Blue Sombrero wrote:
jim wrote:
Kreuzer is no good when he shares the ruck duties, stars when he does it on his own most of the day. Been the same for a long time. Ruck/rover type ruckman that needs to stay on the ball. Hence rather one ruckman so we can bring other type of players in, like Jaksch and Silvagni, who continue to kick lots of goals in the VFL. Be nice to bring Phillips in, given his form, but not sure if it helps us overall if it hurts Krezuer's game.
He was trounced today. Simple as that.
his main opponent got 32 hitouts, 14 to advantage.
Now I know you think hitouts to advantage aren't a real stat but when they translate to easy inside 50's and goals you should start believing in them.
Here is the reality.
Kreuzer might be the spirit of Carlton but he is NOT a tap ruckman and when the opposition is cutting your midfield to ribbons because you're being beaten convincingly in the ruck, being good at hustling, pushing, shoving and the rest of the things he does well is not enough. Gorringe dod not fire a shot in anger in the ruck today either, whereas the forst gamer from STK had a few touches and bobbed up for a goal. Gorringe is better at being a forward but he is no ruck or relieving ruck.
Kreuzer did not take one mark today. he had two frees where he was pushed under the ball.
Phillips was BOG in the twos yesterday so he must come in but for whom? He IS a tap ruckman, albeit not the best in the comp by a long shot. Gorringe will have to go for Phillips, I imagine but that means we still have Kreuzer as th #1 ruck and that is a worry.
If we know we are going to get beaten in the hitouts most weeks, we eed to set up the midfield for a losing ruck, which means we need to set up someone goal side of say, Stephens so he doesn't just waltz through the square, across the F50 and have 14 score involvements.
We all love Kreuzer but a tap ruckman he is not. We need to re-invent him as a ruck rover or a slow midfielder and let Phillips take the bounces.
I've read the thread BS as I expected read unwavering bias towards Kreuzer, from the usual posters. I totally agree with your post.
On the one hand he's our spirit, yet on the other, he's a liability. Been seeing this for years now. He is not going to start winning the ruck nor taking marks etc
I've read enough crap about Kreuzer's ideal setting, and the spirit of Carlton and so on and so on...you know, the conditions Kreuzer needs to perform.
@#$%&! the sentiments and lets be pragmatic about Kreuzer: he's not a tap ruckman! Kreuzer is a slow ruck rover and the best as he can as a ruckman when he's on his own.
Kreuzer played and amazing role against Geelong with umpteen jabs to get him going against a skinny ruckman, and yes beat Grundy and Lobbe (2nd and 3rd rate rucks) but he isn't the panacea of our ruck woes, and therefore not our future.
Kreuzer got beaten in all ways as the lone ruckman yesterday...in the middle, around the ground, whilst our 23yo developing ruckman was wasted in the twos yesterday.
The issue is not about who should play 2nd fiddle (Casboult Philips or Gorringe), but whether Kreuzer is the type of ruckman we need in a couple of years when we play finals. We gave him a 2 year contract. No more. That speaks for itself.
Wake up folks, we all love Kreuzer but it is obvious we need to find a bona fide No 1 ruck for the future. At the moment Philips seems to be the only one with potential who will fill that mantle. I'm not saying Philips will be our No 1, but what I am saying is that Kreuzer may be for us "our spirit" but he's not a ruckman.
Kreuzer got smashed in the ruck AGAIN!!!!