Position 2025: RUCK DISCUSSION

Ben's Beasts

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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.
Sounds as though Waterman will come in for Reid too. Would have liked Reid as a playing R3.
 
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Does Darcy delay start bring Jackson into relevance?
Probably not, depending on how long Darcy is out for plus the likelihood of Reidy rucking. I did read in a training report that Jackson was spending a bit of time in the mids, not sure if that might eventuate or even lead to an increase in realised scoring.
 
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Probably not, depending on how long Darcy is out for plus the likelihood of Reidy rucking. I did read in a training report that Jackson was spending a bit of time in the mids, not sure if that might eventuate or even lead to an increase in realised scoring.
jackson dominated the game on Friday as a ruck. Faded last year at the start, unfortunately brought him in when he looked he would be a successful fwd as well.
 

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Despite Marshall looking likely for round 1, is anybody else still running with Boyd at R2?

I just can’t find another R2 that I’m comfortable with.

Obviously Boyd would have had better scoring potential with Marshall missing but I still think that in a ruck share role he’s capable of averaging similarly to the cheap rookie alternative that would be on field instead.
 
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Despite Marshall looking likely for round 1, is anybody else still running with Boyd at R2?

I just can’t find another R2 that I’m comfortable with.

Obviously Boyd would have had better scoring potential with Marshall missing but I still think that in a ruck share role he’s capable of averaging similarly to the cheap rookie alternative that would be on field instead.
Nank is appealing. He may not end up being top 2 or 3, but will be enough to hold a position until his perfect bye. On his bye he can be switched to Xerri, Marshall, English, TDK or even Darcy. If you are looking for a stop gap until a clear picture of the ruck emerges, Nank might be a good choice. He’s not without his downsides- he is a little injury and suspension prone - but he’s one to consider.
 
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Despite Marshall looking likely for round 1, is anybody else still running with Boyd at R2?

I just can’t find another R2 that I’m comfortable with.

Obviously Boyd would have had better scoring potential with Marshall missing but I still think that in a ruck share role he’s capable of averaging similarly to the cheap rookie alternative that would be on field instead.
Did you mean R3?
Reckon he's gonna see some gametime, no idea how much, could be a little, could be a lot depending on how Marshall's holding up.
Smart move is to always have a ruck reliever on field, Owens hasn't done such a bad job of pinch hitting there recently.
Might depend on how the forward line's going too, in relation to how much time Boyd gets.
 

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Did you mean R3?
Reckon he's gonna see some gametime, no idea how much, could be a little, could be a lot depending on how Marshall's holding up.
Smart move is to always have a ruck reliever on field, Owens hasn't done such a bad job of pinch hitting there recently.
Might depend on how the forward line's going too, in relation to how much time Boyd gets.
Nah, R2 for Boyd.

Hoping he can still score around 60 which is probably what the alternative D6, M8 or F6 would score.
 
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Despite Marshall looking likely for round 1, is anybody else still running with Boyd at R2?

I just can’t find another R2 that I’m comfortable with.

Obviously Boyd would have had better scoring potential with Marshall missing but I still think that in a ruck share role he’s capable of averaging similarly to the cheap rookie alternative that would be on field instead.
I currently have him at R2. I already had him at R2 prior to the Marshall injury.
 
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Nah, R2 for Boyd.

Hoping he can still score around 60 which is probably what the alternative D6, M8 or F6 would score.
The other side of that coin is that this also presumes the alternative premo you selected in another line scores more or the same as the ruck premo you didn’t take. Makes sense if this allows you to pick a Bont for example but you couldn’t before.
 
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Sorry to dwell on this topic, but one more thing:
if you have him at R2 then you probably have a dead rookie at R3. Therefore you are behind on cash gen compared to someone who has Boyd at R3. If you are willing to give up cash gen, then can I suggest you would need Boyd to score significantly more than the rookie at D6, M8 or F6 you don’t run with. I don’t think matching those scores is enough.
Last thing (I promise!) Boyd at R3 gives you potential ruck coverage, but Boyd at R2 does not.
 

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Sorry to dwell on this topic, but one more thing:
if you have him at R2 then you probably have a dead rookie at R3. Therefore you are behind on cash gen compared to someone who has Boyd at R3. If you are willing to give up cash gen, then can I suggest you would need Boyd to score significantly more than the rookie at D6, M8 or F6 you don’t run with. I don’t think matching those scores is enough.
Last thing (I promise!) Boyd at R3 gives you potential ruck coverage, but Boyd at R2 does not.
I currently have A Reid at R3. He may not be there round 1 but I’m fairly confident he gets games this season.
 
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Further to what @Singapore Flyers stated:
If Boyd ($99.1) at R2 fails - ie he gets injured/not selected/minimal TOG - then you have nowhere to go without changing the structure of your team and forgoing a premium on another line.
This seems like a risk that is unlikely to win the $50k but could immediately rule you out in the opening few rounds if it fails.

So my question is if you start Boyd at R2 and it doesn't work, what is plan B?
 

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Further to what @Singapore Flyers stated:
If Boyd ($99.1) at R2 fails - ie he gets injured/not selected/minimal TOG - then you have nowhere to go without changing the structure of your team and forgoing a premium on another line.
This seems like a risk that is unlikely to win the $50k but could immediately rule you out in the opening few rounds if it fails.

So my question is if you start Boyd at R2 and it doesn't work, what is plan B?
It’s a very valid point.

An R3 that plays from round 1 would certainly help. It’s probably between J Williams and A Reid for the initial spot at WC. Reidy probably plays round 1 but the question is for how long with Darcy presumably not far away.

Outside of that, yes a restructure and trades would be required so it is no doubt a risky move starting Boyd at R2.
 
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I currently have A Reid at R3. He may not be there round 1 but I’m fairly confident he gets games this season.
I did say it was my last post, but I can’t resist one more. Sorry
if you think A Reid will get a game later, start Boyd R3 and downgrade to Reid when you cash him out. That means you get the extra cash gen early (when you need it most in upgrade season) and still get your man in R3 at a more suitable time.
If you start Boyd at R2, when it is time to cash him out in upgrade season, you basically have to upgrade him to a ruckman. If you upgrade him from R3, you can use his cash to upgrade on any line.
 
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