Position 2022: Ruck Discussion
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Just as telling he went from ~80% of CBA for the first 6 rounds, when he averaged 141, to ~70% the rest of the way where he averaged 113. (I removed the game that Jackson missed where he rucked 96% and scored 117).
He absolutely could still be the top ruck but I do expect the Jackson development trend to continue and, if anything, would expect it to increase.
It's genuinely impressive the lack of definition and muscle on the kid at this point! Even Tim English might be able to push him around
Looks like he's got a few years in a gym and steaks for breakfast, lunch and tea ahead of him!
He absolutely could still be the top ruck but I do expect the Jackson development trend to continue and, if anything, would expect it to increase.
It's genuinely impressive the lack of definition and muscle on the kid at this point! Even Tim English might be able to push him around
Looks like he's got a few years in a gym and steaks for breakfast, lunch and tea ahead of him!
Just as telling he went from ~80% of CBA for the first 6 rounds, when he averaged 141, to ~70% the rest of the way where he averaged 113. (I removed the game that Jackson missed where he rucked 96% and scored 117).
He absolutely could still be the top ruck but I do expect the Jackson development trend to continue and, if anything, would expect it to increase.
It's genuinely impressive the lack of definition and muscle on the kid at this point! Even Tim English might be able to push him around
Looks like he's got a few years in a gym and steaks for breakfast, lunch and tea ahead of him!
He absolutely could still be the top ruck but I do expect the Jackson development trend to continue and, if anything, would expect it to increase.
It's genuinely impressive the lack of definition and muscle on the kid at this point! Even Tim English might be able to push him around
Looks like he's got a few years in a gym and steaks for breakfast, lunch and tea ahead of him!
I was looking at the colour of his top and the colour of the tops of the blokes roving to him
Think you need someone better than Comben behind Preuss to go for this path.
Preuss himself is in a genuine 2 way battle with the 3rd guy probably offering more as a forward and making more sense as the 2nd ruck option, if they go that path at all. So there's a lot of risk there if he doesn't play very well early, we saw last year that even after a brilliant start by Flynn he got the ass from Cameron's game of throwing darts to pick positions and players.
Comben is playing for the 2nd ruck role as a best case and he's in a 3 way battle where he's comfortably the worst ruckman. Given what they invested in Edwards he's also got to be at least in the mix for some game time. So basically for Comben to work it has to be as a forward and 2nd KPF in a questionable side is not a reliable role, especially if one of CCJ or Xerri is going to be dominating the VFL knocking on the door. I liked the look of Comben for what it is worth but can't ignore the JS question.
Super strong case that you're without a 2nd ruck in round 3!
Preuss himself is in a genuine 2 way battle with the 3rd guy probably offering more as a forward and making more sense as the 2nd ruck option, if they go that path at all. So there's a lot of risk there if he doesn't play very well early, we saw last year that even after a brilliant start by Flynn he got the ass from Cameron's game of throwing darts to pick positions and players.
Comben is playing for the 2nd ruck role as a best case and he's in a 3 way battle where he's comfortably the worst ruckman. Given what they invested in Edwards he's also got to be at least in the mix for some game time. So basically for Comben to work it has to be as a forward and 2nd KPF in a questionable side is not a reliable role, especially if one of CCJ or Xerri is going to be dominating the VFL knocking on the door. I liked the look of Comben for what it is worth but can't ignore the JS question.
Super strong case that you're without a 2nd ruck in round 3!
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Just as telling he went from ~80% of CBA for the first 6 rounds, when he averaged 141, to ~70% the rest of the way where he averaged 113. (I removed the game that Jackson missed where he rucked 96% and scored 117).
He absolutely could still be the top ruck but I do expect the Jackson development trend to continue and, if anything, would expect it to increase.
It's genuinely impressive the lack of definition and muscle on the kid at this point! Even Tim English might be able to push him around
Looks like he's got a few years in a gym and steaks for breakfast, lunch and tea ahead of him!
