Rucks Discussion

av1jme

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Magpie fans, what about Jarrod Witts? Any chance he could play this season?
 

Rowsus

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What's Jarrad Redden's status?
Is he fighting fit for Round 1 because Port could play 2 Ruckmen and Lobbe's scores could be affected.
I hope they don't play with 2 rucks. Westoff can pinch hit in the ruck when Lobbe needs a rest
Yeah, that's my concern.
I think Redden is a pretty good ruckman himself.
Lets hope with Lobbe showing great promise during the last few rounds and final, he gets more chance to play as a sole ruckman
I'm a Lobbe fan, and I'm not too concerned about Redden
2012 - 9 games - ave game % time played 69% - tap outs ave 18 - marks ave 2 - disposal ave 11
2013 - 6 games - ave game % time played 81% - tap outs ave 20 - marks ave 3 - disposal ave 10
If we give a solo Ruckmen an ave of 84% game time, and average Redden out we find his averages over a full game are:

21 tap outs , 3 marks, and 12 possessions. Hardly good stand alone Ruck figures. I think he'll only play, when they need back up, and get maybe 7 or 8 games for the season.
 

Mame

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If they had witts in as well, they would be a very top heavy team with the amount of tall players at Collingwood.
Grundy only played 7 games last year after having stress fractures in his back. Good chance he'll be rested as the #1 ruck gig is a big load. I'd like Witts to get games before Hudson. If Grundy can handle the load for a whole season after only playing 7 games he's a freak.
 
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av1jme

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Thanks Rowsus, that makes a lot of sense.
The upside for selecting Lobbe is his price which means the extra cash can be allocated elsewhere.

I'm a Lobbe fan, and I'm not too concerned about Redden
2012 - 9 games - ave game % time played 69% - tap outs ave 18 - marks ave 2 - disposal ave 11
2013 - 6 games - ave game % time played 81% - tap outs ave 20 - marks ave 3 - disposal ave 10
If we give a solo Ruckmen an ave of 84% game time, and average Redden out we find his averages over a full game are:

21 tap outs , 3 marks, and 12 possessions. Hardly good stand alone Ruck figures. I think he'll only play, when they need back up, and get maybe 7 or 8 games for the season.
 

Epidemick

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I am looking at starting with two premium rucks this year. Minson, with a good draw seems a lock & Naitanui, if fit and firing seems value priced. I was burnt last year by Sam Jacobs and even though I picked Kreuzer mid year at a cheap price I constantly was bleeding points to the Minson / Goldy owners.
So my question to the eager young minds out there is twofold.
1. Why is Nic Nat being shown no love in posted teams ?
2. Why won't Lobbe's good finish last year be shown in hindsight just to be similar to Sam Jacobs having a good 2012?
 

Rowsus

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I am looking at starting with two premium rucks this year. Minson, with a good draw seems a lock & Naitanui, if fit and firing seems value priced. I was burnt last year by Sam Jacobs and even though I picked Kreuzer mid year at a cheap price I constantly was bleeding points to the Minson / Goldy owners.
So my question to the eager young minds out there is twofold.
1. Why is Nic Nat being shown no love in posted teams ?
2. Why won't Lobbe's good finish last year be shown in hindsight just to be similar to Sam Jacobs having a good 2012?
Both good questions. Here's my take on them.
1. After getting burnt last year, people want to be sure NicNat has gotten through a proper pre-season before committing to him. If he comes out in the NAB Cup, and plays two fullish games, his popularity will soar. I for one will lock him in, if he does that, as I believe with his leap, and good below-the-knees work, he will be a SC monster. I just want to make sure he has that leap, mobility and flexibilty first. Once he shows that, he will be a very, very popular player indeed!
2. Lobbe is making natural progression in his output. Because it was only half a season, we get to put him in our team at a discounted price. Given the vagaries of aging Superstars like Cox, injured future stars like NicNat, question marks of "one season wonder" with Minson, and his ability to back up his price with Goldstein, many Coaches are looking for someone at a little bit of value. Lobbe was the 4th best SuperCoach Ruck in the 2nd half of last season, yet he is only the 16th most expensive Ruck this season. I can see why so many people, including myself, think he might be value. Having said that, he is every chance to spud it up. I just think he's a safer option than some of the more expensive Rucks, especially as he should be solo Ruck in most matches
 

IDIG

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Grundy only played 7 games last year after having stress fractures in his back. Good chance he'll be rested as the #1 ruck gig is a big load. I'd like Witts to get games before Hudson. If Grundy can handle the load for a whole season after only playing 7 games he's a freak.
Probably the one thing that's stopping me from really loving him as a pick, especially alongside Sandi.

