I thought I'd copy and paste this post from the Jacobs thread in Talking Recruitment.
I think we've had a huge weakness in the ruck depending on Kreuzer as the No 1 ruck.
He's vulnerable to injury and is not a tap ruckman and doesn't give our mids much opportunity.
Kreuzer will not play every game in 2020, and may even breakdown.
Lobbe is delisted.
Philips and Casboult are offered 1 year contracts and are looking at other better paid options for longer.
TDK is only 20yo and still has another 2-3 years of development before he can go 4 quarters against the leading 25yo-30yo ruckmen of the comp.
We were looking at 24yo Swans ruck Darcy Cameron who is much stronger at the contest than Philips and Jacobs an ex AA ruckman.
We have cooled off both candidates and looks like Darcy to Pies and Jacobs to the GWS, and left in a very vulnerable in aa most important position, the ruck.
The role has gained significance and imortance since the introduction of the 666 rule.
Quote:
I really wanted to get Jacobs because this was our 2nd chance to take on the best ruck available.
When we had Kreuzer, Warnock, Hampson and Jacobs was 4th banana, Jacobs was pushed out to Crows for a 3rd round pick.
Jacobs became All Australian ruckman and proved to be the best ruck of the 4.
Warnock, Hampson were duds and Kreuzer did a knee.
Turn the clock forward to 2020 and we have an opportunity to player either Jacobs or the injury prone Kreuzer as No 1 ruck.
We will regret making the same mistake twice.
Jacobs is the tap ruckman our midfield group would benefit from over the next 2 years, whilct TDK develops in the VFL for next 2 years.
Gawn and Jacobs didn't click as No 1 rucks till they were 24yo onwards.
TDK turns 21yo in 2020.
Drafting 18yo developing ruck in the draft this year will take 5 years plus to get him up to scratch if he comes good.
Where is the 18yo going to learn his craft? VFL? WE don't have a thirds/ development squad anymore.
What about the other developing ruck TDK? Where does he learn his craft?
What if Philips Casboult and TDK are all playing in the VFL? Where does TDK play? The developing ruck?
Missed an obvious need with Jacobs as the No 1 ruck for 2020-21 for mine.
I just hope we can retain Levi for a couple of years as a stop gap.
I will spew on SOS (and others) if Harry and TDK are our only options to ruck at some stage in 2020.