Position 2025: RUCK DISCUSSION

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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 believe the only way you can have Boyd at R2 is if a playing R3 with ruck/fwd is named and Flynn is #1 Ruck in the flex position. I had this structure earlier, but with Marshall coming back and Flynn looking a bit dodgy and no real solid R3 have gone back to Gawn, Xerri and Boyd
 
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I believe the only way you can have Boyd at R2 is if a playing R3 with ruck/fwd is named and Flynn is #1 Ruck in the flex position. I had this structure earlier, but with Marshall coming back and Flynn looking a bit dodgy and no real solid R3 have gone back to Gawn, Xerri and Boyd
I’m running the same ruck line and also keeping a watch on Reidy who might end up in the flex With Boyd but there’s still a little bit to play out there I think.
 
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The rookie R2/flex may be on the cards again if Crossley signs with the Dogs.

If we get both Crossley and Boyd playing round 1 alongside Marshall and English then I can see myself slotting one in at either R2 or flex.

If this was to happen with both Crossley and Boyd as more pure rucks this would likely push Marshall and English both into forward roles which they have done in the past.
 
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The rookie R2/flex may be on the cards again if Crossley signs with the Dogs.

If we get both Crossley and Boyd playing round 1 alongside Marshall and English then I can see myself slotting one in at either R2 or flex.

If this was to happen with both Crossley and Boyd as more pure rucks this would likely push Marshall and English both into forward roles which they have done in the past.
Hugely risky.. what happens if one or both is dropped over the first few rounds? Will be hard to restructure to get a premium ruck in if you have a rookie R2.
 
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I'm thinking rather than the usual scenario of me using 10 trades on rucks during the season I might just go Gawn and Xerri and hope for the best.
Yes, sometimes the obvious is the best approach. I am not expecting a 120 average from both but i believe both are top 2 end of year. Great VC/C options also.

The only other options,

Marshall - injury hiccup in pre season which is never good, but good bye and high ceiling. My concern is with the lack of experienced KPF at St Kilda.

TDK - Pittonet in the review mirror, and always a chance to be named. Do you roll the dice.?

Darcy - a injury waiting to happen.
 
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The rookie R2/flex may be on the cards again if Crossley signs with the Dogs.

If we get both Crossley and Boyd playing round 1 alongside Marshall and English then I can see myself slotting one in at either R2 or flex.

If this was to happen with both Crossley and Boyd as more pure rucks this would likely push Marshall and English both into forward roles which they have done in the past.
. R3 or flex, you will sleep better.
 
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Do we think Gawn is 100% following his Larynx injury early in the pre season. I'm nervous about spending big $$ when the only other guy I've ever heard of to have that injury basically never played decent football again. (Obviously 40 years ago)
 
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Do we think Gawn is 100% following his Larynx injury early in the pre season. I'm nervous about spending big $$ when the only other guy I've ever heard of to have that injury basically never played decent football again. (Obviously 40 years ago)
He won't be rucking with his larynx, so he'll be right 👍
 
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Rucks are the line I'm least comfortable with. Although solo rucks are gold for supercoach I think they are a headache for AFL coaches who are always looking for a good support act.
Xerri had a great run home last year against inferior opposition.
The knock on Gawn is his age.
St Kilda look to have found their support act in Boyd.
Can't believe TDK doesn't share with Pittonet, at least at some point, which takes the shine off him as a pick.
I'm having some really weird thoughts which I don't like!!!
Jackson, Flynn, Bryan, Ryan. Apparently Briggs is having his best preseason! :sick:
 
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Yes, sometimes the obvious is the best approach. I am not expecting a 120 average from both but i believe both are top 2 end of year. Great VC/C options also.

The only other options,

Marshall - injury hiccup in pre season which is never good, but good bye and high ceiling. My concern is with the lack of experienced KPF at St Kilda.

TDK - Pittonet in the review mirror, and always a chance to be named. Do you roll the dice.?

Darcy - a injury waiting to happen.
Yeah I hear ya, Marshall is a bit unknown until we know what the go with Boyd is, will he be there from round one or is he only a back up for Marshall if he goes down with injury, if Boyd is left out for round one I'll consider swapping Gawn for him.
I even considered Meek for a while but even though he scored 12 tons last year not many of them were big ones, also, to not end up having other ruck envy, he'd need to raise his average by 10 or so to make him feel like a keeper.
Had Marshall and De Koning but there's so much uncertainty about them at the moment, Ruck shares are no good so, have to wait and see I guess.
Kinda feels good to set and forget with Gawn and Xerri, and then build the team around that. I'm still pretty happy with my squad, after forking out maximum bucks for those two.
 
