Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

[Bornadog]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

I don't think it is as simple as that though bornadog.

The side being too top heavy is a legitimate concern also. We don't have a great deal of pace as it is - and were exposed in this area on Sunday. So there is an element of risk in playing Campbell - who was pretty useless in his only AFL game this season.

I am in favour of playing Campbell this week, at Etihad - but personally I don't think playing 2 ruckmen, week in week out, should be a given either.

Then why can teams like Geelong play three ruckman plus have Hawkins up forward. We are already down a tall CHF and one less ruckman so I don't think we are top heavy. Agree Campbell didn't play well early on.

[Ozza]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

I don't necessarily think that just because Geelong or Hawthorn do something - that its obvious that we simply MUST follow suit. Its ok to approach games differently!

Geelong are using their sub differently to us - with Blicavs subbed in and Simpson or McIntosh subbed out in some of the games this year. On the weekend - all three played, as Hawthorn have Hale, Rough and McEvoy. And of all those rucks - Simpson, Blicavs and McEvoy all had minimal impact on the game other than cancelling each other out.

I very much doubt that Geelong can play all 3 rucks all year - I might be proven wrong - but I'm betting they'll make a call on at least one of them soon, especially seeing as though Simpson and Blicavs are both pretty ordinary and Mcintosh isn't the player he was.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

Then why can teams like Geelong play three ruckman plus have Hawkins up forward. We are already down a tall CHF and one less ruckman so I don't think we are top heavy. Agree Campbell didn't play well early on.

You certainly can't compare to Geelong. Their 3rd ruckman is not really a ruckman.

Blicavs is actually a very mobile tall, who can ruck. He has more run that every other player of his height in the competition. If he ever really learns to play the game he could be sensational.

Geelong do not lose mobility through him as we would with our ruck options.

[Bornadog]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

You certainly can't compare to Geelong. Their 3rd ruckman is not really a ruckman.

Blicavs is actually a very mobile tall, who can ruck. He has more run that every other player of his height in the competition. If he ever really learns to play the game he could be sensational.

Geelong do not lose mobility through him as we would with our ruck options.

So you are happy with one ruck?

[GVGjr]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

I don't necessarily think that just because Geelong or Hawthorn do something - that its obvious that we simply MUST follow suit. Its ok to approach games differently!

I agree, different playing lists can try other options. If we had someone like Ports Jackson Trengove or even Chris Dawes (not that I rate him) then we probably wouldn't be asking for a genuine 2nd ruckman to be played.
Minson needs a chop out and the best player to do that and still be of value around the ground when he is not in the ruck is Jordan Roughead. Perhaps if we weren't as reliant on him being our full back we could us if to provide Minson a couple of spells through the game.

Both Campbell and Cordy are better suited to being a full time ruckman which is not ideal for what we currently need although Campbell has at least played some decent games as a forward.

We certainly need to identify and draft or recruit a player that can command a spot in the senior line-up as a forward or even as a defender but is also capable of providing some short bursts in the ruck.

[GVGjr]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

So you are happy with one ruck?

At times this is a good option but really we just need a better relief option than Jones.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

So you are happy with one ruck?

Perhaps a horses for courses situation.

Yes, I think Will was helped by Campbell's emergence towards the end og 2013, but unless he can be a presence ruck or forward we have limited value.

I would like to see Will rest forward occasionly as he would at least require a big body from the opposition.

Towards the end of 2013 I did notice Will was getting more ball and this has disappeared in 2014. Perhaps there is a bigger issue with Will carrying a niggle of some sort, but he is definitely only a shadow of the 2013 version at the moment.

[Murphy'sLore]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

I hope he's not back on the soy...

[always right]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

Campbell playing to give Will a chop out. Agree with selection but worried about our defensive talks.

[Bornadog]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

Campbell playing to give Will a chop out. Agree with selection but worried about our defensive talks.

At last some sense with rucks at least.

[Mantis]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

At times this is a good option but really we just need a better relief option than Jones.

Has Jones been that bad in the ruck?

[Hotdog60]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

Has Jones been that bad in the ruck?

I would have thought he has competed well for a stop gap ruck. When Jones goes in the mids should setup defensive anyway.
My only question on Jones rucking would be the affect on his tank.

[GVGjr]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

Has Jones been that bad in the ruck?

We need a slightly better option in my opinion. Someone who could do it for a 15 minute stretch if required. Jones can handle a couple of 5 minute bursts but I think he struggles when he returns to the forward line.

[Bornadog]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

Has Jones been that bad in the ruck?

Whether he does well or not, when he is in the ruck, means the forward line has no KPP with some height.

[Mofra]

Re: Time to Give Will some help in the Ruck

Jones' biggest problem is his tank and he's lucky to manage 1 or 2 hitouts most games when giving a chop-out, so to be honest I think putting him in one of the most physically demanding positions on the field may give him a bit of a wake up in the short term but it certainly doesn't help the team in the long term.

As an aside, is the forward/ruck role one of the hardest to play well? There seems so few players that can actually play the role effectively and those that do often become a team whipping boy.