He absolutely could still be the top ruck but I do expect the Jackson development trend to continue and, if anything, would expect it to increase.
It's genuinely impressive the lack of definition and muscle on the kid at this point! Even Tim English might be able to push him around
Looks like he's got a few years in a gym and steaks for breakfast, lunch and tea ahead of him!
Yeah im pretty much sold on grundy + darcy
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Comben come up a few times and wish I could access the comments or articles I have seen.
I think Comben is not going for ruck role.
CCJ and Xerri are fighting for that and whilst they said nice words about Xerri, CCJ being brought in must be the front runner amongst other factor. Although irrelevant to this discussion.
Comben is one of two key forwards.Third forward will be ruckman resting.
Based on these comments and watching 10sec vision of Comben kicking a goal, I would say JS ok and scoring power low. Looked to mark with hands in someones back and goal from 15m out.
If no other options, likely to be fwd rookie for me with Preuss at R3. Only way Preuss gets to R2 in line with your view which is sensible and been forged in a pit of fire last season, is if Hayes gets a good and looks a solid R2 at Port.
That Darcy vision and comments look to be lifting my confidence in him. Expect Gawn will do better than our pessimistic expectations and will miss him from my side. Been there since game 3 of his debut year (albeit was my forward line).
I think Comben is not going for ruck role.
CCJ and Xerri are fighting for that and whilst they said nice words about Xerri, CCJ being brought in must be the front runner amongst other factor. Although irrelevant to this discussion.
Comben is one of two key forwards.Third forward will be ruckman resting.
Based on these comments and watching 10sec vision of Comben kicking a goal, I would say JS ok and scoring power low. Looked to mark with hands in someones back and goal from 15m out.
If no other options, likely to be fwd rookie for me with Preuss at R3. Only way Preuss gets to R2 in line with your view which is sensible and been forged in a pit of fire last season, is if Hayes gets a good and looks a solid R2 at Port.
That Darcy vision and comments look to be lifting my confidence in him. Expect Gawn will do better than our pessimistic expectations and will miss him from my side. Been there since game 3 of his debut year (albeit was my forward line).
This one in particular:
https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/1055070/norths-ruck-riddle
"
As for the race between Xerri and Coleman-Jones to support Goldstein, the victor may be determined by who can best impact forward of the ball. With young talents Nick Larkey and Charlie Comben set to start the year as the side's dual threat in attack, the Kangaroos are keen to involve a second ruckman alongside them. "I've seen teams play three talls, with the third being the ruck," Noble said. "Charlie has got some mobility. People probably haven't seen a lot of Charlie just yet … but he's got speed and you can add 'Larks' and another ruckman in there.
...
Comben, in particular, has been another shining light on the track for North Melbourne this pre-season. Having made his debut in round 22 last year, the 20-year-old has continued to improve his physique and impressive aerobic capacity over the summer and the club is excited to watch his budding partnership with Larkey unfold."
https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/1055070/norths-ruck-riddle
"
As for the race between Xerri and Coleman-Jones to support Goldstein, the victor may be determined by who can best impact forward of the ball. With young talents Nick Larkey and Charlie Comben set to start the year as the side's dual threat in attack, the Kangaroos are keen to involve a second ruckman alongside them. "I've seen teams play three talls, with the third being the ruck," Noble said. "Charlie has got some mobility. People probably haven't seen a lot of Charlie just yet … but he's got speed and you can add 'Larks' and another ruckman in there.
...
Comben, in particular, has been another shining light on the track for North Melbourne this pre-season. Having made his debut in round 22 last year, the 20-year-old has continued to improve his physique and impressive aerobic capacity over the summer and the club is excited to watch his budding partnership with Larkey unfold."
Biggest problem for North is Larkey doesn't really demand any special attention himself and he's the #1 which means that Comben isn't going to be isolated and will consistently have to deal with the 3rd tall who can just casually zone off and just read the play.
