The Great Ruck Debate.

[kruddler]

Quite right
Now apply that same thinking to games against North Melbourne and WCE...even perhaps Collingwood in their present state.
We're just as likely to drop one to teams that are in the position we were not so long ago.
Take nothing for granted.

Just on the other point your making...
I understand that you are using it specifically to refer to our current AFL side.
My problem has always been with how it's presented as a 'fixed in time' presentation.
It's about the now.
So we shouldn't even think about options.
It makes little allowance for a changes such as players adapting, improving, developing a better communication or understanding with games together, changes in how they are used by the coaches in combination.

Tom went from a player who should be playing VFL to one of our most effective in the space of twelve months.
Pittonet has had an interrupted year.
I don't think anything can be fixed in stone....but we may need to make a firm decision in respect of the current campaign.

Yes, it is about the NOW.
We are in the premiership window NOW.
We have the players we have on our team and we work with what we have got.

I've never intended for this to be a one-size fits all, universally rule that works throughout all space and time. I've never suggested that and have been pretty clear that its not about that at all.

But, without trying to pigeon hole players too much, there are certain 'givens' you can expect from players, and certain things you know you just won't get. So while there is always some wiggle room and room for growth (and going backwards) there is very few 'box-shattering' revelations that players go through. You might get 1 a year.
You could argue Williams move forward could be one this year.
Others might suggest Cincotta, but i don't think its a huge step to go from a defender to a tagger. Its relatively common.

In terms of everyone else though.....they basically end the season in the same box they start it and as much as you'd like to suggest otherwise, there is little growth outside of that. Even for TDK.

He has filled out his 'box' and performed above previous expectations, but that was always the hope with him. He hasn't grown from a ruck into a midfielder. Or a ruck into a key defender. He has just become a better ruck.....and a slightly better key forward.

The reason i talk about OUR team and only our team in this manner is....
1. I don't care about other teams to the point i will analyse them in the same way.
2. I don't think other teams have such a solid spine compared to ours. Harry+Charlie+Weitering + [insert flavour of the week here] will outdo any other spine out there. All in their peak and largely performing at their peak (if not for some little niggles). So they would be the first picked and everyone else is picked around them.

If you slotted Pitto and TDK (as a pair) into any other team out there, you'd probably play them both in almost all of them.
@Sydney.....Pitto could do the grunt work and allow Grundy and TDK to roam free and do as they please, forward or back and wouldn't really get in the way of any other talls in that side.
@Melbourne....Pitto could be # 1 ruck and Gawn and TDK could both play up forward and pinch hit in the ruck where required.

@other teams, it works.
For us......it doesn't.