03-08-2024, 10:15 PM
(03-08-2024, 09:55 PM)Lods link Wrote:No doubt the second ruck debat will again be a feature of this year's commentary.
It is situational and depends a lot on the quality of your back up ruckman.
Right now Pitto seems to be well off the pace.
But if you had two in-form ruckmen who complemented each other, and brought different things to the game it may be a different story.
Do you play the strong second ruckman or a fringe mid-fielder.
The debate has always been about what is best for the team and team balance.
Pitto and TDK compliment eachother and make eachother better.
....but at the expense of more run and carry.
Against Brisbane, who are the kings of run, carry and fast ball movement, you simply cannot afford the luxury of 2 rucks.
Against lesser teams, you can carry 2 rucks and still be good enough. You could swap TDK and Pitto and ensure you don't burn one out as well.
But ultimately, you will win more games with the team balance we had last night than you will with 2 rucks against the better teams.
The only question mark is over the 'injury to #1 ruck' during the game and how that could have an effect on the result.
Over the course of the year, that may cost you a win.
Over the course of the year, playing 2 rucks will probably cost you more than 1 win.
Play the odds, play 1 ruck.