Squad for JLT game named

[LP]

In 2005 I sat with a colleague at Box Hill oval to watch her 18 year old nephew play in the ruck against the O'hAilpin brothers.  He was giving up 7-8cm and 5-10kg but was a key factor in Box Hill's win and was promoted to the Hawthorn side for the next game.

I suspect that Hawthorn didn't want to jeopardise the playing career of their potential 200+ game key forward.  I also suspect that they knew exactly what they were doing when they played a first year player in the ruck against two older, taller, heavier, stronger and unpredictable opponents.

I'm not advocating playing McKay as a permanent ruckman.  However, if he is ready to play as a key forward against the likes of Steven May, he is ready to have a run in the ruck.

Playing against someone like the O'Hailpin's in their first year of AFL is not the same as playing against Mumford or May at any time.

Roughie is no ordinary player, he wasn't coming off a season of lower back stress fractures and he did not ruck in his first AFL games but played as a tall forward/defender.