2015: Premium Rucks

[Erich1036]

[TABLE]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]Jacobs
[/TD]
[TD]Mumford
[/TD]
[TD]Sandilands
[/TD]
[TD]Goldstein
[/TD]
[TD]Naitanui
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Age:
[/TD]
[TD]26
[/TD]
[TD]28
[/TD]
[TD]32
[/TD]
[TD]26
[/TD]
[TD]24
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Estimated starting price:
[/TD]
[TD]$622K
[/TD]
[TD]$616K
[/TD]
[TD]$583K
[/TD]
[TD]$576K
[/TD]
[TD]$490K
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2014 avg:
[/TD]
[TD]115.4 (22)
[/TD]
[TD]114.2 (17)
[/TD]
[TD]108 (21)
[/TD]
[TD]106.9 (21)
[/TD]
[TD]90.8 (20)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2013 avg:
[/TD]
[TD]85.3 (22)
[/TD]
[TD]91.9 (19)
[/TD]
[TD]64 (7)
[/TD]
[TD]113.5 (22)
[/TD]
[TD]96.2 (11)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2012 avg:
[/TD]
[TD]102.1 (21)
[/TD]
[TD]90.9 (14)
[/TD]
[TD]112.6 (12)
[/TD]
[TD]93 (20)
[/TD]
[TD]114.2 (20)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]100+ games in 2014:
[/TD]
[TD]18 of 22 (10 120+)
[/TD]
[TD]12 of 17 (6 120+)
[/TD]
[TD]12 of 21 (6 120+)
[/TD]
[TD]12 of 21 (7 120+)
[/TD]
[TD]9 of 20 (3 120+)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sub 80 games in 2014:
[/TD]
[TD]3 of 22
[/TD]
[TD]2 of 17
[/TD]
[TD]1 of 21
[/TD]
[TD]4 of 21
[/TD]
[TD]8 of 20
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Highest score in 2014:
[/TD]
[TD]164
[/TD]
[TD]165
[/TD]
[TD]154
[/TD]
[TD]166
[/TD]
[TD]145
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lowest score in 2014:
[/TD]
[TD]57; 69
[/TD]
[TD]40
[/TD]
[TD]76
[/TD]
[TD]69
[/TD]
[TD]27; 53
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Highest career score:
[/TD]
[TD]164
[/TD]
[TD]175
[/TD]
[TD]172
[/TD]
[TD]168
[/TD]
[TD]185
[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

Genuine ruck options will be pretty limited in 2015 and most teams will turn to one of these 5 if looking for a ruck premium. Getting the rucks right from the start plays a huge factor in the success of your team at the end of the year. Interested to see if anyone is bypassing the mid-pricers in Kreuzer and Leuenberger and going for two premiums! Don't forget to vote in the poll above.

 

[Brettthejett]

The only likely one ill start is nicnat provided he gets dpp the others ill just wait and see who is going good buy rd6 or so and start luey and Kreuser most likely

 

[Nathan]

The thought of NOT picking Goldstein hasn't entered my mind.

 

[Bijou]

At this stage I've got my eyes locked firmly upon Naitanui. Too good to pass up at that price for me especially with Cox retiring.

Would love to start with Jacobs (easily the best ruckman of 2014 in my opinion) but I'm not comfortable dishing out 622K for him when other underpriced options in Naitanui, Leuenberger and Kreuzer are floating around. Will be aiming to get him in after his BYE presuming he's doing well again in 2015.

 

[Benno]

I have both Goldstein and Nic Nat penciled in at R1 and R2

 

[Ricky Bobby]

I like the look of Goldstein to start. Only averaged 86 up to Rnd 11, so must have averaged about 126 for the final 11 rounds to end the season on 106.

 

[Jurn Stern]

There looks to be a bit of value in the rucks, and I prefer Goldstein's run home. I'll start with Nic Nat and some mid pricers. Aim to get Goldstein if he drops a little

 

[Goodie's Guns]

Nic Nat and Goldstein the two I will be genuinely considering.

