Position Rucks Discussion

[Santoz]

I’ve basically convinced myself to avoid any rucks at a premo price for now. If this is a silly idea in 3 weeks time, someone intervene please.

Further to this, does anyone feel happy and willing to give a 530k priced ruck or lower a push as someone who could be at minimum a placeholder and at best one that could be a placeholder that scores well and makes $$$.

Currently have Nank in my team as he's been able to improve his average significantly each season, looks to have no competition for his spot and the Tigers seem to be a team people feel will improve.

Also looked at Witts as I feel he's priced well and could score well early looking at his draw. Cops Gawn in R8 so would be looking to switch him around then.

Anyone else I should have my eye on?

 

[Nathan]

Further to this, does anyone feel happy and willing to give a 530k priced ruck or lower a push as someone who could be at minimum a placeholder and at best one that could be a placeholder that scores well and makes $$$.

Currently have Nank in my team as he's been able to improve his average significantly each season, looks to have no competition for his spot and the Tigers seem to be a team people feel will improve.

Also looked at Witts as I feel he's priced well and could score well early looking at his draw. Cops Gawn in R8 so would be looking to switch him around then.

Anyone else I should have my eye on?

I have English for this purpose

 

[WO FAT]

Further to this, does anyone feel happy and willing to give a 530k priced ruck or lower a push as someone who could be at minimum a placeholder and at best one that could be a placeholder that scores well and makes $$$.

Currently have Nank in my team as he's been able to improve his average significantly each season, looks to have no competition for his spot and the Tigers seem to be a team people feel will improve.

Also looked at Witts as I feel he's priced well and could score well early looking at his draw. Cops Gawn in R8 so would be looking to switch him around then.

Anyone else I should have my eye on?

Darcy if Sandi is out for extended period

 

[Tails]

Further to this, does anyone feel happy and willing to give a 530k priced ruck or lower a push as someone who could be at minimum a placeholder and at best one that could be a placeholder that scores well and makes $$$.

Currently have Nank in my team as he's been able to improve his average significantly each season, looks to have no competition for his spot and the Tigers seem to be a team people feel will improve.

Also looked at Witts as I feel he's priced well and could score well early looking at his draw. Cops Gawn in R8 so would be looking to switch him around then.

Anyone else I should have my eye on?

Just my thoughts .... and nothing really to back it up with though ...

A 530k ruck is currently priced to ave 98
- on that line that probably won't cut it as I can't see the top two guns going below it ... still hard to fit them in though as it severely weakens other lines on paper ... but potentially saves a trade ...

On other lines there are plenty more value options that could score 98+ ... literally dozens of them and too many to name ...

 

[Lost In The Sky]

Wouldn't consider Lycett due to his poor HTA rate and I don't expect that to change at his new club:
2018:
HTA: 24.06%
2016:
HTA: 25.79%

Since 2015 Lycett has recorded 949 hitouts from 49 matches with only 237 to advantage for a HTA Rate of 24.97%.

Yeah, that has been the knock against him. He can generally score more from being around the contests - rated above average for clearances in the prospectus.

That's very much the thing with Lycett... he will give it his all and give you aggression, but will always have modest HTA numbers and struggle against the taller rucks.

Was eclipsed by Vardy in the late rounds of the season and through the finals, but he's a handy player. He'll give you a contest in the ruck without winning a great deal, but once the ball hits the deck he is at his best as his attack on the ball and man are first class.

Not one I'd be looking at SC wise as I think we'll just get more of the same from him despite the change of clubs.

 

[Santoz]

Just my thoughts .... and nothing really to back it up with though ...

A 530k ruck is currently priced to ave 98
- on that line that probably won't cut it as I can't see the top two guns going below it ... still hard to fit them in though as it severely weakens other lines on paper ... but potentially saves a trade ...

On other lines there are plenty more value options that could score 98+ ... literally dozens of them and too many to name ...

I was thinking just as a placeholder until Grundy/Gawn drop in price. If either could be around the 600k mark by upgrade time then I'd take that as a win as I feel with Nank or Witts I wouldn't be losing too many points before the swap.

English I don't have much faith in scoring well enough sorry @Nathan

 

[Tails]

I was thinking just as a placeholder until Grundy/Gawn drop in price. If either could be around the 600k mark by upgrade time then I'd take that as a win as I feel with Nank or Witts I wouldn't be losing too many points before the swap.

