Agree with what you're saying.
Fullarton's DPP, as you say, is a major benefit because you can trade him to any line. Treacy and CCJ offer the same benefit and it looks like 1 or both will be available once Hunter is dropped and hopefully another Fwd rookie (ideally) has mooed enough for a trade in. I would want to bring in both for the flexibility and cash gen. The Don's ruck situation is a wait n see at this stage but I'm definitely ready to pull the trigger once it is clarified.
I think that it's vital to have different strategies to achieve the required result which is the upgrade of the rucks. It's the hardest line to upgrade because of the limited opportunities and therefore you need to be steadfast in achieving the outcome of 2 x high priced upgrades on that line.
We don't necessarily need the ruck rookies to provide the $ for upgrades but they're going to be there anyway and with DPP's it makes sense to utilise them.
If my fielded ruck rookies are scoring as well as any other rookies on field then I'm happy, if the benched ruck rookies are making $ then I'm doubly happy.
I'm not expecting to get to a premo ruckline much before the byes, if I do then that's a bonus. I've budgeted 6 trades to get there, whether that's my 1st lot of culls is yet to be seen but I've set that line as my priority at this stage (if the rookies are scoring well then they'll be handy through the byes)
It's very hard to build a bank when there are so many other shiny things to distract and so many different ways of skinning this particular cat.
I spent weeks and weeks writing notes on starting the rookie rucks and going through different scenarios to what might happen , could happen or I hope will happen.
Basically it involved all 4 of them playing as close to the first 6 games each as possible.
Round 7 would hopefully then be able to bring in a Premium ruck (Gawn or Grundy probably preferred) but it could be Goldstein , Lycett , Marshall or Naitanui.
I think the game could get away very easily without a Premium Ruck from Round 7.
Hunter downgraded to ???
Another rookie downgraded to ???
Hopefully upgrades Meek.
(need to reassess the Freo situation when Lobb returns)
Bryan opens up new possibilities.
Round 3 I need to rookie correct.
Round 4-6 just need to be patient and trust my 13 premiums (including Cripps) and Fantasia & Ziebell.
After 2 games
Highmore
Gulden , Campbell , JordOn
Warner
all look viable (hopefully onfield) for another 6-8 rounds minimum
Hopefully my bench also does its job (currently I am confident 2-3 make enough money) so the others could present problems (as long as they keep playing they should make $$$)
So if I can trust everyone onfield I can focus my first upgrade into being a premium ruck.
I then need to work out who my remaining premiums are going to be on each line and how and when to get them
eg
D: Ridley , Whitfield (?)
M: Mitchell , Neale + tbc
F: Dangerfield , Marshall (?) or Sidebottom
With perfect downgrades I budget $ 575k for a upgrade (hopefully I get 3-4 closer to $ 525k)
Fingers crossed Fantasia & Ziebell can go 85+ and be last upgrades.
Plenty of different scenarios and flexibility.
If my bench can't generate enough $$$ I may need a cheaper compromise at D6 , M8 & F6 (time will tell)
Round 3 is my favourite round , we get price changes and then can get serious about BE , cash projections/losses and then start a real trade road map.
I agree lots and lots of shiny new toys , just got to stay focused and work out the priorities.