What is the point of getting a geriatric ruckman? We were not under delusions of granduer and Grand Finals. It would have been a waste of space. Save it for the wannabees at the Pies and the Aints.

Last year we tried to get AA ruckman Brendan Lade, but in hindsight how much would that have sucked? He has been pox for most of the year.

Collingwood, after trying to get Jolly, had to settle for using their first round pick for a sub-D list ruckman in Cameron Wood. And he has hardly been a match winner for them.

Really good post. Agree ... apart from us doing ok today, we didn't but like you said we'll be beaten in ruck for most of the year. Jolly gave us a lesson today in tap work ... need to do more than just make contact with the ball, needs to be to advantage.

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"It was like calling your ex girlfriend after a night on the booze, just a really bad decision".

qft

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"You don’t get much more Navy Blue than Stephen Kernahan" - Marc Murphy

Response:



In other words : Josh Fraser.



Ruckmen don't usually play TAC U18s one year, first string ruckman the next.


Going from playing on 16/17 year olds to 25-32 year old established ruckmen doesn't usually happen...


...let our young ruckmen bulk up, get some more experienced as second string players - let an experienced 'geriatric' ruckman cop the knocks instead of a 19 year old still learning the game...


Don't you agree?

Josh Fraser is hardly a dominant ruckman. Okay around the ground, but hardly a game breaker, or match winner. Collingwood under Malthouse have placed little value on the ruck, and have copped being beaten there in the past, so they may have someone useful around the ground.

Wood and Bryan getting a game before him, says it all really.

if we are going to start playing finals next season - and expect to win them - then we need to get a mature ready made ruckman 23yo +

no ifs or buts.

Hampson
Kruezer
Cloke
Ackland
Aisake
Setanta
Jacobs

Those are what we have for the remainder of the year.... and i'm not sure we have room for Jacobs as a rookie (but i don't know all of the rules there).

Next year, Ackland is gone and (if he's any good) Jacobs will probably come on to the list proper - again, I don't know the rules there and would suggest Jamo is the priority for rookie elevations.

Aisake might not be around either.... although, I hope he is. That said, he's listed at a spindly 80-odd kgs so he might have to do his pre-season with the family in Fiji if he's to survive the season.

The 2-3 year prospect is not the worst idea, but I prefer the Ross Gibbs aproach - just throw the guys that we have in the drink and see if they can swim.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

Play Hampson
Promote jacobs
Play them in tandem

Just do it

Agree......

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

So you'd drop Krezuer and Cloke?

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

I agree! The last two weeks everytime Cloke was on the ball the opposition made their ruckman push forward (Kosi & Jolly) and they kicked goals.

Cloke may have heart but it will get you only so far. Should not be on the list next year. Wasting a valuable space.

That's my entire point.







Josh Fraser isn't a dominant ruckman.


Why?!

Because he's played first string without a break since he was drafted, and you saw his best football in the first 2-3 years.

Since then, diddly squat. No backup, no time to bulk up and develop. The guys in the process of burning out because he had to take the burden of being the first choice ruckman since he was 19 years old.


I don't wan't Kreuzer and Co. going down that path...

Id drop Cloke because he isnt a ruckman and if you havent been noticing Brad we are getting our arses kicked in the ruck and guess what Cloke aint a ruckman

Id give Kreuzer a rest because he needs a rest.

Are you implying they should play therefore we get thrashed by Hudson and Minson next week or do you think


WE TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT WHICH MAY WORK

yep... bring them in for Cloke and Hartlett

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Love Cricket? Love me

Speak to him did you?

Not personally but ratten said he needed a rest before the Port game didnt he

He definitely needs one now

Its obvious from todays effort the kid is spent

What do you reckon.Didnt he looked stuffed to you

I would play Kruezer at CHF/alternating with Hartlett off the bench and ruck Hampson and Jacobs.

Cloke and Fisher would be my choice to be spelled......

re Hartlett...I would be prepared to give him a role down back as well when neccessary...he needs development and while he is slow he may have been the tall player to pick up the likes of Jolly.

I like options and we dont have enough in some games

_________________
"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Did you see how much ground he covered - in the play or otherwise!?

Yeah he was knackered, but for a first year AFL player his constitution is pretty good.

I don't think Jacobs/Hampson are going to be anymore effective than Cloke/Kreuzer, but I'd be open to changing the dynamic.

How long a rest would you give Krezuer and what happens when its finished?

I was afraid you were going to suggest playing either as a forward.

Either way, out of Cloke, Kreuzer, Hampson, Jacobs, O'hAilpin(s) you can only play two of them, unless you're playing Setanta as a backman.

Krezuer playing forward worked for 1 quarter against Port and hasn't before or after that. If they're playing as a forward they have to contribute as a forward. The times we've played 3 ruckmen Hampson as ended up with 35% game time.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

We must play Jacobs and Hammo for the rest of the year.

Never been a fan of Cloke. I think he is lazy he constantly bombs the ball into the 50, his thoughtless attempt to keep the ball moving by belting the hell out of it off the ground and kicking it out of bounds

We know what we gonna get from clokey and its not good enough