English I don't have much faith in scoring well enough sorry @Nathan

I've thought about and see it like this:

- If the two big guns can ave 115 - 120+ even though they drop slightly in price all is good as even with 30 trades that is two I don't need to worry about .. one for cover is no big deal.

- Looking at last years averages outside of the rucks only 5 players went better than 115+ MacRae, TMitch, Paddy, Oliver, Cripps and an additional further 5 went 110+ in Fyfe, Kelly, Neale, Treloar, Llyod ... sure the rucks look expensive but I guess it comes down to if you're going for overall or just purely league wins ..

- If either of the two big gun rucks look potentially to bleeding significant cash and I nail other positions I have until round 3 before I realise any cash loss and still have room to make a correction/downgrade/upgrade moves ... if they get off to a flyer though good luck on trying to bring either of them in ...

 

[lavenderbandit]

Really struggling with the ruck strategy like so many others. And i don't mean which players. Probably just rehashing a lot of other posts in the thread to date but options are:

1 Just go the big 2. Accept that it is highly unlikely they will back up due to injury etc. however based on last year they are 2 perma captain options. Worst case sideways to the ruck that presents at bye time or before, easier said than done

2 Grundy plus a breakout, eg nank hoping you nail that breakout pick and use the 200k elsewhere, but I'm not confident the 200k is used wisely. Eg messing around it basically upgrades a mid rookie to libba etc. But then he risks becoming a list clogger

3. High priced ruck + swingmam eg hoff who goes forward to get the ruck flyer. Has merit but banks on hoff being top 8 fwd. Does provide cover later for a ruck out

4. Back to the future: goldy, Stef.... Hope they find past form

5. Low priced madness: English, Darcy, forte, mummy etc hope they worst case hold value best case make 150k+++ and upgrade during byes etc

Probably more iterations of the above. Currently have option 1 and or looks great on paper but history says the probability of success is low. But capt options. I also just find that i use the extra funds to bring in iffy picks in def or fwd if i downgrade grundy or gawn

Not sure jlt will make it clearer at all.

Anyone if someone can magically solve this for me please do...

 

[Darkie]

Further to this, does anyone feel happy and willing to give a 530k priced ruck or lower a push as someone who could be at minimum a placeholder and at best one that could be a placeholder that scores well and makes $$$.

Currently have Nank in my team as he's been able to improve his average significantly each season, looks to have no competition for his spot and the Tigers seem to be a team people feel will improve.

Also looked at Witts as I feel he's priced well and could score well early looking at his draw. Cops Gawn in R8 so would be looking to switch him around then.

Anyone else I should have my eye on?

If you're happy to have a pure placeholder at worst and want some chance of decent upside, I think Nank is a decent pick, or you could just find a fraction more cash and get Goldy. I would not be surprised if he beats Gawn should Preuss get some decent ruck time.

 

[Bomber18]

Really struggling with the ruck strategy like so many others. And i don't mean which players. Probably just rehashing a lot of other posts in the thread to date but options are:

1 Just go the big 2. Accept that it is highly unlikely they will back up due to injury etc. however based on last year they are 2 perma captain options. Worst case sideways to the ruck that presents at bye time or before, easier said than done

2 Grundy plus a breakout, eg nank hoping you nail that breakout pick and use the 200k elsewhere, but I'm not confident the 200k is used wisely. Eg messing around it basically upgrades a mid rookie to libba etc. But then he risks becoming a list clogger

3. High priced ruck + swingmam eg hoff who goes forward to get the ruck flyer. Has merit but banks on hoff being top 8 fwd. Does provide cover later for a ruck out

4. Back to the future: goldy, Stef.... Hope they find past form

5. Low priced madness: English, Darcy, forte, mummy etc hope they worst case hold value best case make 150k+++ and upgrade during byes etc

Probably more iterations of the above. Currently have option 1 and or looks great on paper but history says the probability of success is low. But capt options. I also just find that i use the extra funds to bring in iffy picks in def or fwd if i downgrade grundy or gawn

Not sure jlt will make it clearer at all.

Anyone if someone can magically solve this for me please do...

JLT has the potential to make it very clear - ie: a no.1 ruck gets injured followed by an opportunity to a rookie ruck. Or if someone like Fort, A.Smith, Z.Clarke or R.O'Brien have good performances in the JLT and get named in round one.

