We've seen all three ruck options this year (King still has a way to go) so based on what we have seen who is your first choice ruckman?

On the strength of his performance on Saturday with a particular focus on some excellent and clean hit-outs to advantage, my vote is Gawn.

Martin.

Sorry.

Couldn't help myself.

We've seen all three ruck options this year (King still has a way to go) so based on what we have seen who is your first choice ruckman?

We've only seen him once but it's Gawn for mine. Jamar no longer seems interested and Spencer's effort is admirable but he's just not good enough for AFL.

I think Spencer and Gawn are neck and neck but have different strengths. I'm hoping Gawn steps up this week to make it a more clear decision though.

On another note, I'm hoping we see Watts go 3rd man up more often, has worked really well when he has done so.

One thing is absolutely clear though - we need to trade in a ready made ruckman at the end of the season, or we are proper farked.

We dominated out of the centre against Collingwood. This guy was the main reason. Just fed Vince all day.

We dominated out of the centre against Collingwood. This guy was the main reason. Just fed Vince all day.

Grundy is very young and raw though and Jesse White is a genuine spud. Max will really be tested against a solid ruckman or ruck duo.

If Gawn stays fit and builds his tank, it's an easy decision.

And that's the problem.

Gawn absolutely has the skill set to be a top ruckman

- can mark

- can tap

- not too bad below his knees

- in the main makes good decisions

The main issue to date is he has shown in fits and bursts and he still doesn't look like he has a tank.

Shout me down but the general rule is that ruckman don't come into their own until 23ish and Gawn is just hitting that age now where he should be stepping up ( yes - the are exceptions to this)

We need a ruckman to match the class of our budding midfield ala GWS.

So, we need to trade in a 'first choice' ruckman.

Then keep one of Gawn, Spencer, (or Fitzy ?) as depth while King develops.

Our ruckman have good currency: someone said WB interested in Fitzy, Ess only have a C grade.

So can't vote for any of the 3 options.

Gawn has played one game...

Best of a bad lot really.

Jamar. Not shocked he's 'not interested', considering the fact that he started the season well but has been dropped to try out other guys.

I get that it was a necessary evil to do it, but people should show some respect and understand that he's fought hard for many years and a lack of motivation in the twos is simply a natural part of Roos' decision to drop him.

He cold be getting 60 hit outs a game at Casey, and it wouldn't change the fact that he isn't getting a game until Gawn and Spencer have had their four weeks.

Spencer IMO is a dud, but I'd keep him on the list as insurance.

Gawn I have always said there is something there, and Monday was good. I don't think he was any more productive than Jamar, because his tapwork is great but he tries too much and needs to worry about getting it down our players' throats when its there and making ground when it isn't. He's young though, he'll learn.

If I want to win a game tomorrow however, then I pick Jamar.

Too early to pick, but if Gawn continues on from Monday then it's his to lose.

As others point out Gawn has the skill set, however, his knees have to hold up and he needs to be aggressive and committed at the contest. His knees are a major worry when you look at his history and his physiology. He is very knock kneed which does not help. So we need a back-up. Realistically that back up is Spencer. Also think it unlikely we are going to pick up another ruckman better than Spencer and Gawn. They are simply not around and clubs are not willingly going to trade a top ruckman. We have to play these guys as often as possible. I would prefer that we chase other players for midfield and forward options.

Watch the AFL360 video up on the melbourne website: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2015-06-09/afl-360-monday-june-8

Around the 13:13 minute mark nathan buckly says this:

"Melbourne have been bottom 2 in the score from stoppage differential and you probably lead the round in the end. I reckon you were +30 or something from stoppages today, so there's a difference and all of the evidence of the first 9 rounds has been flipped on its head".

Evidence=Spencer and Jamar can't ruck. Gawn can, if his body holds up, his fitness will improve . I am very happy with Max as No.1 ruck this year and for the next 6.

At this stage im voting Spencil but I reserve the right to change it assuming Gawn is given a good run at it by Roosey over the next 5 to 8 weeks to settle in.

From what I've seen so far....

Spencer

Positives

- Contests well and can win/split "hit outs to adv" against most accept Nic Nat & Sandi but who can?

- Can hit a target on the lead and kick occasional goals if given enough time or close enough to split the big ones, tackles & competes well when ball comes to ground and can even rack up his own clearances out of the middle.

Some stats to consider....

- No.1 in the tackle averages by a long way!

- No.1 in hit outs (averages) just ahead of Jamar. Be nice to have the hit outs to adv here.

- No.8 in contested

-No.5 in Clearances (Ahead of Crossy & Vanders with Jamar at 8)

-No.2 in One percenters only bettered by T-Mac (Jamar at 11)

-No.12 in contested marks (Jamar at 6)

Stats dont make a player but from what I've seen Spencil might not get as many hit outs to adv as Gawn nor is he likely to be better at marks around the ground but in terms of what he can do when the ball is "live" (eg., extraction from stoppages, hitting up targets by foot, accuracy at goal when within range, tackling when we dont have it) i would back him above Gawn at this point.

Happy to give Gawn those 6 to 8 games though (assuming he gives us something reasonable) and review again afterwards.

If we are just picking Gawn on his ability to get a few more hit outs to advantage than Spencil...but likely to be just as easily walloped here by the 2 guns in this dept anyway when we come up against them (Nic Nat & Sandi) then I would be pretty worried at this point. And as we've seen, even the best in the business can clock up massive numbers here (Sandi on Friday night had a massive hit out to adv differential against the Toiges) and you can still be soundly beaten.

Edited June 10, 201510 yr by Rusty Nails

Gawn by a mile

He has star potential and all the tools, always has

Gawn is the only ruckman on our list who knows how to tap out to advantage

For this reason alone, he's ahead of Jamar and Spencer

Having said that, he has a LONG way to go

GAWWWWNNN

Gawn is the only ruckman on our list who knows how to tap out to advantage

For this reason alone, he's ahead of Jamar and Spencer

Having said that, he has a LONG way to go

And I'm a little apprehensive seeing him play with one leg absolutely strapped up with tape. I half expect it to go any second.

Watch Gawn have a poor game next week and have this poll flipped on its head.

Reminds me of when Matt Jones and Dean Terlich were great pick ups, even better than Dan Nicholson who was a weapon off half back.

One game does not a player make.

Jamar has played 150 games and has made AA and people are saying 'he can't ruck' - Good Lord.

Jamar is best at negating the hit out of his opponent and is passed his best.

Spencer is best at following up at ground level of the stoppage and is probably at his development peak aside from games experience.

Gawn is best at hitting the ball to advantage and is not close to his development peak.

More than one game needed to judge fairly but its pretty clearly Gawn for me if his effort and intensity level are retained or improve.

After seeing both Spencer and Gawn in the team over the last month, I feel far more confident about a post-Jamar future. Both seem extremely capable of taking the #1 ruck position. Saying that, I still would make an offer to a more experienced ruckman who can continue to oversee their development.

Watch Gawn have a poor game next week and have this poll flipped on its head.

Reminds me of when Matt Jones and Dean Terlich were great pick ups, even better than Dan Nicholson who was a weapon off half back.

One game does not a player make.

None of those guys have anything remotely close to the talent and upside Gawn has. Not to mention hes 208 centimetres.