I liked the look of Comben but he doesn't scream a guy with JS, him starting at F2 doesn't mean much if Xerri starts outside the team and dominates the VFL and CCJ looks like a better forward, pretty quickly you it becomes CCJ as F2 and Comben in the VFL. Reckon there will be a lot of musical chairs because none of them are good enough right now to consistently contribute but all are deserving of AFL chances. It's also a very tall forwardline lacking in defensive pressure, especially when you throw in that Zurhaar plays tall and offers occasional pressure.
Still, would be great if he does lock the spot and provide a great option. Even a Kosi or Jones type effort last year would be a solid result. Would definitely prefer if he was the R2 also, that's more lucrative chance than F2 in a potentially weak side (I actually think North will be a competitive side but they might not be!).
I liked the look of Comben but he doesn't scream a guy with JS, him starting at F2 doesn't mean much if Xerri starts outside the team and dominates the VFL and CCJ looks like a better forward, pretty quickly you it becomes CCJ as F2 and Comben in the VFL. Reckon there will be a lot of musical chairs because none of them are good enough right now to consistently contribute but all are deserving of AFL chances. It's also a very tall forwardline lacking in defensive pressure, especially when you throw in that Zurhaar plays tall and offers occasional pressure.
Still, would be great if he does lock the spot and provide a great option. Even a Kosi or Jones type effort last year would be a solid result. Would definitely prefer if he was the R2 also, that's more lucrative chance than F2 in a potentially weak side (I actually think North will be a competitive side but they might not be!).
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That’s the issue.
Aside from Grundy, I just can’t see how anybody else will average as much as Darcy. I rank Gawn as 3rd best but a bit behind both Darcy and Grundy. Then Nic Nat and O Mac on the next tier.
I reckon if not Darcy then I would take the punt on Jackson at R2 with the expectation that he will end up on the FWD line. Problem is he’s likely to average anywhere from 80-100. If intending on keeping him then anything less than 95 is probably a loss. He feels a tad too expensive to be a successful stepping stone.
Aside from Grundy, I just can’t see how anybody else will average as much as Darcy. I rank Gawn as 3rd best but a bit behind both Darcy and Grundy. Then Nic Nat and O Mac on the next tier.
I reckon if not Darcy then I would take the punt on Jackson at R2 with the expectation that he will end up on the FWD line. Problem is he’s likely to average anywhere from 80-100. If intending on keeping him then anything less than 95 is probably a loss. He feels a tad too expensive to be a successful stepping stone.
Just reading a bit more on Darcy :-
On Saturday ruckman Sean Darcy and midfielder Darcy Tucker only played the opening half while fellow midfielder Will Brodie sat out the game, with all three dealing with what Longmuir described as ‘minor injuries’ that won’t affect their round one chances.
Darcy trained with the main group on Tuesday and is expected to take part in match sim minutes later this week.
“Sean, probably three weeks ago, had a little bit of Achilles tightness,” Longmuir said.
“We gave him a couple of sessions off. He’s done all the work for the past couple of weeks and then he got a knock on it in match sim.
“There’s a bit of bruising and we expect him to come up for this Friday and he shouldn’t (have) any issues.”
If he is fine/ moves well on Friday then I wouldn't be too concerned - seems they were just being very cautious with his achilles being tight.
On Saturday ruckman Sean Darcy and midfielder Darcy Tucker only played the opening half while fellow midfielder Will Brodie sat out the game, with all three dealing with what Longmuir described as ‘minor injuries’ that won’t affect their round one chances.
Darcy trained with the main group on Tuesday and is expected to take part in match sim minutes later this week.
“Sean, probably three weeks ago, had a little bit of Achilles tightness,” Longmuir said.
“We gave him a couple of sessions off. He’s done all the work for the past couple of weeks and then he got a knock on it in match sim.
“There’s a bit of bruising and we expect him to come up for this Friday and he shouldn’t (have) any issues.”
If he is fine/ moves well on Friday then I wouldn't be too concerned - seems they were just being very cautious with his achilles being tight.
