Position Ruck Discussion

[Philzsay]

I don't suppose anyone is going to break all of the Cadinal Rules and run with a Grundy, Gawn, Naismith ruck trio?

 

[Bomber18]

I don't suppose anyone is going to break all of the Cadinal Rules and with a Grundy, Gawn, Naismith ruck trio?

Jackson instead of Naismith would make more sense if Jackson is also named in Round 1 alongside Gawn.

 

[Grundogging]

This Ruck decision, along with other positions in your team, makes for an interesting start to the season in my opinion...and that's definitely a good thing to my eyes.

Just imagine if English goes off this afternoon and monsters Lycett in the ruck over in Whyalla - that will really throw the bulldog amongst the pigeons...

Seriously it looks like he has taken a big step forward physically over the off-season so will be interesting to see how that translates into his performances on field. HE could legitimately be a chance to have a Marshall-esque SC breakout in him this year if all goes well...

 

[toxic]

Has anybody constructed a side with Gawndy, 5 premium mids with no compromise (like Oliver over Macrae) and Whitfield/Dusty that they think will work?

Kinda,
No Whitfield though
But I've got Dyl Roberton at D4
And I'm not sold on my F2 (3&4 be J.S and Devon)

 

[Herbie66]

Just imagine if English goes off this afternoon and monsters Lycett in the ruck over in Whyalla - that will really throw the bulldog amongst the pigeons...

Seriously it looks like he has taken a big step forward physically over the off-season so will be interesting to see how that translates into his performances on field. HE could legitimately be a chance to have a Marshall-esque SC breakout in him this year if all goes well...

Open up the 2021 Ruck discussion thread and I will gladly lock him in

 

[Herbie66]

So is Naismith JS even guaranteed ?

Blakely (HFF) , Franklin , McCartin , Naismith , Reid , Sinclair

He could very well be the one dropped for Buddy.

 

[Herbie66]

Speaking of Lycett , KH was on the news the other night saying Lycett is the kind of ruck that needs 80% ruck time and ruck alone.

Dixon & Westhoff to provide backup.

What KH tells the media and actually does though can vary.

 

[Bermi]

Yes, definitely agree. I think you've done well historically taking a more set and forget approach to the rucks. I think others have also done well with an alt R2 ruck approach as well (i.e. Witts, Lycett at WCE or even Lycett at Port (@All is Wells ?)). We never really saw how Witts R2 v Gawn R2 played out in 2017 as Gawn had an LTI in Round 3 that year. I didn't take Witts that year and it's been one of my worser seasons of late (caught up later in the year when everyone upgraded Witts).

If it's the "lack of options" that's driving the Gawn selection, is a half a preseason game of 60 odd enough to conclude that he's fine and will score 120-125 early on in the year? Using my Macrae example, if Macrae was in the exact same situation, would we all be starting him and expecting a 120 avg early season?

If the answer is, "look I expect Gawn to average 110-115 given his interrupted preseason but given the lack of good ruck options, I will still take him as he'll be the second best ruck once fit" then I can completely understand that line of thinking and have no other comments.

But the impression I got from the earlier comments was that, "Gawn scored 68 in one half of a preseason game, therefore, he'll score 125 early and burn the daylight out of those silly coaches taking Naismith R2". If it was Macrae in the same situation, I'm not so sure people would be expecting 120 early season from Macrae after a heavily interrupted preseason.

General rule of thumb is that players with interrupted preseasons start slow (and sometimes their performance for the whole season is compromised). Again, only trying to present the devil's advocate position. I'm still open to the Gawn selection but am expecting a 110-115 avg early.

You make good points!
The difference between Macrae and Gawn is that there are plenty of safer Mids to replace Macrae, but not the case for ruckmen to replace Gawn.

 

[Bomber18]

You make good points!
The difference between Macrae and Gawn is that there are plenty of safer Mids to replace Macrae, but not the case for ruckmen to replace Gawn.

Yes, completely agree and I can see why you would take Gawn for that reason in any case. But in that scenario where Macrae had an interrupted preseason and played half a Marsh game, wouldn't you expect Macrae to maybe go at 10% less output early on until he regains his fitness base? i.e. ~110?

 

[Dimmawit]

I'm in the camp that Gawn showed enough last night for my "saved" team to include him.
I think a 5 premo mid with Smith F4 is very possible but the bench is obvs dependent on 123k types.