 

[Hawk]

Same strategy as last year in the rucks for me. Spending as little as possible. Accepting the fact I will probably burn 2-3 trades on that line regardless, so I'd like to make some money early and re-assess who is the form ruck at the half way mark. Leuenberger / Kreuzer or Naitanui / Kreuzer look to be my current selections.

 

[Philzsay]

Gee NicNat looked in good nick tonight as in fitness wise and being over any injuries (international Rules game).

For R1 I am definitely selecting a premium which at this stage is likely to be either Goldy or NicNat.

Haven't deciced on the strategy for R2 yet, whether to go another premium or one of the mid priced value picks.

Also not sure yet on the R3 strategy on how much coin to spend here.

 

[Philzsay]

I have both Goldstein and Nic Nat penciled in at R1 and R2

It is very tempting however the one concern is that they both have the round 13 bye. Although with just 18 players scores counting and round 12 being the bigger concern for the mids perhaps one can deliberately select two R13 bye ruck players.

 

[Mr Young]

How do we feel about Stefan Martin? Of the choices above I like Nic Nat the best and might toy with a bargain.

 

[Deeman1]

How do we feel about Stefan Martin? Of the choices above I like Nic Nat the best and might toy with a bargain.

Personally, I think there are too many ???'s over his roll, none that least Luenberger coming back into the team.

I think that there is a lot of difference between getting Martin at $330k and hoping that he scores well and makes some cash and paying $600k + and hoping for the same, with Leunberger returning.

Martin, whilst he shown great scoring last year, I am unsure as to if he will be able to repeat the same rate of scoring.

 

[Philzsay]

I have the same thoughts as Deeman.

I have simply put a line through Martin, Lobbe and Ryder because they have all gone from essentially the sole ruck last year to sharing the role this year.

 

[Prochard]

If fit, Kreuzer and Nic nat are must haves. an alternative is Goldstein.
Jacobs Sandilands Mummy etc? yuck.

 

[kakarot]

At this early stage I have Naitanui/Kreuzer/Leuenberger/Griffin pencilled in.

Naitanui as R1 if he looks fit enough at the end of the preseason, otherwise Goldstein here. Kreuzer/Leuey looped as R2 with Griffin who probably won't be in the Freo side to start the year.

No sense in gambling on Kreuzer/Leuey as R1/R2, that will only end in tears. Bellchambers is one to watch too, but I won't be plonking him in the forward line in my initial side just to have a player float across the R/F lines. If Belly's in the team, it's because he's shown enough to be an R2 that makes 150K+, allowing Kreuzer/Leuey to potentially be backup R3 with Griffin still at R4. As Philzsay has already pointed out, Freo play their games deep into a lot of rounds so this works nicely at face value. If I generate enough faith with Belly at R2, could have Griffin at R3 and someone like Wright or Nankervis as R4 to save money, but I like that option less.

 

[Courtesans]

Nice hit out by Nic Nat. He and Leuenberger will prove popular at this early stage.

 

[Grant]

I won't be spending 500k+ for any ruck initially next season. It is quite possible to get a ruck over 100k cheaper than some top premiums that actually score better. Compare that to the mids where basically the top premiums are 90% sure to score better than a similarly cheaper option.

 

[IDIG]

Still have painful memories of not owning Jacobs last year but at 622 he's damn hard to consider.

NicNat's gotta be up there now after the other night.

 

[IDIG]

How do we feel about Stefan Martin? Of the choices above I like Nic Nat the best and might toy with a bargain.

Personally, I think there are too many ???'s over his roll, none that least Luenberger coming back into the team.

I think that there is a lot of difference between getting Martin at $330k and hoping that he scores well and makes some cash and paying $600k + and hoping for the same, with Leunberger returning.

Martin, whilst he shown great scoring last year, I am unsure as to if he will be able to repeat the same rate of scoring.

I have the same thoughts as Deeman.

I have simply put a line through Martin, Lobbe and Ryder because they have all gone from essentially the sole ruck last year to sharing the role this year.

I'm with yas, staying welll away from Martin and the whole Brisbane ruck situation is too much of an unknown for mine.