The Great Ruck Debate.

[Professer E]

Dropping Kemp for Durdin was the dumbest selection I've seen in living memory.

[Thryleon]

Imagine we had a tall defender who despite showing a bit lack of confidence was 201cm, can take a mark, kicks it well enough and doesn't move as slow as a glacier and can be burnt as relief ruck and no one will care and it will allow weitering to zone off more.

Nah, let's play pornstache instead who also gets hurt playing at afl footy. 

[Lods]

He rolled the ankle in the first quarter of the Giants game. He hasn't had a rest.

He was 'managed' for the Richmond game... the game before GWS.
Every chance he was injured 'before' going into that GWS game.

[RiverRat]

Another example of how unimportant the need for 2 rucks is, when you get by with half of one for the almost the whole game.

Yes, BUT ...

We got a brief look at how bad we can be if that solitary ruck is injured.  Apart from the centre clearance issues, losing McKay from the forward line for an extended period makes it much easier for opponents to negate Curnow.

If we are going to play only one ruck, I would seriously consider selecting Young as the injury substitute in any must-win game. I don't believe the substitute has represented a significant tactical benefit and Young would represent a true injury-sub option to provide a tall option in the ruck and in case any of our injury-prone defensive talls goes down - even Weitering has been shown to be prone to being hobbled.

[LP]

Yes, BUT ...

We got a brief look at how bad we can be if that solitary ruck is injured.  Apart from the centre clearance issues, losing McKay from the forward line for an extended period makes it much easier for opponents to negate Curnow.

Yep, basically BigH is OK against the B-Graders, as he is matched or even in advantage.

Cripps and Kennedy have been able to get away with a bit of shock value in the last month or so, but that is being planned for now and the effect is greatly diminished, Xerri owned them as a genuine 1st ruck should. It's no point fans making ignorant statements like they "they need to step up"

Fans got to see what it would be like if BigH or Cripps had to ruck against a Xerri type as well as the B-Graders and it wasn't pretty, Xerri was a large contributing force behind Norps mid-game dominance.

Giving us examples of our club success against opponents playing an injured solo rucks is pointless as well, it's just proving you can't play injured rucks against a fit anybody!

[DJC]

Yes, BUT ...

We got a brief look at how bad we can be if that solitary ruck is injured.  Apart from the centre clearance issues, losing McKay from the forward line for an extended period makes it much easier for opponents to negate Curnow.

If we are going to play only one ruck, I would seriously consider selecting Young as the injury substitute in any must-win game. I don't believe the substitute has represented a significant tactical benefit and Young would represent a true injury-sub option to provide a tall option in the ruck and in case any of our injury-prone defensive talls goes down - even Weitering has been shown to be prone to being hobbled.

Xerri is a very good ruckman and his dominance over a hobbled De Koning and our second stringers was North's driving force.  I can see the logic of a ruck-capable tall as a genuine injury sub but I'm not sure that Young would have made much difference,

I would have played Pitto and De Koning as their combined attributes would have reduced Xerri's influence.

[shawny]

Oh well this may be a no issue now as chances are TDK wont play again till finals. Is is hospital with punctured lung and will be out indefinitely.

[PaulP]

Oh well this may be a no issue now as chances are TDK wont play again till finals. Is is hospital with punctured lung and will be out indefinitely.

Story here.

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/carlton-s...c-15436061

[Micky0]

Farkkkkk

[shawny]

I just heard he also has a foot fracture and is done for the year. Hope thats wrong