and he's great on the actual field but he just doesn't care about being in football shape and the proof is in the pudding that his body breaks down every single year because of that. You just can't play AFL that out of shape and hope to stay on the park. Great bye though!
OMc - No interest. r0 bye, no scoring history, no obvious path to 120 and injured anyway.
Briggs - There's a case here but he's made of porcelain and with the r0 bye that's a very hard combination to take on in this field. No real reason he couldn't do something similar to Xerri last year if his body did hold up though but at this point we're like 7 years in and he's never even got close to that happening.
Jackson - Forward.
ROB - There's a bit of upside here but nowhere near enough. He just doesn't do enough things to score well. Would take catastrophe with the rest for him to be top 2, imo. Great bye though...
Pittonet - Nope, great ruckman but he does nothing else.
Sweet - I like him but he'd need to be 20 points cheaper for me. Bye is awful as well.
Moyle - Only if Witts was out for the season but he's a future option to watch.
Soldo - No interest.
Draper - Very little interest. He's got flashes but no consistency and no grunt to him. r0 bye the final nail.
Conway - One to watch. r0 is devastating but he's cheap enough that if he was fit, you could definitely make a case for him. Not a keeper though I wouldn't think, he's more in that 105-110 level ruck if things go right to me, could be wrong though.
Bryan - Think he needs injuries but I rate him, would be interesting if he did win the #1 spot that should definitely be available.
Ladhams - Only worth looking at if something happened to Grundy.
Flynn - Has to stay on the park, has to win the #1 job. If he does, hard to not pick at that price with genuine 90+ potential. Great bye as a bonus.
Reeves - I don't rate him at all but if something happened to Meek (or Mitchell's brain) then he's at least worth keeping an eye on at that price.
Fort - No idea where OMc is at with his recovery but if he was to miss the first 6 weeks, Fort definitely could be worth a punt.
Gawn - The legend. Great bye. Durability a worry but no real backup is a good thing. Should be a lone ruck if fit. Probably fully priced but he can start big and if he did, becomes very restrictive to get in before damage is on the board.
Xerri - Amazing finish to last year. Durability has been horrific. Not sure if improving midfield helps or hurts, more HOtA are good, less stoppages are bad and more clearances to others also hurts. His bye is terrible though which doesn't help.
Marshall - File him not being the #1 ruck in the absolutely baffling coaching moves folder if it happens. Bye great, durability has been better of late. That a rookie is a threat is a worry.
Nank - Actually can see upside here, rule changes last year really suited him, perhaps more than anyone else, and about all his midfield actually can do well is tackle so should be more repeat stoppages. Bye is great. Durability is not. To risky for mine but I wouldn't actually be surprised if he put up 120 this year.
English - Opposite of Nank, ruck rules really hurt. The concussion that wasn't a concussion that took out his preseason last year was huge and he never did recover. I don't think Darcy was a big factor, he rucked about as much as Lobb, but he just wasn't good last year. Still capable of 120 and good price. Horrible bye.
Witts - Back problems at his age/size not a great thing. That his backup is an elite prospect also doesn't help. With r0 bye, he's just not worth the risk to me, he's not cheap enough to take all that on, is capable of 120ish though.
Grundy - He could also improve, his good last year was close to his best but his consistency was woeful. There's a good case for 120 here also but I'm not at all confident in it and the r0 bye makes it a real "why risk it" type move.
Cameron - The first I'm not sold on the 120 factor, would need to be the lone ruck for mine. r0 bye just further hurt.
Meek - Actually really like him, if he didn't have the r0 bye I'd be strongly considering him as I do think he can push further, great talent who finally got his chance, he must be awful at training because he's so much better than the other Hawks rucks it's genuinely confusing it took so long. Again, wouldn't surprise if he pushed 120 but I don't think it's worth the punt with the bye, barring a massive preseason showing.
TDK - This is a hard one. He's a truly awful ruckman but does some amazing things around the ground. Pittonet is basically the polar opposite. I still think they're better with Pittonet but TDK has more potential if he can work out how to actually do the ruck part of the job. Rule change definitely hurts him as well. Bye is terrible. Has had issues staying on the park also. Upside is obvious though, if he works out how to ruck and stays on the park, 120 is definitely possible. Personally think that Xerri with a 130 possibility is a better use of that bye though if burning one in the ruck.
