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quote="diesel95"
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none of this is to say i put big wraps on Pitto. he tries hard but i’ve never rated him as a number one tuck option.. let alone a play all game long, Gawn type, of ruckman. the new rules hurt him also
Pitto had some impressive stats back in 2022, and they continued in 2023 as the No 1 ruck. (Pre '26 Ruck rules)
The Pitto TDK combo was a beauty. In the Finals in 2023 Pitto softened up Gawn and TDK kicked a couple first quarter goals
Then towards the end of quarters TDK would jump over a softened, perhaps maimed Gawn, or whoever.
Cripps/ Hewett were getting great service for Pitto as the No 1 ruck`
Hitouts to Advantage %1. Marc Pittonet (Carlton) - 44.22. Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast) - 38.9
3. Sean Darcy (Fremantle) - 38.4
Hitouts to Score %1. Marc Pittonet (Carlton) - 13.72. Peter Ladhams (Sydney) - 12.6
3. Max Lynch (Hawthorn) - 12.5
Clearance to Team Score % (Best teams at converting from clearances)1. Geelong (29.1)
2. Collingwood (27.

3. Hawthorn (27.7)
4. Carlton (26.7)Pitto was younger then and got himself fit and strong from pushing against Soccer goals etc. The old rules suited him too. Like braithy always remind us an injury to Pitto is inevitable, and that has been the case since his PCL in 2024. He's now tapping with his left hand since he's broken his right (he aint right imo)
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....his first couple of games this year were flukes of luck, essentially, he’s not a three goal ruckman and never will be. Hope Flynn Riley develops nicely and still think we need to draft a high pick ruckman, or trade picks for same from another club.
Agree. Those goals in the first couple of weeks suited him, and the post'25 ruck rules have crucified him as have umpires in the CB.
I have high hopes for Riley. I think Riley will develop quickly but he's only 22yo.
TDK started hitting his straps, albeit light in 2023, when he was 24yo, so I don't expect Riley to be dominating, or consistent till 2028.
I have high hopes for our team too, the boys have shown they are good in halves.They are developing. I feel if we can give the mids (with Walker and a Humphrey type to add next year), a good ruck at the CB, and we add an attacking HB to give us another HB line breaker with wilson (as Newman passes the baton), and a KPF to give Harry more ruck time around the ground, and we arent bare in the forward line with kemp and moir (Gov is an injury away from retiring), we will be a good team in 2027 and 2028 when our window opens.
I think we are going to rush Rileys development and he will be thrown in the deep end.
if we dont get better than Pittonet
well, the stats don't lie, as they say. Credit to you, Bondi for backing up your argument with hard data. That doesn't happen round these parts to often!
I always considered TDK the number 1 in the TDK/Pitto combo, even if Pitto won more taps to advantage, TDK had much more followup in the post-bounce contest, be it tackles or running forward with ball in hand. and just the number of minutes TDK could perform CB duties for and his mobility around the ground while he was playing in the Ruck position. but maybe I was seeing it wrong all that time. the Marshall/TDK combo has been more successful than the Pitto/Harry/Cripps combo I would think. What does that tell us about Pitto?
What was the AFL's rationale for changing the ruck rules, (other than indirectly hurting CFC with plausible deniability — which is always a KPI at AFL House)? Was it player safety from knee injuries? Speeding up the already sped-up game?