Kruz will be the AFL's most dominant ruckman in 2 years so I'd leave him there. Sure he can rest in a pocket from time to time, but his future is in the ruck I think.

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HENDERSONALENKO......YOU BEAUTY!!!!!

And he will play in more premierships than carey - i reckon CHF, as long as he keeps getting his hip treated by the surgeon in hobart who did some post-season maintenance.

And i have it on good authority that we will see the premierships - who i hear you ask?.........well, since you asked let me remind people that the surgeon, Michael pritchard, did lleyton hewitt, kruezer once before, thornton, austin this year with kruezer, and scotland and houla (i think) pre-season and also steve johnson three weeks out from the finals.

As it turned out i had the same surgeon do a full hip replacment on me last friday here in hobart and as we met immediatedly pre-op as they wheeled me into theatre, he asked if i had any quesions. yes i said .............. if he got johnsohn to a premiership immediately after hip surgery, when could i expect to see him get kruezer to a premiership. didn't put a time on it but in not so many words suggested he would get him one.

hallejujah!!

and i came home this morning - day 4 after surgery.

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one you knock back is one you never have

Good luck with the recovery. Sounds like you have a good man in your corner.

He did Grigg's hip as well Blue Beatle

If I thought he was going to be made into a forward I wouldn't have had him at 1 in my rankings. Kreuz is going to be an absolute monster of a ruckman in 3 years time. Tearing it up all over the ground. Why restrict him to the forward 50 ? I'm wasn't convinced about his contested marking in the under 18's and I reckon it's still not a strength of his.

Champion ruckman or adequate forward. I know what I want.

..love the Krooz, but let's consider it v.objectively.. ..i'd say in regards to pure rucking contests, he will be middle of the road.. ..he's avg height for a modern ruck, and isn't known for a stupendous leap, which seems to be an asset for the new ruckmen....after the ruck contest, he improves immensely for his skills high and low, sweet quick, sharp handballs outside to his mids, and his good endurance..

..as a kpf, he's above the avg height, is still quite pacy off the mark, crumbs and roves well and has natural fwd footy smarts.. ..i think as great around the ground and in the ruck he will be, he could be better as a more perm fwd.... ..time will tell i guess, but as a FF [more-so than CHF for me] i think he could easily be the next big thing..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

I'd argue Kruzer's strongest attributes are his tenacity, courage and his endurance. They're strengths that point towards the midfield. I think he'll be able to rest forward and take some grabs by matching up against a shorter backman, but if he starts in the forward 50 you're not using his strongest attributes to the favour of the team. The guy needs to keep moving at his 80% pace, keep making space and providing options and when a ball is there to be won swoop on it.

..sure, but those traits are just as good anywhere really.. ..plenty of CHF/B's that use those exact same traits to maximum benefit.. ..either way though he's definately gonna be a great player..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

thanks mate - amazing to think it is only two weeks ago but will still miss a bit of pre-season. but then with 9 flags under my belt since 1946 i reckon i should be eased into a new season, eh?

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one you knock back is one you never have

personally i reckon hammer is the one who could bloom as a forward. no doubt kurze has the talent its just hes ground level ball work is so damn valuable in the middle.

remember his goal in the final this year- he's an extra mid is special k

another thing I want to add, has anyone else noticed matty's uncanny ability to read the fly of the ball from a ball up, run 2 to 3 paces around the side of the opposing ruck, leap late and the win the ruck out?

he doesn't make full body on body contact at a center bounce with the ruck all that often at all. thats definatley one thing he has going for him that lessens the risk of him gettng burnt out early.


it's a great problem to have.
he's going to be the jewel in our crown.

This:

[youtube]HNefgQDlOuk[/youtube]

Or this?

[youtube]LXRcAUKCP3s[/youtube]

What a dilemma to have!!

God watching that Video of us against port last year brings back some good memories.

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#23: Lachlan Henderson