AFL Rd 24 2023 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS

[pinot]

No problem if Harry rucks all stoppages forward of centre and TDK takes all centre bounces and stoppages on wings and defence.

[PaulP]

With Pittonet, Cripps and Kennedy out, our one wood clearance game will clearly be compromised. GWS will have to start favourites IMO.

[Lods]

I think they'd be favourites anyway, if they're playing for their final's spot.
Our selections suggest we're already in management mode.
If by the time the match comes around GWS has its spot sewn up it could be a bruise free game.

[kruddler]

With Pittonet, Cripps and Kennedy out, our one wood clearance game will clearly be compromised. GWS will have to start favourites IMO.

Cerra+Walsh are fair cover for losing Cripps....and Kennedy was already out.

Pittonet out on form is fine, he hasn't looked right since he came back from his injury. However Pittonet out for team balance is where things don't add up. TDK can't ruck all game, he struggles when he is #1 ruck with a backup. How will he cope playing #1 ruck with no backup? This is where our clearance game will suffer. We might be able to eek a win out this week, potentially next week in a return trip, but i wouldn't wanna rely on that for all of finals.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Pittonet may have still been carrying a bit of an injury so the couple of weeks off may be what he needs.
We'll present a different combination when things get serious.
McKay might do a bit of rucking this weekend.

Harry might attend the ruck contest but calling what he provides when in attendance " rucking" would be a gross exaggeration....?

[Lods]

Harry might attend the ruck contest but calling what he provides when in attendance " rucking" would be a gross exaggeration....?

He only has to provide a contest and get the ball to ground.

[ElwoodBlues1]

He only has to provide a contest and get the ball to ground.

Providing a contest might be a stretch for Harry, he is very much the gentle giant and gets shoved out the way fairly easily by smaller players. To be honest Id have more faith in the undersized McGovern being able to give us a bit more around the ground to compensate. Knowing our luck too Harry will do himself an injury and my preference is Harry doesnt ruck at all and I might have brought in Young to provide help in that area.

[pinot]

Harry wouldnt do any worse or better than Young and Jack. He may even win some hit outs due to his reach and he is very agile on the ground for a big bloke so who knows. It will be very interesting to see how it plays out.

[kruddler]

Harry wouldnt do any worse or better than Young and Jack. He may even win some hit outs due to his reach and he is very agile on the ground for a big bloke so who knows. It will be very interesting to see how it plays out.

Harry would do better than Young. But he won't do better than Jack.

Jack, like his father, is excellent at using his body. Young, and to a lesser extent Harry, rely on their height, and have poor body on body work. Add to the fact that Jack is the only one that is of use once the ball hits the ground too.

But the most important factor in all of this....Harry is recovering from injury, a knee injury at that. The last thing you want him to be doign is pushing/shoving/jumping in the ruck.
Jack, also will be recovering from a knee injury, but he wouldn't be one of our top 2 targets up forward like Harry is. We can 'sacrifice' jack.

TDK as #1 ruck is not ideal.
Harry as #2 ruck is not ideal.
I doubt it will be enough to make us lose the game...but it certainly isn't going to be a positive.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Harry would do better than Young. But he won't do better than Jack.

Jack, like his father, is excellent at using his body. Young, and to a lesser extent Harry, rely on their height, and have poor body on body work. Add to the fact that Jack is the only one that is of use once the ball hits the ground too.

But the most important factor in all of this....Harry is recovering from injury, a knee injury at that. The last thing you want him to be doign is pushing/shoving/jumping in the ruck.
Jack, also will be recovering from a knee injury, but he wouldn't be one of our top 2 targets up forward like Harry is. We can 'sacrifice' jack.

TDK as #1 ruck is not ideal.
Harry as #2 ruck is not ideal.
I doubt it will be enough to make us lose the game...but it certainly isn't going to be a positive.

Young has more idea than Harry imho...he rucked for the Dogs in finals and while nothing special has some ruck nous  unlike Harry.
Agree Jack would be better but I think rucking Harry is just inviting trouble with injury..