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.
The operative word...TODAY! "Today" is one game.
Very good against Collingwood and Port rucking on his own, especially around the ground. And we know he was very good those games. That's how he's always been when rucking on his own. I would happily sacrifice a few taps for that output around the ground. Way more important. Share him with someone and everything turns to shit.
A 2nd ruckman just clogs up space we can use for another type of player. Not needed when we can just take one ruck, ruck Casboult and bring the likes of Jaksch and SOSOS in. 2 rucks means either one rests at FF, where key forwards are no good, that hurts our forward line alot, or we play two key forwards and two ruck, which hurts our run. I know which way was best, as was borne out on the Collingwood and Port games. That's more the reality. Kreuzer has been a much better player for years when he rucks on his own, especially for his around the ground output. That has been obvious surely for years.
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