Our Ruck Situation

[spirit of norm smith 16,588]

Jamar has 1 year left.

Max Gawn will be the ruck/fwd.

Spencer is a spud, lacking any skill or coordination and it is unbelievable to think he will be the one.

I would grab Sam Grimley as a rookie under the hawks nose. He is a fwd/ ruck and compliments Gawn as a two prone ruck division.

[Macca 17,033]

If their sole job was tapping the ball then I would say you are correct. The value of a good ruckman like Cox for example is that they can become another midfielder and also provide the let out option for defenders.

To back up 'Macca', GWS sure realised how much they missed big Mummy when he was gone.

I think Gawn in as a forward was only because we lacked tall options. In a better team we would not carry Gawn and another ruckman. Gawn, if he stays on the park and gets fit is our best option but at the moment it's still a big if.

To me if we could find a ruck like Mitch Clark he would be ideal. Can tap, get his own ball, help teammates at ground level, mark around the ground and kick goals when resting forward.

I reckon a good example of ruckman not being appreciated could be Cox vs Sandilands if both were at the top of their game's ... we could see a situation where the tap-out numbers are relatively even and neither of their taps advantage either side to any great extent because they've nullified each other.

However, you take either Cox or Sandilands out of proceedings and everything changes. Also, "Breaking even" is easier said than done - any team's goal should be to dominate in the ruck - it's a big advantage when it happens.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,090]

This is about the standard for a PR ruck combo.

Pinch hit and see what happens.

Thats why he has stuck with Jamar.and will continue to do so.

What? Oh... pinch hit ...

[samcantstandya 1,057]

You only know the value of a good ruckman when you haven't got one.

We still need a good ruckman in order to nullify a team who has got a good ruckman. You can't just put anyone in there otherwise we run run the risk of the other mob waltzing the ball away from clearances and ball-ups.

Jamar* is the man (still) and if big Max can stay injury free, he might develop into a good ruckman. Spencer should get better and we've got a few who can pinch hit ... that 'pinch hitting' probably needs to coincide to when the other mob are pinch hitting otherwise ...

Besides that, as others have indicated, King is still very young and we might pick up another back-up ruckman in the rookie draft ...

*If Jamar can remain injury free, I can see a situation where he goes on past 2015 - especially so if we don't produce an adequate replacement anytime soon.

I hope he retires, he is too ineffectual.

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

I had a chat to the Russian, he has come back completely refreshed and has no left over injury concerns, looks really good at training (have a look at the photos on my Twitter), rucks Jamar, Spencer, Gawn, King, Fitzpatrick, backups Pedersen and if I am not wrong Sam Frost and Watts can ruck as well, so I don't think we will be on the lookout for another one

[rjay 25,088]

I reckon a good example of ruckman not being appreciated could be Cox vs Sandilands if both were at the top of their game's ... we could see a situation where the tap-out numbers are relatively even and neither of their taps advantage either side to any great extent because they've nullified each other.

However, you take either Cox or Sandilands out of proceedings and everything changes. Also, "Breaking even" is easier said than done - any team's goal should be to dominate in the ruck - it's a big advantage when it happens.

As you say breaking even is easier said than done...

By the way 'Macca' I would take Cox in that battle, reckon he gives more value around the ground. If you can nullify the taps and get some ball you are at an advantage.

[old55 23,687]

Jamar, Gawn, Spencer is OK for #1 ruck. We've got a hole in fwd/ruck - Pedersen, Fitzy, King - it's uninspiring. Mitch bloody Clark ...

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

Pedo does no more than compete in the ruck, but he's more than adequate in the forward line. He leads, marks and kicks quite well. At the very least, the third defender has to watch him and can be led up the ground, opening the forward line.

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Jamar, Gawn, Spencer is OK for #1 ruck. We've got a hole in fwd/ruck - Pedersen, Fitzy, King - it's uninspiring. Mitch bloody Clark ...

Your post could be interpreted the same way

[Chook 15,022]

Rucks are over rated. As long as they break even at the taps and don't let the other ruck run amok in general play, then his job is done.

If a ruckman's job is to stop the other ruckman from running amok, it kind of shows you that you want a ruckman that can run amok...right?

Great ruckmen are really important.

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

With Gawn I believe his knees were giving him trouble this season.

I don't think he had any strength to jump at centre bounces.

Perhaps some of you insiders can correct me if I'm wrong.

He never did a pre season last year and in fact I don't think he has completed a pre season since arriving.

He will never carry the mantle of No. 1 until that happens.

Spencer is injury prone, and Jamar is starting to get a lot of small old man injuries.

The ruck stocks are questionable whilst they aren't 100% fit.