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He won't be rucking with his larynx, so he'll be right 👍
While that's true I do worry a little about potential psychological impacts. Obviously his injury wasn't Gareth John type immediately life threatening, but when I'm paying the huge price I'm just wanting to understand any potential risks well, and I haven't seen any discussion about this. He seems to be going well in Melbourne's match Sim, so I assume he's fine.
 
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No discussion about Darcy Cameron. I know he has the early bye and that might not help with some teams. He has however along with Nank been the only rucks to consistently improve over the past four seasons. His 105 ave last season included an 18 when he had a horrible forward role against the Lions. I know you cannot selectively remove bad scores but if he had played full ruck that game his ave would be closer to 110.

Among his post bye scores were 131, 132, 121, 165 and 144. There was a 73 in there as well but his post bye ave was 117.
 
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No discussion about Darcy Cameron. I know he has the early bye and that might not help with some teams. He has however along with Nank been the only rucks to consistently improve over the past four seasons. His 105 ave last season included an 18 when he had a horrible forward role against the Lions. I know you cannot selectively remove bad scores but if he had played full ruck that game his ave would be closer to 110.

Among his post bye scores were 131, 132, 121, 165 and 144. There was a 73 in there as well but his post bye ave was 117.
I am starting Meek. The idea being with his Rd4 bye that I could switch to Cameron, Briggs or Grundy if they are performing. Or even ride his bye if he is performing. Cameron will be high on that list at Rd4.
 
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I am a kind of so so on trading around early byes. We are starting a lot of mid pricers this year and that means correcting some that don't work out and upgrading others. We all think we have lots of trades till we don't. Also from my point of view everyone is in the same boat with early byes and the Rd 12 Bye of Doom. Nearly all of us will have good players missing early byes so as long as you don't have so many that it kills your scoring that round you can work through it.
 
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No discussion about Darcy Cameron. I know he has the early bye and that might not help with some teams. He has however along with Nank been the only rucks to consistently improve over the past four seasons. His 105 ave last season included an 18 when he had a horrible forward role against the Lions. I know you cannot selectively remove bad scores but if he had played full ruck that game his ave would be closer to 110.

Among his post bye scores were 131, 132, 121, 165 and 144. There was a 73 in there as well but his post bye ave was 117.
Cameron was ill that week in the lead up and was down to a late call.

One thing that could be in favour is some talk of leaving out Cox with McStay, Mihocek and Membrey the combo.
 
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https://www.afl.com.au/news/1269833...ning-big-call-as-he-weighs-up-lucrative-offer

'No timeline' on Blue's big call as he weighs up lucrative offer
Tom De Koning has a huge seven-year deal in front of him from Carlton, while St Kilda is also circling
By Sarah Black

2 hrs ago

De Koning was speaking at the launch of the new NAB Auskick season, which is entering its 30th year.

He said most of his 10 siblings had come through the Auskick program – with plenty of hand-me-down footy boots along the way – and earmarked a round seven clash against Geelong and younger brother Sam, who looks likely to spend time in the ruck this year.

"I don’t want to pigeon-hole myself too much, I think I can add a bit of value to the forward line as well. Depending on things like form, injuries, opposition, those sorts of things, I think I'll be put in different places," De Koning said.

"I'm happy to play anywhere, been training both forward and ruck. I'm confident in both positions, so whatever the coaches need, I'll do."
 
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https://www.afl.com.au/news/1269833...ning-big-call-as-he-weighs-up-lucrative-offer



"I don’t want to pigeon-hole myself too much, I think I can add a bit of value to the forward line as well. Depending on things like form, injuries, opposition, those sorts of things, I think I'll be put in different places," De Koning said.

"I'm happy to play anywhere, been training both forward and ruck. I'm confident in both positions, so whatever the coaches need, I'll do."
Gawn and Xerri set & forget looking nice.
Will probably lose some weekly matchups when he is a solo ruck but don’t think I want the week to week headache.
 
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