Is Roughead really in our best 22 - Right Now?

[stefoid]

He'll be right - he just needs a good run at being the ruck - play him there the whole preseason and let him get over is injuries and stuff.

[josie]

Has his form as a defender actually been that bad this year, when he's played there?

I can remember one game where he really struggled, vaguely, but can't pinpoint the detail of it........a little help?

Geelong at Cattery - recall he might have come back into side after injury (not sure about that). He was truly woeful that day - not even holding easy marks which is unlike him. Looked bereft of confidence. I know a lot of the side played uninspired footy that day, however he was one of the really poor players from my recollection.

[jeemak]

Geelong at Cattery - recall he might have come back into side after injury (not sure about that). He was truly woeful that day - not even holding easy marks which is unlike him. Looked bereft of confidence. I know a lot of the side played uninspired footy that day, however he was one of the really poor players from my recollection.

Thanks J. What a pisser that game was as part of the quagmire of mid season so and so guff we served up but managed to win here and there.

[Ozza]

Interesting topic.

As a ruckman, he is quite ordinary in the stoppages- and quite reasonable around the ground.
As a defender, well no doubts his best games have been played there. But we also have Roberts, Hamling and Talia competing for those roles- and when the opposition doesn't have a monster forward, then Rough can be without a great match up.
As a forward- he is rubbish.

For me, it's quite clear that defence is HIS best position. But for the team, he probably should continue rucking because Minsin is gone, Ayce can't play there, and Campbell is probably not quite where he needs to be, albeit a strong chance to be there.

Roughie was hugely disappointing today. Embarrassingly bad. But given he played a solid game against North- I can cop him being next weeks ruckman if Tom Boyd is in the side.

[jeemak]

I thought he was pretty ordinary in the ruck against Norf too, but I'm alone on that one.

[bornadog]

I thought he was pretty ordinary in the ruck against Norf too, but I'm alone on that one.

Goldstein had 54 hitouts to Roughead 20 and Redpath 5, so you are not alone their.

I think Roughead has struggled in defence and is only suited to the resting ruckman type, not the real gorilla forwards.

[Ozza]

I thought he was pretty ordinary in the ruck against Norf too, but I'm alone on that one.

I gave him a 'solid' game, on account of us having a good win in the clearances, some good bullocking work around the stoppages, and keeping Goldy under control around the ground (unlike today's pathetic effort).

[jeemak]

Goldstein had 54 hitouts to Roughead 20 and Redpath 5, so you are not alone their.

I think Roughead has struggled in defence and is only suited to the resting ruckman type, not the real gorilla forwards.

We probably differ on that front. Roughead has in previous seasons garnered mixed results without the team structured defence our backline benefits from nowadays. I genuinely believe aside from Wood he's our best intercept marking option if played in defence. As our ruck stocks have been proven either incompetent, barely competent or not quite ready as yet we've had to throw him around the ground more than I think he can handle, and due to a reasonable show in the ruck against Melbourne at the G he's been pushed away from defence and into the ruck out of necessity.

We've also had to blood Roberts and Hamling this year, which is a good thing to a point however, it's meant Roughead has been squeezed out somewhat.

I don't think the former is prepared enough at this stage, and if Campbell can come back and play ruck Roughead should get to go back and play on an Adelaide tall in the position he's had the most experience in over his AFL career.

[lemmon]

We've also had to blood Roberts and Hamling this year, which is a good thing to a point however, it's meant Roughead has been squeezed out somewhat.

I don't think the former is prepared enough at this stage, and if Campbell can come back and play ruck Roughead should get to go back and play on an Adelaide tall in the position he's had the most experience in over his AFL career.

Would you be leaving out Roberts or Hamling to make this happen? I don't see how we can justify dropping one of the incumbents who have both had pretty good years for a guy who had a half decent season as a full back 24 months ago. He was pretty poor their last year (shoulder or no shoulder) and he's had little to no exposed form in the back half this season.

It's hard not to like Roughy but if we are keeping the same ruck structure and want Campbell back in the side, I can't find a spot for him. He's a great leader and a good citizen but as a player I expect more from a guy with 87 games under his belt

[Scorlibo]

He'll be right - he just needs a good run at being the ruck - play him there the whole preseason and let him get over is injuries and stuff.

I agree with this. He's never been given an opportunity to play ruck as a mature body, he needs some time there to refine his craft.

In my opinion he's been just as effective at the hitouts as Campbell and is far more capable at ground level. His game against North was important for his team-high 8 tackles and Goldstein's limited impact. Admittedly Stef Martin pantsed him yesterday but two games in the ruck against the best two ruckmen in the comp - not a great sample size for judging his potential there.

We've seen what Roughy can offer down back and it's not awful but not great. I'm not confident he can be a cog in a premiership defense.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Roughead is a tough one.

You take him out of the team and look at him as an individual specimen, and he looks the goods.

He's coordinated, pretty agile, and moves well for a player his size. He's not one of those big dufus types.
He's generally a good kick and a pretty decent mark.

He is also touted as a very popular teammate and leadership material.

But you put him IN the team, and you're not quite sure what to do with him.

Already on this thread the suggestions have been CHF, Key defender, Ruck, and even wing?!?
He hasn't really nailed down a role. Maybe he will suddenly 'click' in a position, which CAN happen to players in the 24 -26 yr old age group. Players who, up until that point, have just been drifters.

Or.............maybe he won't?

Is he a handy utility to have on the interchange bench to cover for injury or just to replace someone who's having an off day? To plug a gap in attack, defence, or the ruck? A versatile chess piece to move around the board?
That, at the moment, would appear to be the best way to use him.

Wonder what he'd be worth in a trade?

[Sedat]

He'll be right - he just needs a good run at being the ruck - play him there the whole preseason and let him get over is injuries and stuff.

Don't think he'll be in the ruck next week, what with Walker, Jenkins and Tom Lynch roaming Adelaide's forward line. He takes Jenkins for mine.

[Rocco Jones]

Don't think he'll be in the ruck next week, what with Walker, Jenkins and Tom Lynch roaming Adelaide's forward line. He takes Jenkins for mine.

It's Roughy, Roberts and Campbell into 2 spots.

Is Roughy a better KPD option than Roberts next week?

[azabob]

Don't think he'll be in the ruck next week, what with Walker, Jenkins and Tom Lynch roaming Adelaide's forward line. He takes Jenkins for mine.

It's Roughy, Roberts and Campbell into 2 spots.

Is Roughy a better KPD option than Roberts next week?

Being at night will this impact our selections?

I wouldn't be surprised if we preferred to go small, very similar to how we went in against North Melbourne.

[Sedat]

Is Roughy a better KPD option than Roberts next week?

I'd say that is a marginal call either way, but Roughy gets the nod as he offers more in the event of injury on the night to a Campbell or a key forward.