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Position 2023: Ruck Discussion
- Thread starter KLo30
- Start date
I don't think Marshall is any easier, especially if he happens to get injured early in game 3 for example after a slow start because Campbell comes in round 2 and rucks a lot after the forward line fails in round 1.
That's the problem, none of the "top" rucks have anything approaching a safe narrative.
Witts - One year wonder, very poor 2nd half of the season last year.
Gawn/Grundy - Genuine ruck share for both with as close to their peer as they could get, Grundy is a terrible forward, Gawn scored well with a 70% of the ruck but still not great, also injured in preseason.
English - Terrible durability, could easily get injured round 1 or 3 and drop big in price. I like him but his durability record is wretched.
Darcy - Jackson factor and possibly even worse durability than English, which is saying something.
ROB - Really bad ruckman so caps his scoring, in a weak team so likelihood of that changing is low. At least he's durable...
NicNat - Somehow he's actually one of the more durable on this list, that should say a lot. Old, questionable team, etc.
Goldy - Ancient but might be one of the better options if he ended up one out...
Marshall - Mentioned above already.
OMc - Never done it before, I think he's the guy going well under the radar, with Gunston, Hipwood and Daniher there's no logical reason for them to play two rucks and he's actually scored really decently the last two years as a lone ruck.
Yes, you can spin the positive outcome on all of these names very easily but I wouldn't say any are safe or even likely to hit those outcomes, I expect a couple will but the whole point of a Draper is to make some cash while learning who that is, guessing on what is essentially a roulette wheel is not how I want to do it. Perhaps the preseason will provide clarity but it's definitely hard to know right now who will be the top rucks and even what they'll score.
Credit to anyone who has clarity or certainty in their picks here, I quite simply don't
The avenues of improvement are vast.
1. Hitouts - He averaged 24 last year, that's incredibly low. No reason someone of his size and athletic ability shouldn't be in the 30s.
2. Hitouts to advantage - If the midfield can play better and be healthy then this will improve automatically. Stringer going down sure doesn't help as he's a great target. This is actually an area I still worry about, their midfield is small and not great in this area so probably going to remain a problem unless they can fix that. That said, another year in the gym should help here.
3. TOG - He's very low, if he can get fit to play full games as the #1 ruck then everything just increases. #1 rucks should score close to 90 if they can do this.
4. Clearances - He has the ability to win far more on his own, he seemed to start understanding this a bit last year.
5. Tackling - He could easily improve this, it's another strength, fitness and effort thing.
6. Effort - Speaking of effort, this has been a huge issue for him, not sure if he was just that unfit, if he's soft or if he's weak but he has huge portions of game where he just doesn't look to care.
That's a pretty solid list and a lot of them overlap, if he starts doing a few the others come with them so the potential for a rapid improvement is very good.
Definitely agree that he could just be a lazy talent who is going to waste it like so many others have and doesn't improve but if he doesn't show it in the preseason I wont go near him so I'm really looking for an emphatic statement to even think of picking him.
That's the problem, none of the "top" rucks have anything approaching a safe narrative.
Witts - One year wonder, very poor 2nd half of the season last year.
Gawn/Grundy - Genuine ruck share for both with as close to their peer as they could get, Grundy is a terrible forward, Gawn scored well with a 70% of the ruck but still not great, also injured in preseason.
English - Terrible durability, could easily get injured round 1 or 3 and drop big in price. I like him but his durability record is wretched.
Darcy - Jackson factor and possibly even worse durability than English, which is saying something.
ROB - Really bad ruckman so caps his scoring, in a weak team so likelihood of that changing is low. At least he's durable...
NicNat - Somehow he's actually one of the more durable on this list, that should say a lot. Old, questionable team, etc.
Goldy - Ancient but might be one of the better options if he ended up one out...
Marshall - Mentioned above already.
OMc - Never done it before, I think he's the guy going well under the radar, with Gunston, Hipwood and Daniher there's no logical reason for them to play two rucks and he's actually scored really decently the last two years as a lone ruck.