It's not the way I wanted it to go but I'm not sure I'll be able to decide until team sheets. We always say structure on rookies and well here it is clear as day.

Let's hope Goldy and Naismith ruck a full game...suspect Goldy might get some rest tho?

 

[mpollock]

Ceglar averaged about 95 the last three games with the McEvoy experiment down back. All preseason McEvoy has trained back basically. And lined up there in Marsh Rd1 before getting injured very early.

Ceglar managed 80 from 66 minutes against the saints. And was rested for their second game against the saints. At 417k and duel position this is very tempting.

If it fails not much of a leap to NicNat / Martin who may work ... can also go down to Jacobs / Richmond ruck. Even Naismith. If any of these work and Ceglar doesn’t thats a fairly easy fix (not that you would want to waste the trade).

Problem with Naismith is Sinclair is fit and played. At least with Ceglar better signs he will be the number 1 ruck now.

And backs it up with a ton ..

 

[Bomber18]

I'm going to move some of the more "strategy" discussion from here into the thread @Babylove just opened. Bear with me.

 

[Slacker]

But the impression I got from the earlier comments was that, "Gawn scored 68 in one half of a preseason game, therefore, he'll score 125 early and burn the daylight out of those silly coaches taking Naismith R2".

Gawn also would have known that he was only going to play the first half, and I think he said during the interview that he wanted to go especially hard in the half to test himself out so the first half number "may" be a little inflated. Nonetheless, he moved well, seemed happy and we all know Gawn is normally capable of two halves each of 68 even with one arm tied behind his back.
R1/Jacobs, R2/Naismith and R3/ZSmith or Jackson might not cut the mustard but I'm only playing with myself.

 

[Kidult]

Any Gold Coast supporters on here?

Trying to work out if GC will run with both Witts and Smith and if Witts will even be right to go for round 1?

i think if hes right to go rd1 he will still have ruck support just whether thats 2 of Day,Wright or Smith

 

[Bomber18]

Gawn also would have known that he was only going to play the first half, and I think he said during the interview that he wanted to go especially hard in the half to test himself out so the first half number "may" be a little inflated. Nonetheless, he moved well, seemed happy and we all know Gawn is normally capable of two halves each of 68 even with one arm tied behind his back.
R1/Jacobs, R2/Naismith and R3/ZSmith or Jackson might not cut the mustard but I'm only playing with myself.

Good point as well mate. Adds to the drama!

Gawn with a full preseason is most definitely capable of two halves of 68. Interestingly, when returning from his LTI injury in 2017, Gawn averaged only 93 from R14-23. This was after he had initially broken out to 118 but before his two seasons of 125+. Started 2017 with a bang with 128 and 111 as well before a hammy injury in R3 that kept him out until R14.

 

[BomberArmy]

English playing himself into my side... ?

 

[Slacker]

English playing himself into my side... ?

An R1 & R2 of English and Lobb could actually be a mid price ruck combo with some good upward growth potential and is worth pondering but I feel the Rucks are probably all or nothing.

 

[GrainFedBeef]

We tend to be looking alot at Gawn and why not to take Gawn but not sure I've read too much around why we should take Naismith and the risks here. That's more the conversation I'm interested in.

Completely agree. Despite injury history, his numbers are not supportive. Maybe gets some boost with new HTA rule as he is a good tap ruck, just think Sinclair may get 40pct ruck time.

I thought Blicavs would smash it due to aerobic ability (he went ok in the end, R3), Witts R2 (not super popular), Sandi when back from injury R2, started Gawn in fwd line when first selected, Lycett R2 2018, ROB was a no brainer despite not all chasing him R3, took too long on Marshall due to his 80’s is my blemish. Chastised myself to give rucks respect as always been a focus for me.

It is why Ceglar is interesting yet nothing in history helps on Naismith. If wanting to not go Gawn, I would start Ceglar R2 and call it a day. Naismith has height and good tap ruckman, just doesnt get mid time and his possession level is low which hurts him. If Callum was injured then you could suggest atleast one of these factors improve.

Will say Lycett took a while to get going and it hurt. $250k is a painful level.

I look at Noah Anderson and think he may ave 60 and that is a 50-50 choice at best. Sinclair is still a notch below still.

Could work out if Gawn doesnt fire or Naismith can go 85, is that at least 50pct likely.

 

[freowho]

Ceglar's game count.

 

[Connoisseur]

Ceglar's game count.

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2020= 6