Position 2022: Ruck Discussion

[Montyjnr]

I think originally they had him as just a MID being a steeplechaser they prob thought he had a good tank to be a mid. Then he started playing ruck preseason and then so they added RUC to him just before the actual season started. I assume it was too difficult to remove him as an M but easier to add the dpp. (Someone can correct me if I'm wrong)

Yeah I remember this.

Is there any logic to why Blicavs remains the only player in SC to get DPP added in the pre-season? Like why couldn't Nick Daicos get DEF added when it became clear he was playing half-back in the pre-season for instance?

It would've helped the DEF rookie shortage and provided more variety to starting structures

 

[dlanod]

Yeah I remember this.

Is there any logic to why Blicavs remains the only player in SC to get DPP added in the pre-season? Like why couldn't Nick Daicos get DEF added when it became clear he was playing half-back in the pre-season for instance?

It would've helped the DEF rookie shortage and provided more variety to starting structures

Because they really had no idea about Blicavs so he had defaulted to a manifestly wrong position.

 

[Gruffles]

I think originally they had him as just a MID being a steeplechaser they prob thought he had a good tank to be a mid. Then he started playing ruck preseason and then so they added RUC to him just before the actual season started. I assume it was too difficult to remove him as an M but easier to add the dpp. (Someone can correct me if I'm wrong)

Ah Blitz, the master of the ''third man up''

 

[Connoisseur]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506091382574034945

 

[Leroy]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506091382574034945

For Gawn, I guess that would be courtesy of playing against one of the strongest midfield groups in the league. Points are actually lost for sharked hitouts aren't they?

Don't think there'll be quite the same result against the Suns this week

 

[jarveg]

For Gawn, I guess that would be courtesy of playing against one of the strongest midfield groups in the league. Points are actually lost for sharked hitouts aren't they?

Don't think there'll be quite the same result against the Suns this week

The Suns? The only team that sharked MORE hitouts in Round 1?

 

[Leroy]

The Suns? The only team that sharked MORE hitouts in Round 1?

Evidence that WCE have the weakest midfield in the comp perhaps?

Or maybe the Suns are amazing. I'll reserve judgement on that I guess.

 

[donnybuang]

Evidence that WCE have the weakest midfield in the comp perhaps?

Or maybe the Suns are amazing. I'll reserve judgement on that I guess.

The Suns aren't amazing, but Touk and Rowell are.

 

[wogitalia]

The Suns aren't amazing, but Touk and Rowell are.

Witts was amazing last week at controlling NicNat's hitzones as well, super underrated ruck performance. Anderson is also a really good player, though his disposal needs to be tidied up.

 

[Zim^zuM]

Lots of talk on trading Gawn. Me included. But I've now slept. I'd love to hear from those sticking with Gawn and why.

 

[Johnsy44]

Was busy yesterday and couldn't have a good look at Hayes. Did he look good enough they will delay Ryder's return? Could all 3 play together? Or is he likely to make way very soon?

Really want a restructure to get Heeney in for Gawn, which puts Hayes R2

 

[Bomber18]

Lots of talk on trading Gawn. Me included. But I've now slept. I'd love to hear from those sticking with Gawn and why.

Planning to trade Gawn; Jackson breakout concerns me.

 

[NT.Thunder]

Planning to trade Gawn; Jackson breakout concerns me.

Didn't we discuss this pre-season yet neither of us started Jackson over Gawn

 

[Bomber18]

Didn't we discuss this pre-season yet neither of us started Jackson over Gawn

Yep 🤣

 

[Wheedus]

I know it's only two rounds but I can't help but get the feeling that there is a changing of the guard of SC uber premos. For several years we have reliably picked Gawn and Grundy in those two spots and sat back and watched the 150s roll in. Before them, we had other dynamic duos such as the great Sandi Cox combo. Maybe we just need to accept that the Ruck line is no longer an "uber" line and get used 100s as acceptable ruck output. Not sure it's CD tightening up their scoring practices (perhaps being more strict with what is and is not a genuine HOTA) or perhaps a change in game style itself but there certainly seems to be shift of points towards the highly effective mids (and of course the slooty half backs) and away from rucks.

