The Great Ruck Debate.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Did we know Geelong were not going to play any rucks?
Did we practice for that eventuality?
Why didn't they catch us by suprise?

Simple. We are not Geelong. Geelong are not us.

I've argued what is best for OUR team. Not what is best for Geelong, or Freo and Port Melbourne....

You say i'm looking for long term.
Lods says i'm looking at the now.

I'm looking at both.

Its always been about our team balance. Who we have available and how they are performing......and how we are performing as a team and if we are fighting for a flag.

I'm always talking about drafting for the future.
I'm always talking about picking a team based on how players are currently playing....and nobody is safe.

Before Pittonet got injured, he was in career best form.
TDK is currently in career best form.

Despite this, we simply do not need them both in the team.

The team is working with Harry, Charlie and Kenendy playing backup ruck for 20% of the time, which translates to about 25 ruck contests, which translates to about 5 centre bounces......which is something that is VERY manageable and gives us an element of surprise as well.

Honestly, the focus that people are putting into this 2nd ruck position far outweighs the benefits to the team.

IMO, we should spend more time focussing on our forward setup, specifically small forwards/half forwards.....and the long term goals in this regard.

Owies/Durdin/Fantasia/Motlop/Williams/Moir
and
Cottrell/Martin/Fogarty/Cuningham/Cincotta/Kennedy

There is way too many unknowns from that group. Way too many variables there. Way too many questions need to be answered there.

Id agree with all that...the backup ruck only plays in that position for around 5 minutes a quarter usually so your main ruck can rest and the opposition usually do the same with their main ruck at the same time. Two amatuer rucks usually have zero bearing on clearances and its down to who are the mids you have at the stoppage to win the ball without any ruck help.
Its more down to your system and style of play and having that extra runner/mid or utility overrides what a second specialist ruckman can give you in a value sense in most cases.
Am I going to reduce TDKs time on the field the way he is playing to play Pittonet for half a quarter every quarter.???...Im sure the opposition coach would love seeing TDK leave the field for that length of time so why would you do it?
Kennedy, Cripps can assist Harry in a Shaun Grigg role as the backup ruck combo and having that extra mid/runner rather than a slower tall helps offset probably our only team negative which is lack of pace vs some teams.
No brainer that one specialist ruck with a few others chipping in as that 2nd ruck backup works best for us and our gamestyle.