After watching the replays of this year on foxtel, and it's something I've always believed anyway, I think Gawn has the potential to be a star. He is very mobile and clean at ground level for a bloke his sizzle. His tap work is good and improving and his contested marking is actually pretty good. I think max is already a better player than 3/4 of the starting ruckmen in the afl. And I think he ceiling is a lot higher than what we have seen so far. If fit, 2015 will be a huge year for Maximus.

Does anyone know which of our current stock is the best long distance runner? I've always been of the opinion that some of the best rucks are also some of the best endurance runners. (Think Dean Cox or Jim Stynes.)

S Martin would have been a good option when talking endurance and that ability to get to every contest. Wish we still had that option. That said I believe Fitzy had done some good rucking with Casey so he could be a legit second ruck/forward option.

Edited January 25, 201510 yr by Earl Hood

The only ting Spencer has shown in his 29 games is that his no good. He had a chance at the start of last year to nail down the #1 ruck spot and he got his assed handed to him by Mumford and did little in the other games. He is there for insurance... Gawn is the obvious successor to jamar, but with his injury problems we can't soley rely on him. Also missing on Jack Hannath last year hurts.. He would have been perfect, I wokldnt stress too much about the ruck situation theres plenty of mature ages out there running around who have come through the system and performed well

Edited January 25, 201510 yr by JV7

Missing Jack Hannath was a disaster, particularly when one thinks that his slot was actually used to upgrade Dan Nicholson and Michael Evans.

Geez I'm glad/relieved we have Roos at the helm now.

Missing Jack Hannath was a disaster, particularly when one thinks that his slot was actually used to upgrade Dan Nicholson and Michael Evans.

Geez I'm glad/relieved we have Roos at the helm now.

Because Hannath played 3 games last year???

A good bunch of midfielders can make any ruckman look like a gun, and conversely, make the oppositions ruckman look terrible.

And a bad ruckman(Jamar) can make his midfield look hopeless.

And a bad ruckman(Jamar) can make his midfield look hopeless.

No MFC's midfield in past years have been more than capable of making themselves look hopeless.

Missing Jack Hannath was a disaster, particularly when one thinks that his slot was actually used to upgrade Dan Nicholson and Michael Evans.

Geez I'm glad/relieved we have Roos at the helm now.

I think you are overstating the Hannath situation 'Ron'. At this stage he has shown nothing to indicate he will be a quality AFL ruck.

I'm a big believer in having a ruckman who can get the ball as well as at least break even in the ruck contests. If he can't get his own ball I think it puts us one player down in the midfield.

Gawn has shown he can do this but not on a consistent basis and he hasn't been able to run out games. Like others though I'm concerned with his injury history.

If none of our current crop step up this year, with Jamar nearing the end then we will be in the market. There may well be one looking for a game down at the old olympic park for example.

Agreed. It's a tad early and hyperbolic to call overlooking Hannath a "disaster".

While not the most important position on the ground, the role of a competent ruckman cannot and should not be overlooked.

I dont buy the story that a skilled midfield can just shark the opposition ruckman (unless the opposing mid field is feeble).

In the game where possession/control of the ball is the mantra, no team can afford to sacrifice first touch at the centre bounce or around the ground to the opposition.

If you are not winning the bounce, the very least a competent ruckman is doing is preventing his opposite number from doing so.

Therefore the ball becomes a midfield contest. So aside from the centre/ATG bounces, a good ruckman needs to be able to mark and use the ball competently (at best another midfielder), use the body strength to assist his shorter teammates in the contest and traffic, take contested marks, have ATG mobility and be able to go forward and hurt the opposition up forward. In addition, they need to ensure their opposing ruckman does not achieve these attributes.

Edit: Just saw Rjays attrbutes for a ruckman and they are reasonable.

Because Hannath played 3 games last year???

He's competing with Sandilands. And is well regarded by the club.

How many games do you expect Nicholson and Evans to play for the Dees this year?

So who do we target?

Anyone think that Max King will be retained on the list beyond 2015?

My brother was the coach of the Wagga Tigers for a few years, coaching Max King as an upcoming kid. He's definately got the skills and will need a few years to get the endurance and size. He'll be a keeper.

Oh dear, everything is going well in the midfield, forward and defence, that only leaves the rucks to wring hands about missed chances

Roos gave Spencer a new 2 year contract, so he must see something in him

Our ruck division consists of in my opinion, Jamar, Gawn, Spencer, Fitzpatrick, King with backups in Pedersen, Watts and Frost, all are now in full training

The comments about Hannath and a missed opportunity are gold

Edited January 26, 201510 yr by The Devil Inside

He's competing with Sandilands. And is well regarded by the club.

How many games do you expect Nicholson and Evans to play for the Dees this year?

In 2014:

Hannah has played 3 games, 18 disposals and 7 marks with 26 HOs

Sandilands played 23 games, 300 disposals and 85 marks with 890 HOs

Sandilands must be really spooked by the shadow cast by the young upstart.

