Our Ruck Situation

[Fat Tony 5,291]

Lets strip away a bit of nonsense - Jamar has a year left and his form has just not matched his 2010 I the years since. Gawn is a tremendous talent but can you bank on him? When he plays 1st ruck, he is cooked 15 mins into the 3rd. Spencer is a liability with the ball, which isn't a bad thing, but if you are a one dimensional player; it better be a bloody good dimension...

Fitz is not solid enough an AFL player yet for 2nd ruck, let alone 1st. Pedersen undersized, and King is unfairly mentioned in this argument, he won't be ready until 2017 at the earliest. Watts in the ruck isn't a terrible idea but he is liable to be targeted and cut in half...

Here is a name to help Jamar for 15 minutes a game - Hogan. He isn't foreign to the position and deals well with contact, and might actually appreciate the extra work and freedom.

But, if Baulderstone, or some other ruckman from the state league is out there that can compete with Jamar - pick him up.

No way. It is not worth risking our most valuable player in a role he isn't really cut out for. Pedersen or Fitz is the back up for 2015 and re-assess thereafter.

[chook fowler 19,675]

Terrible idea to let Hogan get smashed up in the ruck. I doubt Roos would have a bar of it.

Maxxy Gawn is the man and I still have hopes for Spencil.

A seasoned ruck may well be on the recruiters to do list for next draft.

[DeeSpencer 26,091]

Lets strip away a bit of nonsense - Jamar has a year left and his form has just not matched his 2010 I the years since. Gawn is a tremendous talent but can you bank on him? When he plays 1st ruck, he is cooked 15 mins into the 3rd. Spencer is a liability with the ball, which isn't a bad thing, but if you are a one dimensional player; it better be a bloody good dimension...

Fitz is not solid enough an AFL player yet for 2nd ruck, let alone 1st. Pedersen undersized, and King is unfairly mentioned in this argument, he won't be ready until 2017 at the earliest. Watts in the ruck isn't a terrible idea but he is liable to be targeted and cut in half...

Here is a name to help Jamar for 15 minutes a game - Hogan. He isn't foreign to the position and deals well with contact, and might actually appreciate the extra work and freedom.

But, if Baulderstone, or some other ruckman from the state league is out there that can compete with Jamar - pick him up.

I think you're underrating Jamar's 2014. He wasn't 2010 form, but it was his best year in a long time. Gawn's durability is a concern, but I think his fitness has probably improved from what we saw in 2013, he wasn't given much opportunity as a number 1 ruck last year unfortunately. Spencer is clearly only depth, I like the guy, but he's a candidate to show that there aren't that many decent big guys up to rucking at AFL level.

If we recruit someone like Baulderstone I doubt he'll compete with Jamar or Gawn. That would pleasantly surprise me. But he would be there for when Jamar isn't and had a year in the system. My concern is it will be wasting a rookie pick for another back up when instead we can wait and see what happens with Gawn and Jamar and then make a trade. We can have patience.

Hogan, well he's now a similar age to Daniher who the dons have used. But I wouldn't ever want him in at the centre square. Giving him a run around the ground would be fine by me. But for most games I'd rather Pedersen have a run around the ground whilst Hogan stays in the forward half than vice versa.

[Go the Biff 3,450]

I have high hopes for Gawn. Someone earler referred to his game against the 'Dogs. He more than matched Minson for 3 quarters. In the last he got rag-dolled. That's ok. Minson is a mature, experienced & powerful ruckman. At 29 and having been AA in 2013 it could be said that Minson is in his prime years as a ruck

If you track Max's career against Minson's, I reckon he's travelling ok. He's still only 22. I see this year as another development year for him. Russian should be able to hold the fort until he's ready. This & next preseasons in the gym should make the world of difference.

Spencil is a great commodity to have on your list, bearing in mind that Roos likes ruck squads. He is never gonna be your first ruck. He is not gonna play a lot of senior footy. And he's not gonna command a big bucks contract. What he does provide though is a plug & play option if someone gets injury. He will compete & contest & help us avoid being torched by the opposition ruck. In the Magoos, where he will play most of his footy, he is a quality VFL ruckman with a big body who is there to help our young recruits as they develop.

Fitzy is a bit like Paul Johnson with a few more tricks. If you could have a comp with 200 cm wingmen, he'd win a Brownlow ! Sadly, 200cm wingmen are quickly found out. He's another that is worth his spot as depth (I expect him to play R1 with Dawes suspended) and for what he brings to our VFL team as a ruck/forward. We are not exactly overburdened with "project" talls. We need a VFL side with structure to assist our young players development.

Max King can mark. He can kick. He has good ground skills for a tall fella. Pretty good awareness. Whether his body develops to be an AFL ruckman remains to be seen

I won't be fussed if we go for Baulderstone but if we pick him up then Max King will likely be consigned to the VFL Development league which I reckon is a bit of a contradiction in terms. He'd be better off playing for Balwyn or Noble Park

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

Max Gawn is the long term ruck option and is definitely our best chance to succeed in the position from 2014 on. Whilst VFL form is not always the best indication he was pretty much the best ruckman at that level and the only thing he needs to work on is the communication with his team mates as he is able to continually win the hit outs.

Against Richmond this year when he came into the side he was able to play as the second ruck and forward and was one of the contributing factors to our win. 2 more pre seasons and the natural fitness progression and he will be our standout number one ruckman and hopefully in 5 years one of the premier rucks in the comp.