Darcy - Not for me. When you being "in shape" is showing up 15kg overweight that's a major concern. The guy puts in less yards in the o***eason than your average office worker. That the puff piece articles were out with photos this year that required some serious squinting to kind of sort of almost make out some definition in one of his arms from the perfect angle is a telling sign. Until he takes football serious I have a hard time taking him serious in SC. No doubt he can score and he's great on the actual field but he just doesn't care about being in football shape and the proof is in the pudding that his body breaks down every single year because of that. You just can't play AFL that out of shape and hope to stay on the park. Great bye though!
OMc - No interest. r0 bye, no scoring history, no obvious path to 120 and injured anyway.
Briggs - There's a case here but he's made of porcelain and with the r0 bye that's a very hard combination to take on in this field. No real reason he couldn't do something similar to Xerri last year if his body did hold up though but at this point we're like 7 years in and he's never even got close to that happening.
Jackson - Forward.
ROB - There's a bit of upside here but nowhere near enough. He just doesn't do enough things to score well. Would take catastrophe with the rest for him to be top 2, imo. Great bye though...
Pittonet - Nope, great ruckman but he does nothing else.
Sweet - I like him but he'd need to be 20 points cheaper for me. Bye is awful as well.
Moyle - Only if Witts was out for the season but he's a future option to watch.
Soldo - No interest.
Draper - Very little interest. He's got flashes but no consistency and no grunt to him. r0 bye the final nail.
Conway - One to watch. r0 is devastating but he's cheap enough that if he was fit, you could definitely make a case for him. Not a keeper though I wouldn't think, he's more in that 105-110 level ruck if things go right to me, could be wrong though.
Bryan - Think he needs injuries but I rate him, would be interesting if he did win the #1 spot that should definitely be available.
Ladhams - Only worth looking at if something happened to Grundy.
Flynn - Has to stay on the park, has to win the #1 job. If he does, hard to not pick at that price with genuine 90+ potential. Great bye as a bonus.
Reeves - I don't rate him at all but if something happened to Meek (or Mitchell's brain) then he's at least worth keeping an eye on at that price.
Fort - No idea where OMc is at with his recovery but if he was to miss the first 6 weeks, Fort definitely could be worth a punt.
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Could it be the year of a rookie priced R2?
Boyd is ticking all the boxes this pre-season for the Saints. Possibly one of the better rookies that we’ll want on field?
Nice little safety net that we get this season with the flex too. Someone like Flynn as flex can then move into the R2 position if Boyd goes pear-shaped.
Big watch for the rest of the pre-season and obviously he needs to get the nod for round 1.
Boyd is ticking all the boxes this pre-season for the Saints. Possibly one of the better rookies that we’ll want on field?
Nice little safety net that we get this season with the flex too. Someone like Flynn as flex can then move into the R2 position if Boyd goes pear-shaped.
Big watch for the rest of the pre-season and obviously he needs to get the nod for round 1.
Not sure which part you're questioning.
The ruck rule change favoured the stronger rucks and harmed the leapers as the bigger guys could engage and lock it on the ground rather than being a leap contest, English is one of the best leapers and one of, if not, the weakest.
The concussion was a knock to the head he copped around this time last year that the club swore up and down wasn't a concussion but took him out of training for a large chunk of the preseason and had him out of contact for almost all of it.
I'm a big believer that preseasons are huge factors for players, if it's great then you're in the best possible position to succeed and if it's bad then you're behind the 8 ball. It's not absolute in either direction but the track record on it is pretty damn strong.
The ruck rule change favoured the stronger rucks and harmed the leapers as the bigger guys could engage and lock it on the ground rather than being a leap contest, English is one of the best leapers and one of, if not, the weakest.
The concussion was a knock to the head he copped around this time last year that the club swore up and down wasn't a concussion but took him out of training for a large chunk of the preseason and had him out of contact for almost all of it.
I'm a big believer that preseasons are huge factors for players, if it's great then you're in the best possible position to succeed and if it's bad then you're behind the 8 ball. It's not absolute in either direction but the track record on it is pretty damn strong.