Hannah may well end up a competent footballer but you are stretching it further than normal Ron.

Spencer will be our number `1 When Jamar goes. He aint polished and needs continual game time to build match fitness but can compete with the many limited but necessary ruck types in the league.

Jamar is an excellent tap ruckman, just needs the midfield around him. A few years ago him and Moloney were unstoppable! Will go around for a few more years yet! Our younger guys will be given the time to develop in this case.

Jamar is an excellent tap ruckman, just needs the midfield around him. A few years ago him and Moloney were unstoppable! Will go around for a few more years yet! Our younger guys will be given the time to develop in this case.

Until we came up against teams like Geelong & Hawthorn.

So who do we target?

If our guys don't develop this year (I still see Gawn as the one injury free) I would look at either Grundy or Witts, whichever one is not getting a game or playing a secondary role. Before anyone says they won't leave or forget it, remember Roos has a history with rucks who are not getting the prime position. Money and opportunity are a big incentive....

Yes, but they had great midfields...and we...did not!

Yes, but they had great midfields...and we...did not!

Exactly 'eyes'.

So doesn't mean our rucking was lacking

So doesn't mean our rucking was lacking

Agree

PR,will drag the older ruckman through the season and when he needs it will "trade" for an experienced one.

How to run a ruck division in modern footy by PR.

agreed;.... I still think its too soon to write out Fitzpatrick as well. he's had some issues to deal with & can still start to produce if his hearts in it.

Spencer IMO will still surprise. Gawn I'll wait to see.

its my opinion that rucks do not have to be ruck rovers but they do need to play the big strong role intelligently. not be a hindrance. gawn needs to HTFU

The big key for me is Fitzpatrick. Whoever said he wont make a number 1 ruck was right IMO, but he could make a fantastic 2nd ruckman/forward.

If (and it's a big if) he can consistently perform to the best of his ability he could be a very damaging player and provide adequate back up for the number 1 ruck. Actually, more than adequate IMO. I am pinning my hopes on big Max long term and believe Spencil will be a very good back up if he gets injured. Like others I think this may be Jamar's last season, hopefully he has a big one.

Back to Fitzy, my confidence in him took a hit last year, I was disappointed with his output, but I do believe he is better than he showed and hope he can prove me right

Ottens was terribly inconsistent in his first few years, a bit of a flop, until around the time he left for the cats. may have just started to mature in his last year at tiggers?

I hoping that fitzy can become a small bit of an ottens type yet.

Do you rate Fitzy a better option than Pedersen? Surely they would have similar roles?

yes & isn't confidence and a fresh 'take-it-on' attitude, a marvelous thing Richie.

pedro for now, but fitzy has a bit of time to start a run for senior games. but he needs to mature his mind. get some aggro like the flea had as a fellow diabetic.

Does anyone know which of our current stock is the best long distance runner? I've always been of the opinion that some of the best rucks are also some of the best endurance runners. (Think Dean Cox or Jim Stynes.)

both Pre flood/congestion.

big marks forward & back imo are imperative these days, as the defenders team up on key forwards to zone them out. enter the big lump to sort them out. but not many do it.

they need the hunger to take it on, like Gardiner at the eagles without the history. Spencer can do this!!!

Spencer will be our number `1 When Jamar goes. He aint polished and needs continual game time to build match fitness but can compete with the many limited but necessary ruck types in the league.

the holiday attitude has been swept out the back doors from the junction days.

the fitness & workloads will really hitch it up a notch, & many surprises may yet play out. as the side improves across the board lets see who rises in the fancy stakes.

a change of attitudes is better than a holiday, an Ol' Confucion use to say.

If our guys don't develop this year (I still see Gawn as the one injury free) I would look at either Grundy or Witts, whichever one is not getting a game or playing a secondary role. Before anyone says they won't leave or forget it, remember Roos has a history with rucks who are not getting the prime position. Money and opportunity are a big incentive....

like it, lets do a glenn mcLean back on those P'icks in stripes.

Edited January 26, 201510 yr by dee-luded

Even if Gawn did another knee I would keep him on the list ahead of Spencer. Spencer is a big strong guy who gives his all but he is an absolute liability with the ball by either hand or foot and provides absolutely nothing around the ground, as a forward or helping out the defence. He is purely insurance if heaven forbid Jamar and Gawn go down.

Fitzy is not an AFL standard ruckman. He is a pinch hitter at best. I also don't see the forward capability that people talk about on here. Again he is just insurance for Hogan, Dawes and Pederson.

Our rucks have not been our most pressing need and quite rightly the FD has seen to rectifying other more painful difficiencies in our team. If Gawn stays healthy I believe he will develop into a serviceable or better ruckman with assistance from others when required (post Jamar I'm talking). Like others I can see Roos/Goodwin trading in a ruckman at some stage if Gawn doesn't come on as I believe Spencer and Fitzpatrick will not make the grade.

Edited January 26, 201510 yr by Grandson of a gun