It's interesting discussion, I know that the media continue to cherrypick events to either support or oppose a perspective.
For example in much of the recent rock throwing there is almost zero discussion of the injuries to TDK and Weitering. They will roll out the usual, "They went back on so they are fit", but it's hardly reality. The media want to paint the failure as "The Team", while most fans would assert the failure was probably an imbalance starting at MC, leaving the squad on the day without any cover, partial or total, for events around unexpected injuries.
For me the solo ruck might deliver the best chance of being competitive in expected circumstances "on the day", but the "on the day" part is massively dependant "on the circumstance", and as we have just seen it wasn't valid for "any or every circumstance".
Many in the AFL will assert you need "a bit of luck", and last weekend we had very little, but I think an astute MC is and must be task at minimising the contribution of luck. Still we nearly got across the line, with an unexpected reserve of last quarter run, but is that valid for GF Day?
I think it's pretty obvious, there will be days when we run one ruck, and other days when we run two rucks, and it depends as much on the opponent as it does on our own process. TDK was a good match up for Briggs when TDK is 100% fit, but the moment TDK was injured and the contest became a wrestle, Pitto would have been the much better choice but he wasn't there. The same could be applied to the ruck in the absence of injury, if GWS change ruck/stoppage tactics.
It's somewhat naivé of fans to think opponents will simply allow TDK to continue jumping over them or running off them without reacting.
For example in much of the recent rock throwing there is almost zero discussion of the injuries to TDK and Weitering. They will roll out the usual, "They went back on so they are fit", but it's hardly reality. The media want to paint the failure as "The Team", while most fans would assert the failure was probably an imbalance starting at MC, leaving the squad on the day without any cover, partial or total, for events around unexpected injuries.
For me the solo ruck might deliver the best chance of being competitive in expected circumstances "on the day", but the "on the day" part is massively dependant "on the circumstance", and as we have just seen it wasn't valid for "any or every circumstance".
Many in the AFL will assert you need "a bit of luck", and last weekend we had very little, but I think an astute MC is and must be task at minimising the contribution of luck. Still we nearly got across the line, with an unexpected reserve of last quarter run, but is that valid for GF Day?
I think it's pretty obvious, there will be days when we run one ruck, and other days when we run two rucks, and it depends as much on the opponent as it does on our own process. TDK was a good match up for Briggs when TDK is 100% fit, but the moment TDK was injured and the contest became a wrestle, Pitto would have been the much better choice but he wasn't there. The same could be applied to the ruck in the absence of injury, if GWS change ruck/stoppage tactics.
It's somewhat naivé of fans to think opponents will simply allow TDK to continue jumping over them or running off them without reacting.
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"