I've got plenty of considerations still as well for the rucks. I'm pretty likely to lock in Grundy for R1 but could go any of Gawn, Goldy/Hoff, Kreuzer/Lycett, A.Smith/Z.Clarke/Fort/O'Brien at R2. The ones I haven't considered as yet are the 300k guys like English/Darcy - if they can't make 100-150k and just stay at $300k, may as well have gotten Gawn for his 110+ scoring despite the price drop.

 

[Bomber18]

If you're happy to have a pure placeholder at worst and want some chance of decent upside, I think Nank is a decent pick, or you could just find a fraction more cash and get Goldy. I would not be surprised if he beats Gawn should Preuss get some decent ruck time.

I'm not sure about the "pure placeholder" strategy. Banking on Gawn to fall down to sub $600k (so possibly +$100k in value gained) and then hoping your $500-550k hold their price - is that worthwhile use of a trade? I'm not sure how the points lost/gained stack up either.

If Goldy can match Gawn in scoring, I think he's probably the best R2. But I'm not sure how confident you can be that Gawn doesn't beat Goldy by 10ppg+ throughout the course of the year.

 

[Tails]

Really struggling with the ruck strategy like so many others. And i don't mean which players. Probably just rehashing a lot of other posts in the thread to date but options are:

1 Just go the big 2. Accept that it is highly unlikely they will back up due to injury etc. however based on last year they are 2 perma captain options. Worst case sideways to the ruck that presents at bye time or before, easier said than done

2 Grundy plus a breakout, eg nank hoping you nail that breakout pick and use the 200k elsewhere, but I'm not confident the 200k is used wisely. Eg messing around it basically upgrades a mid rookie to libba etc. But then he risks becoming a list clogger

3. High priced ruck + swingmam eg hoff who goes forward to get the ruck flyer. Has merit but banks on hoff being top 8 fwd. Does provide cover later for a ruck out

4. Back to the future: goldy, Stef.... Hope they find past form

5. Low priced madness: English, Darcy, forte, mummy etc hope they worst case hold value best case make 150k+++ and upgrade during byes etc

Probably more iterations of the above. Currently have option 1 and or looks great on paper but history says the probability of success is low. But capt options. I also just find that i use the extra funds to bring in iffy picks in def or fwd if i downgrade grundy or gawn

Not sure jlt will make it clearer at all.

Anyone if someone can magically solve this for me please do...

All I see in this thread is the the same questions being posted over and over again using different wording. My take is that:

- someone will be right and brag about it
- not really that many options so do some research and back yourself in
- if you blindly follow anyone's advice in this thread then to me you're lazy and have no one else to blame if it doesn't work out

 

[BlueNwhiteHoops]

I was thinking just as a placeholder until Grundy/Gawn drop in price. If either could be around the 600k mark by upgrade time then I'd take that as a win as I feel with Nank or Witts I wouldn't be losing too many points before the swap.

English I don't have much faith in scoring well enough sorry @Nathan

At 480K id consider him over Goldy at 550k IF i thought i was going to have to trade up to Gawn at some point anyway and IF he rucked for a better team but...how can you pick a guy rucking to the worst midfield in the competition?

 

[Woodsey]

JLT has the potential to make it very clear - ie: a no.1 ruck gets injured followed by an opportunity to a rookie ruck. Or if someone like Fort, A.Smith, Z.Clarke or R.O'Brien have good performances in the JLT and get named in round one.

I've got plenty of considerations still as well for the rucks. I'm pretty likely to lock in Grundy for R1 but could go any of Gawn, Goldy/Hoff, Kreuzer/Lycett, A.Smith/Z.Clarke/Fort/O'Brien at R2. The ones I haven't considered as yet are the 300k guys like English/Darcy - if they can't make 100-150k and just stay at $300k, may as well have gotten Gawn for his 110+ scoring despite the price drop.

Completely agree - The JLT has the potential to not only change your ruck structure but it can completely change any structure or plan you have. The best coaches consider a wide range of players and structures so that they can be flexible when something doesnt go to plan.

While Rd 1 is still a while away why not play around and see how various players and their prices impact your team.
Grundy has hardly left my side all year, but he has had plenty of partners at R2 while I have been trying to find the right balance.
At this stage I believe the security of the Grundstein partnership and subsequent 'points in the bank' is greater than the saved $$ and having an extra premium def/fwd, even when building in the hypothetical trading plans to get to Gawn in Rd 6/7.
I would rather take the risk on a discounted Gresham/Roberton even Rockliff type than on a ruck where there is a smaller margin for error.