Yes, you can spin the positive outcome on all of these names very easily but I wouldn't say any are safe or even likely to hit those outcomes, I expect a couple will but the whole point of a Draper is to make some cash while learning who that is, guessing on what is essentially a roulette wheel is not how I want to do it. Perhaps the preseason will provide clarity but it's definitely hard to know right now who will be the top rucks and even what they'll score.
Credit to anyone who has clarity or certainty in their picks here, I quite simply don't
The avenues of improvement are vast.
1. Hitouts - He averaged 24 last year, that's incredibly low. No reason someone of his size and athletic ability shouldn't be in the 30s.
2. Hitouts to advantage - If the midfield can play better and be healthy then this will improve automatically. Stringer going down sure doesn't help as he's a great target. This is actually an area I still worry about, their midfield is small and not great in this area so probably going to remain a problem unless they can fix that. That said, another year in the gym should help here.
3. TOG - He's very low, if he can get fit to play full games as the #1 ruck then everything just increases. #1 rucks should score close to 90 if they can do this.
4. Clearances - He has the ability to win far more on his own, he seemed to start understanding this a bit last year.
5. Tackling - He could easily improve this, it's another strength, fitness and effort thing.
6. Effort - Speaking of effort, this has been a huge issue for him, not sure if he was just that unfit, if he's soft or if he's weak but he has huge portions of game where he just doesn't look to care.
That's a pretty solid list and a lot of them overlap, if he starts doing a few the others come with them so the potential for a rapid improvement is very good.
Definitely agree that he could just be a lazy talent who is going to waste it like so many others have and doesn't improve but if he doesn't show it in the preseason I wont go near him so I'm really looking for an emphatic statement to even think of picking him.
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It’s a fair argument
But looking back to 2019 the last time he had a real shot at an extended period as number 1 ruck he played 20 games and averaged 110
The potential to do that again is there
His injury history is overstated imo
Played every game in 2020
Missed 1 game last year playing 21
2021 was poor with 13 games played but I think at 500 odd k he’s worth the punt with his upside!
But looking back to 2019 the last time he had a real shot at an extended period as number 1 ruck he played 20 games and averaged 110
The potential to do that again is there
His injury history is overstated imo
Played every game in 2020
Missed 1 game last year playing 21
2021 was poor with 13 games played but I think at 500 odd k he’s worth the punt with his upside!
I don't think Marshall is any easier, especially if he happens to get injured early in game 3 for example after a slow start because Campbell comes in round 2 and rucks a lot after the forward line fails in round 1.
That's the problem, none of the "top" rucks have anything approaching a safe narrative.
Witts - One year wonder, very poor 2nd half of the season last year.
Gawn/Grundy - Genuine ruck share for both with as close to their peer as they could get, Grundy is a terrible forward, Gawn scored well with a 70% of the ruck but still not great, also injured in preseason.
English - Terrible durability, could easily get injured round 1 or 3 and drop big in price. I like him but his durability record is wretched.
Darcy - Jackson factor and possibly even worse durability than English, which is saying something.
ROB - Really bad ruckman so caps his scoring, in a weak team so likelihood of that changing is low. At least he's durable...
NicNat - Somehow he's actually one of the more durable on this list, that should say a lot. Old, questionable team, etc.
Goldy - Ancient but might be one of the better options if he ended up one out...
Marshall - Mentioned above already.
OMc - Never done it before, I think he's the guy going well under the radar, with Gunston, Hipwood and Daniher there's no logical reason for them to play two rucks and he's actually scored really decently the last two years as a lone ruck.
Yes, you can spin the positive outcome on all of these names very easily but I wouldn't say any are safe or even likely to hit those outcomes, I expect a couple will but the whole point of a Draper is to make some cash while learning who that is, guessing on what is essentially a roulette wheel is not how I want to do it. Perhaps the preseason will provide clarity but it's definitely hard to know right now who will be the top rucks and even what they'll score.
Credit to anyone who has clarity or certainty in their picks here, I quite simply don't
The avenues of improvement are vast.
1. Hitouts - He averaged 24 last year, that's incredibly low. No reason someone of his size and athletic ability shouldn't be in the 30s.
2. Hitouts to advantage - If the midfield can play better and be healthy then this will improve automatically. Stringer going down sure doesn't help as he's a great target. This is actually an area I still worry about, their midfield is small and not great in this area so probably going to remain a problem unless they can fix that. That said, another year in the gym should help here.
