Interesting to hear L.Matthews just then talk about how important it is to have 2 quality rucks these days. Many people thought the introduction of the Sub rule would mean the end of 2 genuine rucks in games, but as Mattews notes the game has evolved to one where due to the press teams need to get the ball deep into their fwdline as quick and as often as possible (to lock it in there, hence denying the opposition the ball in their fwdline), and to achieve this it helps enormously if you dominate the ruck duels as this gives your mids first purchase on the ball and in turn the opportunity to drive the ball deep into the fwdline. We saw CFC do this on Thurs night, the game plan seemingly revolving around kicking long to the fwdline where the big lug Hampson flew for many high masrking opportunities.

Now, if we accept that this might be the trend of the game, and given the Sub rule and clubs' apparent preference for having mids on the bench instead of talls, what impact does this have on CFC moving fwds if their prime talls are all fit and in form? More to the point, can we play Warnock, Hampson, Kruezer, Waite and Henderson in the one team? On the surface I am not sure we can, as it would mean (if you had mids on the bench and a mid as a Sub - remembering clubs want runners on the bench to maximise rotations) the fwdline would be too top heavy ...

Ruck (starting) Warnock
Fwds - Henderson, Waite, Kruezer, Hampson
Bench and Sub - 4 mids/flanker types

Now I know Kruez and Waite are pretty athleitc for their height, but can we really play these two giuys as onballers (Kruez) and Flankers/wings (waite)?

I wonder, if all these talls develop and the Sub rule stays, could Henderson perhaps be the big CHB we need??

FB Jamison
CHB Henderson
Ruck Warnock
CHF waite
F Hampson (second ruck)

+ Kruez playing the versatile RR/Kouta-esque role

Certainly the backline looks stronger on paper with hendo down there? (Note : I acknowledge all this depends on the talls all being fit at the same time which is not always going happen, and depends on Hampson developing to a stage where he starts holding more big marks, which may or may not ever happen).

But the point is, if all these talls develop into very good talls, if their all fit at the same time, how do we fit them all in? I'm not so sure we can just say "hammer gets pushed out" because while he's not grasping all those marks right now, by jingoes he's getting into the right spot and looks a scary prospect if he can ever start to hold them

I think you're over complicating this, when kreuz comes back hampson becomes the sub

_________________
Between our dreams and actions lies this world

at "moving forwards".

Otherwise, TL; DR.

_________________
BLUES 2010: PAV AND JUDD = FLAGS. DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF DICK PRATT.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

"How we use our talls in terms of moving forwards" would be much better.

Drop an 's' at the end and the sentence is fine. Good to see you're addressing the pressing issues Rhino.

I think it might be possible to play Jamison, Bower, Waite, Henderson, Kreuzer, Hampson & Warnock, but you'd probably be asking the rucks to alternate between being a forward target, rucking and sitting back in defence to help out, and to be honest I don't think any of them have the kicking skills to play the latter role.

You'd need the forwards to make some excellent leads and screens, and Jamison to help more on the run from HB.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Well, I guess the point is that Cameron Cloke is no longer an issue.

_________________
Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.