bornadog
06-05-2013, 11:21 PM
Link (http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dogs-lone-ruckman-is-still-tapping-away-20130506-2j3m7.html)
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa198/mmsalih/art-353-svMINSON-300x0_zps9ac32c15.jpg (http://s202.photobucket.com/user/mmsalih/media/art-353-svMINSON-300x0_zps9ac32c15.jpg.html)
Will Minson is as good a tap ruckman as any other in the AFL, according to Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney. But he has a bit of work to do if he is to become the best big man in the competition.
The 198-centimetre Minson is leading the competition for total hit-outs after six rounds, with 236 at an average of 39.3. The next best is North Melbourne's Todd Goldstein, with 230, ahead of West Coast's Dean Cox on 179.
He could even be on track for his first All-Australian selection, having dominated the ruck in each of his six outings this season, highlighted by 47 and 48 hit-out performances in round four against Adelaide and round two against Fremantle respectively.
Minson was solo against the Eagles again on Sunday, winning 38 of his side's 40 hit-outs. West Coast had the luxury of playing three ruckmen - Cox, Nic Naitanui and Callum Sinclair - who combined for 57.
Mark Austin and Daniel Cross were the only other Dogs to record hit-outs against the Eagles.
As a result of Minson's efforts, Matt Boyd, Adam Cooney and Tom Liberatore got their hands on the ball in the middle first, won the centre clearances 19-13 and had the ball inside their attacking 50-metre area 53 times to the Eagles' 52.
They also kicked four goals from stoppages. But they lost by 70 points.
After the game McCartney was full of praise for Minson, but fell short of calling him the best ruckman in the AFL.
''As good a tap ruckman,'' he said. ''The really good ruckmen, they are multi-faceted in that they slip forward and take marks. They link up around the ground. That's what the best ruckmen do, but he has some great attributes that we really appreciate.''
Minson is yet to kick a goal in 2013. He has 66 majors in 142 games, but only 18 from the past three seasons.
Cox has seven so far this season, as does Sydney's Mike Pyke, while Tom Bellchambers has 10. Last season, of the top AFL ruckman, Cox led the way with 28 goals, while Naitanui and David Hale each kicked 24.
But the others benefit from what Minson does not have - another big man to take some of the load. So far in 2013, after Minson's 236 taps, Ayce Cordy is next best with 15.
''We're having to leave him in the ruck a fair bit of the time,'' McCartney conceded. ''Will's the sort of ruckman that suits. The more he grinds away the better he seems to handle it. We have some young talls in our club; a couple of them are injured.''
A back-up ruckman for Minson, 28, could well be on the top of the Bulldogs' hit list at the end of this season.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa198/mmsalih/art-353-svMINSON-300x0_zps9ac32c15.jpg (http://s202.photobucket.com/user/mmsalih/media/art-353-svMINSON-300x0_zps9ac32c15.jpg.html)
Will Minson is as good a tap ruckman as any other in the AFL, according to Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney. But he has a bit of work to do if he is to become the best big man in the competition.
The 198-centimetre Minson is leading the competition for total hit-outs after six rounds, with 236 at an average of 39.3. The next best is North Melbourne's Todd Goldstein, with 230, ahead of West Coast's Dean Cox on 179.
He could even be on track for his first All-Australian selection, having dominated the ruck in each of his six outings this season, highlighted by 47 and 48 hit-out performances in round four against Adelaide and round two against Fremantle respectively.
Minson was solo against the Eagles again on Sunday, winning 38 of his side's 40 hit-outs. West Coast had the luxury of playing three ruckmen - Cox, Nic Naitanui and Callum Sinclair - who combined for 57.
Mark Austin and Daniel Cross were the only other Dogs to record hit-outs against the Eagles.
As a result of Minson's efforts, Matt Boyd, Adam Cooney and Tom Liberatore got their hands on the ball in the middle first, won the centre clearances 19-13 and had the ball inside their attacking 50-metre area 53 times to the Eagles' 52.
They also kicked four goals from stoppages. But they lost by 70 points.
After the game McCartney was full of praise for Minson, but fell short of calling him the best ruckman in the AFL.
''As good a tap ruckman,'' he said. ''The really good ruckmen, they are multi-faceted in that they slip forward and take marks. They link up around the ground. That's what the best ruckmen do, but he has some great attributes that we really appreciate.''
Minson is yet to kick a goal in 2013. He has 66 majors in 142 games, but only 18 from the past three seasons.
Cox has seven so far this season, as does Sydney's Mike Pyke, while Tom Bellchambers has 10. Last season, of the top AFL ruckman, Cox led the way with 28 goals, while Naitanui and David Hale each kicked 24.
But the others benefit from what Minson does not have - another big man to take some of the load. So far in 2013, after Minson's 236 taps, Ayce Cordy is next best with 15.
''We're having to leave him in the ruck a fair bit of the time,'' McCartney conceded. ''Will's the sort of ruckman that suits. The more he grinds away the better he seems to handle it. We have some young talls in our club; a couple of them are injured.''
A back-up ruckman for Minson, 28, could well be on the top of the Bulldogs' hit list at the end of this season.