If I had the time I'd dig out and track data on the distribution of total points between players in various parts of the ground over the course a season and between seasons to track patterns. Ahhh, the perfect world if we didn't have real lives to live . Yes Yes, I know Supercoach IS life, but you get the point. I'm sure there are some talented trainspotters out there who have probably done this already

 

[mike89]

I know it's only two rounds but I can't help but get the feeling that there is a changing of the guard of SC uber premos. For several years we have reliably picked Gawn and Grundy in those two spots and sat back and watched the 150s roll in. Before them, we had other dynamic duos such as the great Sandi Cox combo. Maybe we just need to accept that the Ruck line is no longer an "uber" line and get used 100s as acceptable ruck output. Not sure it's CD tightening up their scoring practices (perhaps being more strict with what is and is not a genuine HOTA) or perhaps a change in game style itself but there certainly seems to be shift of points towards the highly effective mids (and of course the slooty half backs) and away from rucks.

If I had the time I'd dig out and track data on the distribution of total points between players in various parts of the ground over the course a season and between seasons to track patterns. Ahhh, the perfect world if we didn't have real lives to live . Yes Yes, I know Supercoach IS life, but you get the point. I'm sure there are some talented trainspotters out there who have probably done this already

Be interesting to see how this fleshes out over the season - but if it does play out that way it makes taking a punt on this line a lot more appealing.

Small sample size, but - best rucks over two games:
Grundy 225
Jackson 225
English 222
Witts 206
ROB 202
Hayes 195

 

[Wheedus]

I faded Macrae. I shoulda faded Gawn

 

[Bomber18]

I know it's only two rounds but I can't help but get the feeling that there is a changing of the guard of SC uber premos. For several years we have reliably picked Gawn and Grundy in those two spots and sat back and watched the 150s roll in. Before them, we had other dynamic duos such as the great Sandi Cox combo. Maybe we just need to accept that the Ruck line is no longer an "uber" line and get used 100s as acceptable ruck output. Not sure it's CD tightening up their scoring practices (perhaps being more strict with what is and is not a genuine HOTA) or perhaps a change in game style itself but there certainly seems to be shift of points towards the highly effective mids (and of course the slooty half backs) and away from rucks.

If I had the time I'd dig out and track data on the distribution of total points between players in various parts of the ground over the course a season and between seasons to track patterns. Ahhh, the perfect world if we didn't have real lives to live . Yes Yes, I know Supercoach IS life, but you get the point. I'm sure there are some talented trainspotters out there who have probably done this already

Great comment! Will be interesting to see how it pans out!

I’m pretty comfortable with Grundy but hard to see a clear R2 at this stage.

 

[Enderling]

I know it's only two rounds but I can't help but get the feeling that there is a changing of the guard of SC uber premos. For several years we have reliably picked Gawn and Grundy in those two spots and sat back and watched the 150s roll in. Before them, we had other dynamic duos such as the great Sandi Cox combo. Maybe we just need to accept that the Ruck line is no longer an "uber" line and get used 100s as acceptable ruck output. Not sure it's CD tightening up their scoring practices (perhaps being more strict with what is and is not a genuine HOTA) or perhaps a change in game style itself but there certainly seems to be shift of points towards the highly effective mids (and of course the slooty half backs) and away from rucks.

If I had the time I'd dig out and track data on the distribution of total points between players in various parts of the ground over the course a season and between seasons to track patterns. Ahhh, the perfect world if we didn't have real lives to live . Yes Yes, I know Supercoach IS life, but you get the point. I'm sure there are some talented trainspotters out there who have probably done this already

Yep, Rucks interesting this year after so many years of set-and-forget. Grundy seems to be the safest premium but even he has fallen from the glory Ruck years. Gawn would still be the best except for the fact they did so well in drafting the best emerging ruckman in Jackson. Could certainly be the year to go cheap at R2 (Jackson, Witts, Meek, Preuss) and get in another prem MID instead.

 

[Shannon]

Goodwin on Gawn & Jackson :-

"We've spoken as a coaching group & to the guys that it's a horses for courses thing in terms of time in the ruck.
We'll identify what's going to give the team the best advantage & those guys are really open to it because they also love going forward & impacting the scoreboard"

So it really depends on matchups as to who Melbourne give the most ruck time to …657K on a guy with a BE of 204 who is no guarantee of being the main ruck pending matchups is very concerning