 

[randomcliche]

All I see in this thread is the the same questions being posted over and over again using different wording. My take is that:

- someone will be right and brag about it
- not really that many options so do some research and back yourself in
- if you blindly follow anyone's advice in this thread then to me you're lazy and have no one else to blame if it doesn't work out

I think this is one of the most interesting lines. So many issues, injuries, roles, rules, so much fun, but yes we are going to have to wait for JLT, hence it does become a bit repetitive in the mean time..

 

[freowho]

All I see in this thread is the the same questions being posted over and over again using different wording. My take is that:

- someone will be right and brag about it
- not really that many options so do some research and back yourself in
- if you blindly follow anyone's advice in this thread then to me you're lazy and have no one else to blame if it doesn't work out

You've just destroyed the whole premise of the forum! ?
Are you Jordan Petersen?

 

[donnybuang]

Really struggling with the ruck strategy like so many others. And i don't mean which players. Probably just rehashing a lot of other posts in the thread to date but options are:

1 Just go the big 2. Accept that it is highly unlikely they will back up due to injury etc. however based on last year they are 2 perma captain options. Worst case sideways to the ruck that presents at bye time or before, easier said than done

2 Grundy plus a breakout, eg nank hoping you nail that breakout pick and use the 200k elsewhere, but I'm not confident the 200k is used wisely. Eg messing around it basically upgrades a mid rookie to libba etc. But then he risks becoming a list clogger

3. High priced ruck + swingmam eg hoff who goes forward to get the ruck flyer. Has merit but banks on hoff being top 8 fwd. Does provide cover later for a ruck out

4. Back to the future: goldy, Stef.... Hope they find past form

5. Low priced madness: English, Darcy, forte, mummy etc hope they worst case hold value best case make 150k+++ and upgrade during byes etc

Probably more iterations of the above. Currently have option 1 and or looks great on paper but history says the probability of success is low. But capt options. I also just find that i use the extra funds to bring in iffy picks in def or fwd if i downgrade grundy or gawn

Not sure jlt will make it clearer at all.

Anyone if someone can magically solve this for me please do...

I guess the extra 200i could be good if it helps you get from Libba to a dusty type. Or if you're skipping both G & G. The extra 400 can get you from a rookie to a premo.

 

[Tails]

I think this is one of the most interesting lines. So many issues, injuries, roles, rules, so much fun, but yes we are going to have to wait for JLT, hence it does become a bit repetitive in the mean time..

No worries .. might have been a touch harsh in that comment .... trying to find new stuff to read after punching away at numbers each day in my research.

Only looked at a handful of rucks out of curiosity. For instance ... looking at the numbers if the following players manage to back up last years averages against this years draw:

Grundy: Would have a pre bye ave of 132 and season ave of 130. Last year he went 125 pre byes and 137 post byes. This year pre bye he faces 3 teams that he didn't go 110+ against last year (WCE 99, STK 109 and MEL 98). Currently priced at a 130 ave. Had Cox in the team last year.

Gawn: Would have a pre bye ave of 128 and season ave of 127. Last year he went 126 pre byes and 130 post byes. This year pre bye he faces 3 teams that he didn't go 110+ against last year (GEE 139/99, SYD 82 and COL 76). Currently priced at a 128 ave. Has Preuss in the team this year.

Westhoff: Would have a pre bye ave of 99 and season ave of 109. Last year he went 107 pre byes and 97 post byes. This year pre bye he faces 7 teams that he didn't go 100+ against last year (BRI 82, RIC 92, WCE 85/86, ADE 116/73, GCS 89 and HAW 75). Currently priced at a 101 ave. Spent more time around the ball last year due to ruck duties. Also had the early bye last year.

Goldy: Would have a pre bye ave of 99 and season ave of 112. Last year he went 93 pre byes and 110 post byes. This year pre bye he faces 6 teams that he didn't go 100+ against last year (BRI 123/61, HAW 77, PTA 88, COL 76, SYD 76/123 and RIC 69). Currently priced at a 101 ave. Had a very slow start last year.

