Position 2025: RUCK DISCUSSION

[quezydilla]

I owned Xerri all of last year and owe my high finish to him so I am hesitant to fade him but I don't really see another option at R2. Gawn is 33 and won't back up a career year (happy to be wrong and get him later in the season), who knows what's going on with Ro (split/injury/everything), Nank+Tim too risky, TDK apparently sharing with Pitto and Darcy going down today. Is it just a matter of going Xerri/Flynn then let Flynn make cash and figure out R2 later in the year? I want to set and forget but I don't know what to do.

 

[Darkie]

Well, the Darcy news has put a little spanner in the works, was trying to fade Xerri because of his tough matchups and go against the crowd a little.

Looked at SDK because of his early start but Pittonet saying what he did stymied that option. Darcy's first 5 weeks are also juicy, so he was brought in. I'm not sure why the screw has been used, whether it's to help with syndesmosis or strengthen the ankle because of ligament damage, guess the timeline has been put back because the joint needs more time to strengthen once the screw is removed. It's not a soft tissue injury at least, but if he's not playing round 1 he's a 'no go'.

The $100k that was released by having him in the team now has to be found to replace him with Xerri, probably happier with that as I think it helps avoiding the ruck trade merry-go-round.

Well, the Darcy news has put a little spanner in the works, was trying to fade Xerri because of his tough matchups and go against the crowd a little.

Looked at SDK because of his early start but Pittonet saying what he did stymied that option. Darcy's first 5 weeks are also juicy, so he was brought in. I'm not sure why the screw has been used, whether it's to help with syndesmosis or strengthen the ankle because of ligament damage, guess the timeline has been put back because the joint needs more time to strengthen once the screw is removed. It's not a soft tissue injury at least, but if he's not playing round 1 he's a 'no go'.

The $100k that was released by having him in the team now has to be found to replace him with Xerri, probably happier with that as I think it helps avoiding the ruck trade merry-go-round.

Apologies, I missed Pittonet’s comments. What did he say?

 

[OnTopBar]

Apologies, I missed Pittonet’s comments. What did he say?

Said he's looking forward to sharing the ruck and resting forward, needs to not play to make De Koning a worthwhile pick.

 

[Darkie]

Said he's looking forward to sharing the ruck and resting forward, needs to not play to make De Koning a worthwhile pick.

Very helpful, thank you.

Seems an interesting strategic shift from the Blues, but much better to know about it now.

 

[Shannon]

Said he's looking forward to sharing the ruck and resting forward, needs to not play to make De Koning a worthwhile pick.

I just can't see the blues playing 2 rucks with McKay & Curnow in the team - makes them too top heavy, they looked so much better when TDK was the main ruck & McKay offering relief. McKay has done more training in the ruck this preseason than he has ever done previously which gives an indication towards what the blues are thinking with their setup. Pittonet maybe picked to freshen TDK up during the season/ leading into finals but I would think to start the year TDK will be the main ruck & Pittonet the backup. The main worry with TDK is can his body handle the workload of being the main ruck with it being so demanding on the body.

 

[Connoisseur]

I just can't see the blues playing 2 rucks with McKay & Curnow in the team - makes them too top heavy, they looked so much better when TDK was the main ruck & McKay offering relief. McKay has done more training in the ruck this preseason than he has ever done previously which gives an indication towards what the blues are thinking with their setup. Pittonet maybe picked to freshen TDK during the season/ leading into finals but I would think to start the year TDK will be the main ruck & Pittonet the backup. The main worry with TDK is can his body handle the workload of being the main ruck with it being so demanding on the body.

Feel it is best not to place too much weight on the Pittonet comments and for coaches not to dismiss De Koning too quickly.

If Pittonet was to come out and say that he cannot wait to play with all the boys in the VFL this season, what would be gained by doing so?

 

[Mumtazz]

My ruck division now gone, hello old friend

 

[donnybuang]

My ruck division now gone, hello old friend
View attachment 83611

Toby?

 

[Under The Dome]

I think I'll go with the two that have the more unique injuries in the preseason. Just happy it's not head or soft tissue.

 

[Mumtazz]

Toby?

Yes the Nanki Nonk

 

[FlatTrackBully]

I owned Xerri all of last year and owe my high finish to him so I am hesitant to fade him but I don't really see another option at R2. Gawn is 33 and won't back up a career year (happy to be wrong and get him later in the season), who knows what's going on with Ro (split/injury/everything), Nank+Tim too risky, TDK apparently sharing with Pitto and Darcy going down today. Is it just a matter of going Xerri/Flynn then let Flynn make cash and figure out R2 later in the year? I want to set and forget but I don't know what to do.

Is there any reason why Gawn couldn’t at least go as well as he did last year?

Feel like with a fit Oliver and Trac he’s got as good a chance. His most recent injuries I felt were pretty unlucky, were just awkward landings which can happen to any ruck really.

Feel like I hear the same narrative every year with his age, there’s no rule that says you instantly regress once you reach a certain age. I’ll believe it when I see it with Gawn. People said this last year and missed out on one of the best picks of the year. I definitely don’t think he’s value, you’ll pay for what you get with him but feel like if I’m going to pay up for someone that I can reliably captain each week it’d be him.

Anyway to answer your question I definitely think this is the year to target value and avoid paying up for the more expensive guys, they’ll come down eventually. Too early to figure out what to do right now until the practice games so wouldn’t really worry about it too much. Someone will pop up.

 

[toxic]

What makes him more appealing in Flex than Def?

