Rucks Discussion

[Blacky Rules]

To be perfectly honest, I have no confidence in who to pick as R 1 and R 2 at the moment.

Will you pick Grundy as 2 or 3?

 

[Blacky Rules]

Nicholls did his knee late last season but I think his rehabiliation has been pretty good and should be ready for round 1.
If he is fit, Nicholls will be the #1 ruck for GCS.

Nichols is a great find, and works very well with Gazza, I watch a lot of Suns games but I feel Zac is still #1

 

[Courtesans]

Will you pick Grundy as 2 or 3?

I wouldn't pick him as three, two maybe. Grundy will be Collingwood's first ruck to kick off the season. On that basis alone he will be all over the park contesting. He only played a handful of games last year, I like his endeavour, athleticism and hunger. Is a big risk to pick him as R 2. but he will give a good account of himself.

I am not a fan of the insurance third ruckman, either bite the bullet or not.

 

[PC]

As everybody knows, there are interchange rule changes this year - with arguably a cap on rotations bringing on the risk of a sub for the big men of the comp. This, coupled with the rucks being probably the hardest position to pick SC wise (due to a lack of DPP), means getting R1 and R2 wrong from the start could mean bad things for later in the season. So I thought it might be an interesting academic exercise to pick who the 'fittest' R1 is - as potentially this will help understand who will stay R1 for their club for the year, won't get sub impacted and will make many SC points for all.

First up, if I have got a club R1 wrong in anyone's mind, feel free to argue the point! - there are probably a number where this position is unknown or in contention. In fact, feel free to argue the point about any of this post

I have also tried to take into account rucking combinations (pushing the 'R1' down the list) and injury history. Also, the less I know about them, the higher chance of them being pushed down my list. Note, this is the R1 who I consider will play round 1 and all IMO only.

My 'fittest' R1s in order would be:
1 - Minson (Dogs) (proven single ruck)
2 - Goldy (Roos) (proven single ruck)
3 - Lobbe (Port) (should to be R1)
4 - Pyke (Swans) (should be R1)
5 - LBurger (Lions) (injury history)
6 - Maric (Tigers) (fell away in 2013 due to injury?)
7 - Mummy (Gaints) (may ruck tag with Giles?)
8 - Kreuzer (Blues) (injury history)
9 - Jacobs (Crows) (fell away in 2013 due to injury?)
10 - Big Boy (Hawks) (may ruck tag with Hale and/or Roughy?)
11 - NicNat (Eagles) (injury history, ruck tag with Cox?)
12 - Grundy (Pies) (young, 2nd year blues?)
13 - Hickey (Saints) (may ruck tag with Longer?)
14 - Bellchambers (Bombers) (may ruck tag with Ryder?)
15 - Simpson (Cats) (injury history, may ruck tag with HMac, Blicavs)
16 - Sandilands (Freo) (injury history)
17 - Spencer (Demons) (unknown - Jamar, Gawn)
18 - Smith (Suns) (unknown - Gorringe, Nicholls - each may ruck tag with Dixon?)

 

[broges]

Interesting perspective PC. In my personal opinion, I'll take Sands for R2 for 7 or 8 games at the start of season by which time I hope top R2 has risen to the top like cream! Just gotta cross my fingers that Sands can a) get on the park b) then stay on the park and c) score well enough and make enough $$$ to let me upgrade at round 7 or 8. My approach is not without risk, but there is also downside risk and opportunity cost with playing too conservatively. Given the unpredictable historical performances of ruck line, its all about risk versus reward.

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

A little something in reagrds to the rucks situation at Freo:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-01-13/freos-ruck-conundrum

 

[PC]

Hmmmm, no one has argued the point with me or put up their own list yet - not sure if that is a good or a bad thing?!

 

[Rowsus]

Hmmmm, no one has argued the point with me or put up their own list yet - not sure if that is a good or a bad thing?!

It's a tough list to make, and it's very subjective.
My main thing is, I'm pretty sure most people are making too much of this interchange cap.
It's still a very high level, and it's about at the level the busiest interchange Clubs were doing 3 or 4 years ago. I actually can't see it having that much affect on things to be honest. Yes, there might be 2 or 3 times in the season some Clubs find themselves a bit retricted, because they used too many, too soon, but in all, I think we'll hardly notice it's there.

 

[Batters31]

It's a tough list to make, and it's very subjective.
My main thing is, I'm pretty sure most people are making too much of this interchange cap.
It's still a very high level, and it's about at the level the busiest interchange Clubs were doing 3 or 4 years ago. I actually can't see it having that much affect on things to be honest. Yes, there might be 2 or 3 times in the season some Clubs find themselves a bit retricted, because they used too many, too soon, but in all, I think we'll hardly notice it's there.

I agree, particularly when clubs can make three changes at quarter, half and three-quarter time which don't count towards the cap.

 

[Maso]

bellchambers could have a delayed start to season has hurt ankle , paddy ryder could be worth another crack ?

 

[Junior Wölf]

bellchambers could have a delayed start to season has hurt ankle , paddy ryder could be worth another crack ?

The newly recruited rookie ruck in thurlow could be a very handy pick if the bombers play with 2 rucks

 

[Junior Wölf]

God damn im hating rucks right at this moment. I have no idea who to pick as R1 and R2.

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

God damn im hating rucks right at this moment. I have no idea who to pick as R1 and R2.

Don't worry mate, everyone playing the same game is in the same boat

 

[Impromptu]

Ryder $486,400? Just depends on Bellchambers injury I guess...hmmm

It's painful thinking of getting Goldstein and Minson but it's also painful Sandilands and McIntosh..

 

[Deeman1]

Ryder $486,400? Just depends on Bellchambers injury I guess...hmmm

It's painful thinking of getting Goldstein and Minson but it's also painful Sandilands and McIntosh..

I'm not sure I would be willing to go there again even if Bellchambers is injured.

I brought him in around mid season last.year and was very dissapointed with his performances.

If he was still DPP maybe but as pure RUC very unlikely.

 

[Impromptu]

I'm not sure I would be willing to go there again even if Bellchambers is injured.

I brought him in around mid season last.year and was very dissapointed with his performances.

If he was still DPP maybe but as pure RUC very unlikely.

Totally agree, but Ryder's price is so juicy.

Also (and probably a biased view), I have a feeling with Bombers missing the finals due to the drug saga, that Dons will come out pumped, like the Melbourne Storms (I think) who he missed the finals.

 

[PC]

Thanks for the thoughts Rowsus and Batters31 - thought it might be useful even to list who I thought would be R1 for each team anyway.

Anyone - Pyke v Jacobs?

 

[Rowsus]

Thanks for the thoughts Rowsus and Batters31 - thought it might be useful even to list who I thought would be R1 for each team anyway.

Anyone - Pyke v Jacobs?

Always happy to read opinions, especially well thought out ones, and especially in troub****me areas like the Ruck!
The Pyke v Jacobs question is good one.
I've got Pyke down for 20/92 and Jacobs 22/98, which means Jacobs I guess, but I'm not in love with either of them, to be honest.

edit - interesting that trouble-some got "sanitized" without the hyphen!

 

[PC]

Yeah, cheers for the thoughts Rowsus

 

[Vandemon]

Just on the Carlton ruck situation for anyone considering Kruezer. Kruezer is on a restricted training programme, which for rucks is code for stay right away.

Warnock is the one that is fully fit and involved in all the early training drills.

In the end, just makes Carlton's ruck situation complicated. I'll be looking elsewhere.