05-25-2017, 10:27 PM
Taps are almost worthless, for all the stoppages that happen in an AFL game maybe one or two taps in a whole match have a clear impact.
The far more important aspect of ruckwork are the 2nd and 3rd efforts, Sandilands is a prime example. For all the bitching and moaning about his dominance clearances came out about even, and Kreuzer had far more beneficial influence for Carlton than Sandilands had for Freo. Most of Freo's scoring came off the back of Carlton turnovers that left Hill and Co running freely off the HBF without a tackling Carlton player in sight! Even those apparent Sandilands clearance taps came off the back of a Freo player running freely uncheck and unhindered past the stoppage. That is junior football type behaviour from the Carlton players, why they had that mindset on the night I have no idea. You just can't allow HBFs and Wingmen to run freely past the contest as it will make any ruckmen look like Godzilla, and Sandilands is already a handful for most to deal with in the absence of his crumbers getting a free ride!
The far more important aspect of ruckwork are the 2nd and 3rd efforts, Sandilands is a prime example. For all the bitching and moaning about his dominance clearances came out about even, and Kreuzer had far more beneficial influence for Carlton than Sandilands had for Freo. Most of Freo's scoring came off the back of Carlton turnovers that left Hill and Co running freely off the HBF without a tackling Carlton player in sight! Even those apparent Sandilands clearance taps came off the back of a Freo player running freely uncheck and unhindered past the stoppage. That is junior football type behaviour from the Carlton players, why they had that mindset on the night I have no idea. You just can't allow HBFs and Wingmen to run freely past the contest as it will make any ruckmen look like Godzilla, and Sandilands is already a handful for most to deal with in the absence of his crumbers getting a free ride!
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"