Controversial Opinion: We will/would be BETTER with LOBB in the ruck and English up forward in 2023.

[Mofra]

Could we extend this a step further and say that we'd just be better suited with English playing forward, Sweet playing ruck and Lobb not being in the side?

Sweet, to my eye, is that bash-and-crash, contested ball ruck and is a better ruckman than Lobb - so why not just play Jordan ruck and English forward of the ball?

I do agree that we're crying out for that player, but I don't think Bevo would. We've seen time and again that unless you're a mobile big man, he's just not going to play you. I don't think Huddo would've played a game of footy under Beveridge and he probably would've copped the Will Minson treatment. I think it has a lot to do with why we haven't gone for a mature-aged ruck despite being desperate to add another to the list - what's the point of Bev won't play them?

Sweet would have been brilliant in the 80s or 90s.
I'm not convinced on his around the ground work just yet. He's the perfect "first drop" ruckman for an AFL list though.

[Bulldog4life]

Agreed. Lobb has shown and produced more as a forward than Tim ever has.



Not sure about that. Lobb is also a pretty decent lead and mark forward from what I've seen.

When he kicked those goals against us at Marvel last year they were all from leads leading to the pocket and half forward line.

[Go_Dogs]

Can’t wait for English to dominate this year and change the tune of this thread.

Agree he’s also an awesome natural forward. But he can be a big banana ruck too. Not in the monster role, but in the I’ll get 25 important touches, mark everything and still kick a few goals mould.

[FrediKanoute]

No. But we would been better with Grundy in the ruck and English up forward.

[macca]

No. But we would been better with Grundy in the ruck and English up forward.

Fitting Grundy could be a challenge for the salary cap. Or it would require alot of brown paper bags quietly ushered away in wheel barrows

[Danjul]

No. But we would been better with Grundy in the ruck and English up forward.

When you sit back and look at the team performance English’s maximum contribution would be centre half back and second ruck. He is a better ball winner than anyone we have tried there lately. He would give the backline the confidence to straighten up and be attacking. And he is now good enough to neutralise Grundy.

Totally removing the failed tactic of running the ball around the boundary line with an infinite series of handball. That has repeatedly shown as the best way to get our forward players out of position and leave the backline unprepared for the rebound. Melbourne set up for it.

It also leaves the team out of energy later in the game, hence the astonishing fade-out which is becoming a hallmark.

Time to put the team and the club first.

All we need from the first ruck is to stop the opposition surges out of the centre, someone who can limit the 5 goals from 17 possessions in in 10 minutes.

Also, after Saturday I don’t see how Lobb’s performance can be rewarded with elevation. Contributed nothing.

We ridicule our own and accept that rubbish from imports.

[JanLorMill]

Fitting Grundy could be a challenge for the salary cap. Or it would require alot of brown paper bags quietly ushered away in wheel barrows

What we paying Lobb? Collingwood paying as well, easily done

[bornadog]

What we paying Lobb? Collingwood paying as well, easily done

Grundy looked cooked to me.

[JanLorMill]

Grundy looked cooked to me.

Most rucks seem to play well into their 30s but he still a better ruck than English and will stand up in finals.

[bornadog]

Most rucks seem to play well into their 30s but he still a better ruck than English and will stand up in finals.

Tim is only 25 years old and played 77 games. He is improving every year.

Rucks are not a problem, defence is.

[JanLorMill]

Tim is only 25 years old and played 77 games. He is improving every year.

Rucks are not a problem, defence is.

The past 4 finals campaigns say ruck is a problem.

[bornadog]

The past 4 finals campaigns say ruck is a problem.

GF - yes, other finals no

[azabob]

GF - yes, other finals no

English wasn’t great in the finals 19 & 20. GWS and Saints. Mind you, neither was the entire team!!

I’m sure he could’ve done more last year V freo to help stem the tide at the source.

[bornadog]

English wasn’t great in the finals 19 & 20. GWS and Saints. Mind you, neither was the entire team!!

I’m sure he could’ve done more last year V freo to help stem the tide at the source.

19 and 20 gee he was a 21 year old baby

[Jasper]

19 and 20 gee he was a 21 year old baby

Wasnt he already 19 the year we drafted him (2016) and was into his 4th season with us in 2020.
Doesnt that make him 23 by the finals in 2020?