Rucks Discussion
- Thread starter Impromptu
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Neither. Wood was very ordinary for Collingwood for a few years. Rowe, aside for one good game for the Blues, also ordinary. Much to like about Collingwood's Brodie Grundy I feel, looked the goods late last year. No Jolly, will play as the Pies first ruck, natural athletic player with a bit of presence about him.
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Depends who goes down IMO. If Kreuzer goes down then I expect Rowe to come in as Warnock is a pure ruck who can't do much else, whereas should Warnock go down, Wood (who also has no strings to his bow other than ruckwork) would likely come in as Kreuzer offers options around the ground and will likely play ruck/fwd.
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Agreed. I think the concern about second year blues is valid however not sure it applies to ruck man who generally mature at a later age and in a rucking duel is made accountable from their first game. Quality young midfielders who are ignored in their initial year usually are made more accountable in the 2nd year by opposition players (think Toby G).
The other aspect that is appealing about Grundy is that he didn't average 90-100. The downside is he may just average 75-85 and you may be feeling the need to upgrade him later in the season, wasting a trade. Do I expect him to be a minson/goldstein - no. If I include him it will be because the overall structure of the game has changed (with expensive rookies) and the ability to complete the team with high quality players will not be achievable in every position.
It does feel with the changes that macro strategy (structure of midpricers/Value and rookies etc) may influence micro strategy (bottom up who may improve) more than normal this year. Grundy, Dale Thomas all on the radar despite lack of DPP's.
The other aspect that is appealing about Grundy is that he didn't average 90-100. The downside is he may just average 75-85 and you may be feeling the need to upgrade him later in the season, wasting a trade. Do I expect him to be a minson/goldstein - no. If I include him it will be because the overall structure of the game has changed (with expensive rookies) and the ability to complete the team with high quality players will not be achievable in every position.
It does feel with the changes that macro strategy (structure of midpricers/Value and rookies etc) may influence micro strategy (bottom up who may improve) more than normal this year. Grundy, Dale Thomas all on the radar despite lack of DPP's.
Very much risk / reward that pair. I wonder how many will choose NicNat and Cox especially now that they have lost their DPP.
I think rucks will make or break teams this year. So many value picks and with Minson/Goldy appearing to be fully priced, team structure will be massive especially if rookies are priced as cheap mid pricers.
For me, I still have no idea should be starting with which is a first.
I think rucks will make or break teams this year. So many value picks and with Minson/Goldy appearing to be fully priced, team structure will be massive especially if rookies are priced as cheap mid pricers.
For me, I still have no idea should be starting with which is a first.
Well i think most second blue players have something in common-having played 18-22 games which accumulated fatigue. Grundy only played 7 games last year coming off an interrupted preseason and a back injury. Now that grundy is injury free and very fit physically, i reckon he should average 90-95 next year. Only concern would be collingwood constantly resting him(stop him from becoming josh fraser2.0).
Funny you say that as I said something very similar earlier in this thread which I've quoted below which was in regards to second year blues as well (Smith, Giles). Definitely a consideration but would want to be sure he was playing a lot of gamesand minutes in the ruck.
Set and forget might not be as popular if we need to find some dough because of the possible change in rookie pricing.
Set and forget might not be as popular if we need to find some dough because of the possible change in rookie pricing.
I think we can forget about NicNat.
Eagles go softly, softly with Nic Naitanui's preparation
NIC NAITANUI'S training loads will continue to be managed throughout the pre-season to ensure there is no repeat of his injury-plagued 2013.
Ongoing groin issues stemming from surgery in November last year troubled the Eagles' star ruckman throughout last season.
The 2012 All Australian missed the first five matches and managed just 11 games before prematurely ending his season after round 17.
West Coast football operations manager Craig Vozzo says Naitanui's return to full training will continue to be a slow process, to ensure he has no long-term problems.
"He's gradually building up. Again there's no rush with Nic," Vozzo told AFL.com.au.
"Let's try to get it right for the long-term, is the approach, and slowly but surely we are getting there.
"It can be frustrating at times for any player, not just Nic, spending extended periods in a rehab program.
"But Nic is handling it pretty well, we think, and we're keen to keep that graduated improvement going and we're confident we will."
The 2014 season looms as an important one for both Naitanui and the Eagles. The 23-year-old is out of contract at the end of 2014 and given his star power, there is already some speculation his next contract could yield in excess of $1 million a season.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-12-07/softly-softly-for-nic-nat
Eagles go softly, softly with Nic Naitanui's preparation
NIC NAITANUI'S training loads will continue to be managed throughout the pre-season to ensure there is no repeat of his injury-plagued 2013.
Ongoing groin issues stemming from surgery in November last year troubled the Eagles' star ruckman throughout last season.
The 2012 All Australian missed the first five matches and managed just 11 games before prematurely ending his season after round 17.
West Coast football operations manager Craig Vozzo says Naitanui's return to full training will continue to be a slow process, to ensure he has no long-term problems.
"He's gradually building up. Again there's no rush with Nic," Vozzo told AFL.com.au.
"Let's try to get it right for the long-term, is the approach, and slowly but surely we are getting there.
"It can be frustrating at times for any player, not just Nic, spending extended periods in a rehab program.
"But Nic is handling it pretty well, we think, and we're keen to keep that graduated improvement going and we're confident we will."
The 2014 season looms as an important one for both Naitanui and the Eagles. The 23-year-old is out of contract at the end of 2014 and given his star power, there is already some speculation his next contract could yield in excess of $1 million a season.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-12-07/softly-softly-for-nic-nat