Pickle wrote:
Was at the game on Friday night and watched the reply as well. Think that Barnaby had another good game but he seriously needs some help out there. De luca worries me big time in the ruck as we always lose momentum. Don't think that Prenda and Red are solutions as they can only take the odd ruck contest here and there. French needs someone to give him a DECENT rest and provide a DECENT contest!!
Do we have a solution here or are our developing ruckmen not there yet?
Yep Ruck is a definite problem for us at the moment. Deluca simply isn't up to it and will play a relieving role much like Prendergast does but mostly in the side as a forward target. Chris Bryan hasn't come on as hoped and I suspect is a bit lumbering for AFL level which isn't such a problem if you're a tall ruckman but Chris Bryan isn't. For Chris Bryan to really make an impact I think he needs to model himself on Will Minson from the Bulldogs and throw his weight around a bit.
This of course leaves us with the question of what does the club do at the end of the year and I suspect a combination of find another good young ruckman not getting an opportunity at another club (not sure of options here) and probably promote Setanta to the senior list will be the solution. If Setanta (seen him ruck a few times) can provide some relief for Barnaby and go forward as well then he'll be a permanent fixture in the side, not sure where this would leave Deluca in this situation.