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I also think Croft could be developed as a ruck option going forward, seems the type that can actually play multiple positions heck even a wing given his running capacity, rotating with English keeping Darcy forward, has the aggression too which we all crave for our rucks.
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It’s simple, English doesn’t have competition to improve, if fit he’s selected. Crossley would’ve given him something to consider. I think since all the concussion issues, he’s digressed.
it’s an early sample but I hope he comes out and shows us what he’s capable of.Comment
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I thought English was pretty competitive in the ruck last night.
This thread after one round is pretty funny have to say. Lvdm and McNeil played well so we need someone to flog.
I'm not an English sympathiser, he needs to constantly work hard to ensure he is competitive in the taps; I thought last night against a monster he did that.
Agree with around the ground stuff, wasn't his usual output, hopefully that improves with some more games.
Darcy and English splitting time might be a nice wildcard to have.BT COME BACK!
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I'm not sure arguing for/against Crossley is a hill I want to die on but if I recall the numbers Dolan had 500% more possessions yesterday than Crossley had vs Essendon (he had 1x kick I believe).
If you want to make an argument for a higher level backup ruckman who has the capacity to play alongside Tim - I get it. If your argument is we should have chosen a guys who SAID he had been eagerly awaiting a second chance but then showed up looking completely out of shape well...I basically don't get it. Right now, without Jamarra - we probably have the capacity in the 22 to have an extra tall...maybe our decision should be to play Gardner to support Tim and do a bit of pinch hitting down back?
I don't see much point in going back to debate whether or not we should have offered a list spot to Crossley a month or so back...that ship has sailed. Onward and upward.What should I tell her? She's going to ask.Comment
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He was absolutely humiliated last night, not sure how you can say he wasn’t that bad. To the point that he was basically dragged at points for Darcy leaving us very undermanned down forward. He was pathetic, not for the first time unfortunately - needs to find his 2023 form asap but as above, why would he bother? There’s zero reason for him to try with no other optionComment
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I agree, Tim was a polite and timid ruckman, but once he had the concussion issues he has gone even more conservative. We need him to be aggressive at the contest as the opposition know they can work out their plans based on him not being dominate. We need to change the way other teams plan against us especially when we have the likes of Bont and Trelaor in the midfield (when available) We should be able to set up knowing we are going to win the contest and run forward giving our forwards a good look at it while its 6 on 6.Comment
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I’m not too fussed looking at solo games in isolation or continuing the conversation about how much better we’d be with a bash and crash tap ruckman.
Id love for Tim to work on his strengths. He should be running his opponent ragged both ways and clocking 20 touches with 2 or more contested grabs and 5 or more uncontested grabs a game. Also kicking goal.
He’s always going to have limitations. That’s ok. Let’s maximise the stuff he beats just about every other ruck in and take that advantage. At moment for whatever reason we aren’t getting that outcome.Have you heard Butters wants to come to the Dogs?Comment
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I'm with the apparent minority who thought that English battled hard against a better ruck. I thought he initiated contact more than usual and attempted to take front spot more than usual. Xerri is top 2 genuine contest ruck in the comp.
English was disappointing with his around the ground work.
Checked the numbers -
Xerri - 93 ruck contests (29 CBA), 51 hitouts. 5 clearances, 17 disposals, 4 marks (2 contested), 7 tackles.
English - 78 contests (25 CBA), 25 hitouts, 3 clearances, 11 disposals, 4 marks.
Darcy - 23 contests (8 CBA), 6 hitouts, 2 clearances
Freijah - 8 ruck contests, 0 hitouts
Darling - 15 contests (2 CBA), 1 hitout, 1 clearanceComment
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Xerri - 54.8% hit outs won
English - 32.1% hit outs won
Darcy - 26.1% hit outs won
Freijah - 0% hit outs won
Darling - 7% hit outs won
I don't know why we'd drag Tim so we could lessen our chances of winning hit outs by even more. Rather, I think he was just being taken off the ball because we have a better option to compete against a very strong opponent (to give Tim a rest and to get Darcy into the game - it's not as if he was ripping it apart up forward), while North really didn't have anyone else to lessen the ruck load.
If someone could show me that Darcy was more effective than Tim was vs. Xerri then that would add a layer to the above.
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