3. TOG - He's very low, if he can get fit to play full games as the #1 ruck then everything just increases. #1 rucks should score close to 90 if they can do this.
4. Clearances - He has the ability to win far more on his own, he seemed to start understanding this a bit last year.
5. Tackling - He could easily improve this, it's another strength, fitness and effort thing.
6. Effort - Speaking of effort, this has been a huge issue for him, not sure if he was just that unfit, if he's soft or if he's weak but he has huge portions of game where he just doesn't look to care.
That's a pretty solid list and a lot of them overlap, if he starts doing a few the others come with them so the potential for a rapid improvement is very good.
Definitely agree that he could just be a lazy talent who is going to waste it like so many others have and doesn't improve but if he doesn't show it in the preseason I wont go near him so I'm really looking for an emphatic statement to even think of picking him.
That's the problem, none of the "top" rucks have anything approaching a safe narrative.
Witts - One year wonder, very poor 2nd half of the season last year.
Gawn/Grundy - Genuine ruck share for both with as close to their peer as they could get, Grundy is a terrible forward, Gawn scored well with a 70% of the ruck but still not great, also injured in preseason.
English - Terrible durability, could easily get injured round 1 or 3 and drop big in price. I like him but his durability record is wretched.
Darcy - Jackson factor and possibly even worse durability than English, which is saying something.
ROB - Really bad ruckman so caps his scoring, in a weak team so likelihood of that changing is low. At least he's durable...
NicNat - Somehow he's actually one of the more durable on this list, that should say a lot. Old, questionable team, etc.
Goldy - Ancient but might be one of the better options if he ended up one out...
Marshall - Mentioned above already.
OMc - Never done it before, I think he's the guy going well under the radar, with Gunston, Hipwood and Daniher there's no logical reason for them to play two rucks and he's actually scored really decently the last two years as a lone ruck.
Yes, you can spin the positive outcome on all of these names very easily but I wouldn't say any are safe or even likely to hit those outcomes, I expect a couple will but the whole point of a Draper is to make some cash while learning who that is, guessing on what is essentially a roulette wheel is not how I want to do it. Perhaps the preseason will provide clarity but it's definitely hard to know right now who will be the top rucks and even what they'll score.
Credit to anyone who has clarity or certainty in their picks here, I quite simply don't
The avenues of improvement are vast.
1. Hitouts - He averaged 24 last year, that's incredibly low. No reason someone of his size and athletic ability shouldn't be in the 30s.
2. Hitouts to advantage - If the midfield can play better and be healthy then this will improve automatically. Stringer going down sure doesn't help as he's a great target. This is actually an area I still worry about, their midfield is small and not great in this area so probably going to remain a problem unless they can fix that. That said, another year in the gym should help here.
3. TOG - He's very low, if he can get fit to play full games as the #1 ruck then everything just increases. #1 rucks should score close to 90 if they can do this.
4. Clearances - He has the ability to win far more on his own, he seemed to start understanding this a bit last year.
5. Tackling - He could easily improve this, it's another strength, fitness and effort thing.
6. Effort - Speaking of effort, this has been a huge issue for him, not sure if he was just that unfit, if he's soft or if he's weak but he has huge portions of game where he just doesn't look to care.
That's a pretty solid list and a lot of them overlap, if he starts doing a few the others come with them so the potential for a rapid improvement is very good.
Definitely agree that he could just be a lazy talent who is going to waste it like so many others have and doesn't improve but if he doesn't show it in the preseason I wont go near him so I'm really looking for an emphatic statement to even think of picking him.
Small sample size I know, but Draper actually got worse last season across a number of the areas you mentioned.
For mine, he just doesn't get involved enough in all facets of the game (hit outs, disposals, tackles, the lot) to be a solid SuperCoach option. When he does get 'involved' disposal-wise, 4 out of his 10 touches are clangers.
I completely agree about his athletic ability and having the toolkit to do well, but as you say he just doesn't give enough effort. Could be tank related, but I think it's just a pure lack of ability to read the game of footy that's his biggest limitation.