6 to 1
1/2 dozen the other

 

[7/11]

I just can't see the blues playing 2 rucks with McKay & Curnow in the team - makes them too top heavy, they looked so much better when TDK was the main ruck & McKay offering relief. McKay has done more training in the ruck this preseason than he has ever done previously which gives an indication towards what the blues are thinking with their setup. Pittonet maybe picked to freshen TDK up during the season/ leading into finals but I would think to start the year TDK will be the main ruck & Pittonet the backup. The main worry with TDK is can his body handle the workload of being the main ruck with it being so demanding on the body.

My main worry with TDK is the fact they have guys who can chop in and help reduce his workload. McKay and Curnow can jump in and play as a combined secondary ruck to Pittonet while TDK plays elevated minutes forward in games he is ‘resting’.

I distinctly remember him being a nightmare for defences in some games even though he wasn’t hitting the scoreboard quite as much as their main two forwards. This versatility unfortunately works against him from a SC point of view, as we’ll get the sub 100 games in there along with the boom 120+ games.

 

[Connoisseur]

Is there any reason why Gawn couldn’t at least go as well as he did last year?

Feel like with a fit Oliver and Trac he’s got as good a chance. His most recent injuries I felt were pretty unlucky, were just awkward landings which can happen to any ruck really.

Feel like I hear the same narrative every year with his age, there’s no rule that says you instantly regress once you reach a certain age. I’ll believe it when I see it with Gawn. People said this last year and missed out on one of the best picks of the year. I definitely don’t think he’s value, you’ll pay for what you get with him but feel like if I’m going to pay up for someone that I can reliably captain each week it’d be him.

Anyway to answer your question I definitely think this is the year to target value and avoid paying up for the more expensive guys, they’ll come down eventually. Too early to figure out what to do right now until the practice games so wouldn’t really worry about it too much. Someone will pop up.

Could improve his HTA% but eventually they are going to have consider life after Gawn and will an increase in HTA be enough to compensate for a potential decrease in ruck contests attended, time on ground, a drop from career high averages in disposals and contested possessions? Run him into the ground during the regular season and scapegoat the lack of depth, lack experience of his replacement for a quick finals exit when it is a self inflicted decision.

Age factor has merit but usually a simplistic and lazy analysis applied to players when they reach thirties. Defenders are ridiculed for playing the bruise free “seagull” brand of footy yet people still cite the age factor when it is less of a concern for a defender relative to that of a midfielder who has more exposure to contact injuries, etc. Rucks take longer to develop thus peak later in the career (mid to late twenties) in comparison to midfielders (around early to mid twenties), so can still have value into the early thirties.

Depends on risk appetite of individual coach as well. Personally for a player of his ceiling then sub $600,000 big whoop whereas over $650,000 then set realistic expectations that you are overpaying for their services due to a lack of confidence in the other options or as you mentioned for captaincy.

Some coaches place too much emphasis on last season and believe it magically translates to the next season and their past avg is their starting base and thus the $600,000+ premiums need to be selected for their perceived safety. Those that missed out last year possibly due to the large risk they felt Gawn held will now dismiss those same issues a year in advance because of … oh look at those scores and I do not want to miss the boat again.

 

[FlatTrackBully]

View attachment 83614
View attachment 83615
View attachment 83616
View attachment 83617

Could improve his HTA numbers but eventually they are going to have consider life after Gawn and will an increase in HTA be enough to compensate for a potential decrease in ruck contests attended, time on ground, a drop from career high averages in disposals and contested possessions? Run him into the ground during the regular season and scapegoat the lack of depth, lack experience of his replacement for a quick finals exit when it is a self inflicted decision.

Age factor has merit but usually a simplistic and lazy analysis. Defenders are ridiculed for playing the bruise free “seagull” brand of footy yet people still cite the age factor when it is less of a concern for a defender relative to that of a midfielder who has more exposure to contact injuries, etc. Rucks take longer to develop thus peak later in the career (mid to late twenties) in comparison to midfielders (around early to mid twenties), so can still have value into the early thirties.

Depends on risk appetite of individual coach as well. Personally for a player of his ceiling then sub $600,000 big whoop whereas over $650,000 then set realistic expectations that you are overpaying for their services due to a lack of confidence in the other options or as you mentioned for captaincy.

Some coaches place too much emphasis on last season and believe it magically translate to the next season and their past avg is their starting base and thus the $600,000+ premiums need to be selected for their perceived safety. Those that missed out last year possibly due to the large risk they felt Gawn held will now dismiss those same issues a year in advance because of … oh look at those shiny scores.

"Could improve his HTA numbers"

That's where Oliver and Petracca can help him out if they can get back to their best.

 

[Under The Dome]

146.8 average for his first six SC games in 2024 and still averaged 134.9 up until his mid season bye.

 

[Connoisseur]

146.8 average for his first six SC games in 2024 and still averaged 134.9 up until his mid season bye.

102.83 in six matches between RD12 and RD20 with 114.3 post bye.

 

[Under The Dome]

102.83 in six matches between RD12 and RD20 with 114.3 post bye.

Yeh I only need the first half

He has the fixtures to go on with it though if they manage him well. A few double ups on some easier opponents in the run home. Given his age the first half is probably the peak of his powers though.

 

[Herbie66]

Reidy $ 132,600.00

53 & 29 last season

Probably would need Darcy to miss the first 6-8 weeks to run him @ R2.

Maybe play as Flex and correct if scores are not worthwhile

 

[Shannon]

Latest report from the WCE interclub game indicates B Williams ahead of Flynn:-

The absence of All-Australian forward Waterman gave second-year tall Archer Reid the chance to partner co-captain Oscar Allen in attack.

Reid and Jack Williams were the back-up for Bailey Williams, who seems to be ahead of former Giant Matt Flynn to lead the ruck early in the season.

Jack Williams was a force in attack, taking several strong contested marks and making the most of his opportunities to put him in the frame for a game early in the season.