Nank: Would have a pre bye ave of 99 and season ave of 96. Last year he went 93 pre byes and 106 post byes. This year pre bye he faces 8 teams that he didn't go 100+ against last year (CAR 95, COL 128/82, GWS 95, PTA 54, MEL 71, FRE 81, ESS 98/97 and GEE 90/96). Currently priced at a 98 ave. Missed a game post bye last year.

Witts: Would have a pre bye ave of 90 and season ave of 88. Last year he went 97 pre byes and 83 post byes. This year pre bye he faces 9 teams that he didn't go 100+ against last year (STK 54 x 2, FRE 63, CAR 105/81, ADE 53, BRI 117/84, WCE 92, MEL 65/92 and GEE 82/67). Currently priced at a 89 ave. Had the early bye last year.

Now I understand that this is a very small sample size and doesn't take into account weather, injuries, match ups etc ..... and the new rules coming in this year. Also haven't watched a single match yet this year ... just trying to narrow down the pool of players to put the jigsaw puzzle together from what I've been reading and some of last years numbers, role changes etc.

 

[Tails]

You've just destroyed the whole premise of the forum! ?
Are you Jordan Petersen?

Never heard of that name before ...

 

[lavenderbandit]

No worries .. might have been a touch harsh in that comment .... trying to find new stuff to read after punching away at numbers each day in my research.

Only looked at a handful of rucks out of curiosity. For instance ... looking at the numbers if the following players manage to back up last years averages against this years draw:

Grundy: Would have a pre bye ave of 132 and season ave of 130. Last year he went 125 pre byes and 137 post byes. This year pre bye he faces 3 teams that he didn't go 110+ against last year (WCE 99, STK 109 and MEL 98). Currently priced at a 130 ave. Had Cox in the team last year.

Gawn: Would have a pre bye ave of 128 and season ave of 127. Last year he went 126 pre byes and 130 post byes. This year pre bye he faces 3 teams that he didn't go 110+ against last year (GEE 139/99, SYD 82 and MEL 76). Currently priced at a 128 ave. Has Preuss in the team this year.

Westhoff: Would have a pre bye ave of 99 and season ave of 109. Last year he went 107 pre byes and 97 post byes. This year pre bye he faces 7 teams that he didn't go 100+ against last year (BRI 82, RIC 92, WCE 85/86, ADE 116/73, GCS 89 and HAW 75). Currently priced at a 101 ave. Spent more time around the ball last year due to ruck duties. Also had the early bye last year.

Goldy: Would have a pre bye ave of 99 and season ave of 112. Last year he went 93 pre byes and 110 post byes. This year pre bye he faces 6 teams that he didn't go 100+ against last year (BRI 123/61, HAW 77, PTA 88, COL 76, SYD 76/123 and RIC 69). Currently priced at a 101 ave. Had a very slow start last year.

Nank: Would have a pre bye ave of 99 and season ave of 96. Last year he went 93 pre byes and 106 post byes. This year pre bye he faces 8 teams that he didn't go 100+ against last year (CAR 95, COL 128/82, GWS 95, PTA 54, MEL 71, FRE 81, ESS 98/97 and GEE 90/96). Currently priced at a 98 ave. Missed a game post bye last year.

Witts: Would have a pre bye ave of 90 and season ave of 88. Last year he went 97 pre byes and 83 post byes. This year pre bye he faces 9 teams that he didn't go 100+ against last year (STK 54 x 2, FRE 63, CAR 105/81, ADE 53, BRI 117/84, WCE 92, MEL 65/92 and GEE 82/67). Currently priced at a 89 ave. Had the early bye last year.

Now I understand that this is a very small sample size and doesn't take into account weather, injuries, match ups etc ..... and the new rules coming in this year. Also haven't watched a single match yet this year ... just trying to narrow down the pool of players to put the jigsaw puzzle together from what I've been reading and some of last years numbers, role changes etc.

all good no offense was taken! i did some research earlier in the thread on age, and that had me with Grundy/Nank in my team but back to Grawndy now. i just find that the when i change a midfielder (eg fyfe keeps coming in/out of my team) it really doesnt impact any other lines but everytime i mess with the rucks, i dont feel i put the cash to good use as it sees me freeing up so much cash that i end up 5 deep in the fwd or def, which means i have little room for mistakes.

anyways that is part of the fun of this game, i hope i am your option 1 about being the bloke who bragged he was right!