You would think/hope that Witt will play in stages to give him a chop out. He's a gun in the making and you don't want him to be getting smashed week in week out by the big boys while he's still developing.

Both good questions. Here's my take on them.
1. After getting burnt last year, people want to be sure NicNat has gotten through a proper pre-season before committing to him. If he comes out in the NAB Cup, and plays two fullish games, his popularity will soar. I for one will lock him in, if he does that, as I believe with his leap, and good below-the-knees work, he will be a SC monster. I just want to make sure he has that leap, mobility and flexibilty first. Once he shows that, he will be a very, very popular player indeed!
Couldn't agree more. Personally, I don't think we'll see him too often over the preseason and he'll gain match fitness through the season proper. If that's the case, i'll be aiming to turn Sandi into him during the byes which will work well with a WC round 9/Freo round 10 bye if Sandi's body holds up.
 

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^ lol what's going on here, thought i clicked the wrong thread for a second then :p

Anyway, Brodie Grundy. He's becoming more and more locked in my team as time goes by but my concern is that he is paired with Sandi which is a recipe for disaster.

Most have him as the pies number 1 ruck so i think we can assume his job security is ok so my main worry is if i'm giving up too many points against Minson/Goldy/Cox owners who have spent the extra cash with their favourable draws.

A big problem I see with having him is he has a round 8 bye so i can't upgrade him before his bye and Collingwood's draw itself which is as tough as it gets (Freo, Sydney, Geelong, Richmond, North, Essendon, Carlton).

Can anyone see him making enough funds by the byes and is running a Grundy/Sandi ruck combo just too risky?
Don't forget the pies have Hudson. I'm not sure he will be much of a threat but he is very capable of playing the number one ruck role and could replace Grundy at times, especially as he's young, developing and faces a tough early draw
 

Bobbie

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Quite tempted to spend the extra funds and go Goldy and Lobbe at R1/R2. Hopefully a set and forget option - although I haven't had much luck with this in the past (looking at you Jacobs!)
 

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Quite tempted to spend the extra funds and go Goldy and Lobbe at R1/R2. Hopefully a set and forget option - although I haven't had much luck with this in the past (looking at you Jacobs!)
And Maric for me! No sandi?
 
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I also put 108 into RAMP when I first got it:)
That's a big average for someone who has only played 43 games so far, never been a real solo ruck and hasn't played a full season before. An average of 108 is possibly going to be top 2 or 3 rucks in 2014 and will be higher than Cox's average in 2013. I wish i was that confident someone priced at 465k would average 108, there would be no doubt that player would be in my starting line up.
 

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That's a big average for someone who has only played 43 games so far, never been a real solo ruck and hasn't played a full season before. An average of 108 is possibly going to be top 2 or 3 rucks in 2014 and will be higher than Cox's average in 2013. I wish i was that confident someone priced at 465k would average 108, there would be no doubt that player would be in my starting line up.
I'm not that confident but there's another thing I love about his game. As a young ruck he has shown he can rack up the hitouts - once got like 60 in a game, has talent and really wants the ball. I loved the amount of tackles he laid this season and I believe he will be able to take his game to the next level this year.
 

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On NicNat

Ruckman Nic Naitanui ran laps at pre-season training on Monday as he builds up his fitness and strength following a year of groin issues.

Simpson said he would assess Naitanui's availability for the NAB Challenge closer to the time.

"He's progressing well," Simpson said of the 2012 All-Australian.

"We actually trained on Saturday and I had a good look over and he's running as best I have seen.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-01-06/waters-shoulders-burden
 
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If Nic Nat is fit and firing during the NAB Cup then I'm pretty sure most people would lock him in at R1, I would for sure.
Currently have Sandi at R2 but after reading the comments on Lobbe, I might need to re-consider...
 

broges

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Remember reading Jay said he's keeping an eye on Majak Daw. HS today saying he is progressing slightly ahead of schedule. However no exact date on when he'll resume full training. Given number of games played, he appears nicely priced, and he was unlucky with injuries last year (which I think Jay noted when looking at IDIG's sub vest analysis.
 
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