Position 2021: Ruck Discussion

Which ruck setup are you planning on starting with?

  • Gawn/Grundy/Flynn

    Votes: 82 47.4%
  • Gawn/Grundy/Meek

    Votes: 5 2.9%
  • Gawn/Grundy/Hunter

    Votes: 8 4.6%
  • Gawn/Flynn/Meek

    Votes: 25 14.5%
  • Gawn/Flynn/Hunter

    Votes: 11 6.4%
  • Gawn/Meek/Hunter

    Votes: 2 1.2%
  • Grundy/Flynn/Meek

    Votes: 14 8.1%
  • Grundy/Flynn/Hunter

    Votes: 9 5.2%
  • Grundy/Meek/Hunter

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other

    Votes: 17 9.8%

  • Total voters
    173
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This isn't looking to flash.
Thinking of jumping ship early to avoid the cash plunge.
Running Gawn, Grundy, with Flynn at r3.
Luckily started flonut Treacy at f8.
Can swap Grundy for Dunkley plus cash, then play Flynn at r2 with Treacy at r3.
Decisions, decisions, decisions...............
Tossing up something similar, but feel obliged to give it one more week. Seems risky going to no cover, though. Wouldn't you just trade Grundy for Meek?

I have a Grundy, Flynn (Meek) set up - if the Ruck scores are horrific again this week, it's tempting to trade Grundy down to a Stef Martin or a Hunter (assuming he's named Rd 3)..... but with the latter I'd still be worried about job security with just the Flynn/Meek/Hunter cover.
 
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I am super worried about Hunter. Originally I had GG most of the preseason, then 2-3 weeks out Gawn-Flynn-Meek.
Hunter was a last week decision that I was hoping would make it to 4 games at 65-75, that seems super unlikely judging on how Flynn toweled him up.
My only hope Is Ryder stays in W.A for 3+ more weeks or else I'll have to restructure.
 
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Brayden Sier 23 yrs old.
Sam Walsh 20 yrs old.

Walsh’s, Bailey Smith’s, Butters’ and Rozee types don’t just grow on trees.
Yeah good point, players like them are like striking gold. But yeah those are the type of players i reckon we need, at least one of them.

But dont get me wrong. I reckon Sier is going to be a big part of the pies future in the coming years, just i feel to have a better mid, like the dogs, lions, dockers, we need more pendles type of players? Or maybe thats just me being biased because one go pies and two pendles is just a magic player.
 

Goodie's Guns

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This is what concerns me the most - Cox attended CBAs on Friday and I've never seen him do that.
I was at the ground on Friday night, and as silly as it sounds, didn't like Cox complaining and moaning when the Collingwood interchange stewards were calling for him to get off the field so they could get Grundy back out there (from the perspective of a Grundy SC owner).

Happened at least two or three times during the night, where he was visibly angry with being called off. I can think back to at least two times Grundy was stuck on the bench for a considerable amount of time, where not only was there no goals kicked to allow the interchange to occur, but Cox just blatantly refusing to run to the bench and hovering over the other side of the ground for sustained periods.
 
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This is what concerns me the most - Cox attended CBAs on Friday and I've never seen him do that.
When Cox was rucking in the centre, I didn't notice where Grundy was, up forward or on the bench?
I thought Cox did okay at the centre bounce.

Edit: I think Goodie's Guns just answered my question!
 
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I feel like the concept of playing your best players in their best positions is somthing AFL coaches should get... but maybe im over estimating them.
They go to a zone Rucking set up. Don't need to keep up with 75% of the play/ground, more like 60/40.
Melbourne did this for a few seasons, around 10 years ago.
I think AFL coaches have a genuine dilemna. Players are always talking about running patterns and Gawn admitted at half time he didn't know how to get to the ball. The rucks will improve as they work it out but it's hard to see them being the highest scoring players this year.
 
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I don't get it, we have another ruckman in Cox that Grundy can swap with up forward.
I suppose Buckley means that we will give Cox more ruck minutes?
Might not necessarily mean it is Cox & Cameron though.

Grundy takes CBA and then goes forward and Roughead Rucks the defensive end.

The other alternative would be to start both of Cameron/Cox + Grundy at the CBA and then essentially Grundy is a RR link up between the arcs.

If one ruck can't get to the contests teams will need 2-3 options.
 
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Cox is actually quite OK in terms of HTA rates.
And the elephant in the room is, even factoring in shorter game times etc. , Grundy has been in statistical decline for a while now. He needs the other score avenues because he’s not going to get you there on HTA and contested marks, he needs the tackles, the CP etc..
The hope was that part of it was hubs etc..
No point panicking, but he didn’t do much to dispel doubts.
 
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Doesn't say much for Goodwin's coaching if their best player doesn't know what he's supposed to be doing.
Exactly, how can your gun player not know?

If things aren't going as you have planned, surely you just adjust & go to plan B then plan C etc

Maybe Goodwin just has a plan A & if that doesn't work then so be it :p

On a more serious note, every club would be dissecting every game today/ going through all the data so the rucks stats would be highlighted.

It will be very interesting to see how clubs adjust & come up with plans - obviously for most of us it will be all eyes on Grundy & Gawn to see what changes are made. 2 absolute keys for their respective teams so it is imperative for them to have a greater impact going forward than they did on the weekend. Gawn has Hunter & McKernan this week, if Flynn was able to boss Hunter then surely Gawn takes him to the cleaners?
Grundy v Pittonet, you would think Grundy would bounce back but those Buckley comments were concerning ... think he was just bluffing the journos, Grundy has never shown too much when played fwd of the ball so can't see the logic myself.
 
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If I was coaching I'd be looking at more mobile utility type players to be used in the ruck contest, especially if you don't have a midfield that can get first use of the ball.

Pies are in a bit of trouble as many have stated looking at their current midfield, I'm not convinced the younger guys like Sier, Daicos etc are ready for a full season as extractors. Adams will need to remain fit which is a challenge in itself there. Grundy forward I don't like either.

Steph Martin is an interesting one, in his prime the new rules would really suit his mobility around the ground. Cheap also but maybe you ride him for a few rounds. i think the Dogs might use English forward more as he looks very effective there.

Sam Draper maybe.

Not sure what I'll do, might watch another week but don't want to get caught out with other issues round 3 and be left bleeding cash in the rucks.
 
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