[s-t-i-n-g-a 439]

It's a pity we don't still have Sylvia. He was a handy back up ruck at times

[old55 23,687]

Your post could be interpreted the same way

a. OK

b. uninspiring

c. bloody

d. all of the above

[DeeSpencer 26,081]

Your post could be interpreted the same way

Which of those 3 (Pedersen, King, Fitzy) do you find inspiring?

If you could combine Pedersen and Fitzy you'd have a heck of a player. But as it is Pedersen is a solid fwd/ruck but he's more a stop gap in the ruck and honest forward. Fitzy is a steady VFL player, he can't mark and has poor skills, but every now and then he does something brilliant. Unfortunately I don't think he does the basics well enough to be a regular, it's a big year for him. Max King, lovely kick, but needs a few preseasons to even get to AFL standard and we've seen so little to tell if he can mark, ruck and otherwise be effective. It's clear all 3 when compared to Mitch Clark are pretty uninspiring options.

[Hampton 22 519]

One of my most memorable moments from the 2014 season was seeing Bernie Vince having to take a centre bounce hitout due to a stuff up with rotations. He didn't do too badly either!

[bing181 9,328]

Brisbane have first dibs on Hammelman due to him being in their academy.

Also more a forward??

[Bitter but optimistic 22,246]

Spencer will be the man. He's had some injury setbacks but they are not congenital. He works as hard as anyone. He has developed over the time he has been with Melbourne. He is coming into his physical prime and he has a touch of mongrel in him.

He will be a gun. BBO has called it!

[P-man 13,366]

Which of those 3 (Pedersen, King, Fitzy) do you find inspiring?

If you could combine Pedersen and Fitzy you'd have a heck of a player. But as it is Pedersen is a solid fwd/ruck but he's more a stop gap in the ruck and honest forward. Fitzy is a steady VFL player, he can't mark and has poor skills, but every now and then he does something brilliant. Unfortunately I don't think he does the basics well enough to be a regular, it's a big year for him. Max King, lovely kick, but needs a few preseasons to even get to AFL standard and we've seen so little to tell if he can mark, ruck and otherwise be effective. It's clear all 3 when compared to Mitch Clark are pretty uninspiring options.

This is Saty you're responding to. They're all inspiring and sacred.

I wouldn't mind getting a few more glimpses of King to see a bit more of this field kicking I keep hearing about. If he can slot them through the big sticks then he could be the answer. Can O Mac ruck?

[ThreeOneSix 954]

MFC has given Gawn the best chance to succeed, signing up Jamar to 3 years when we did now looks like a good move.
Even now, Gawn looks a year off still.

Retaining Spencer was a good move, a very good move actually.

Spencer could be a dark horse for the role, his work rate for a ruckman is top notch.

[Mgdee 322]

Spencer will be the man. He's had some injury setbacks but they are not congenital. He works as hard as anyone. He has developed over the time he has been with Melbourne. He is coming into his physical prime and he has a touch of mongrel in him.

He will be a gun. BBO has called it!

The main issue with Spencer is his marking ability. Even at training he drops the easiest of marks. His ruck work seems okay and his endeavour can't be faulted but needs to work on his skills if he is going to succeed .

[Bitter but optimistic 22,246]

The main issue with Spencer is his marking ability. Even at training he drops the easiest of marks. His ruck work seems okay and his endeavour can't be faulted but needs to work on his skills if he is going to succeed .

At times I would agree with you. Yet I have also seen him take strong marks. I think it is an area in which he is improving.

[Moonshadow 17,677]

Spencil hasa couple of strengths, such as tap work and body size. But any disposal he attempts is automatically put in the turn over column. He's still amazingly unco. Can he improve?

[Bitter but optimistic 22,246]

Spencil hasa couple of strengths, such as tap work and body size. But any disposal he attempts is automatically put in the turn over column. He's still amazingly unco. Can he improve?

Yes!! Read and accept my predictions.

[Moonshadow 17,677]

Yes!! Read and accept my predictions.

"Spenciiiilllllll, I am your father...."

[McQueen 17,867]

I had a chat to the Russian, he has come back completely refreshed and has no left over injury concerns, looks really good at training (have a look at the photos on my Twitter), rucks Jamar, Spencer, Gawn, King, Fitzpatrick, backups Pedersen and if I am not wrong Sam Frost and Watts can ruck as well, so I don't think we will be on the lookout for another one

Jack Watts can Ruck? I think you are wrong on that one fella. Watts would only be any good in the Ruck as a third man up because there is no way he has the strength to wrestle it out at a stoppage.

If I was going to put any one player in for ball up it would be Howe. He could time his leap and as we know would get well up there.