Ruckman

[Yossarian 1,820]

Geez Stefan Martin is a unit these days. Miss that guy.

[hemingway 7,633]

Hmm, a big unit indeed. He has entirely transformed his body shape and muscle definition. It must be all those weights and protein shakes. Its great to see footballers like Stefan with an entirely natural body build.

[Demon Disciple 12,495]

a typical wannabe body-builder. Loves his upper body, yet his lower half is neglected and rake thin.

[Moonshadow 17,678]

a typical wannabe body-builder. Loves his upper body, yet his lower half is neglected and rake thin.

For a wannabe body builder he makes a pretty good footballer. Wish he still played for us. What we desperately need, along with a couple of gun midfielders.

[ManDee 7,352]

Jamar averages 30 touches a game this year, and here's a list of the ruckmen he has played against.

• Zac Smith
• Shane Mumford
• Sam Jacobs
• Ivan Maric
• Aaron Sandilands

In almost all of those games, he rucked alone with a very small amount of help from Frost and Dawes.

Yet he ran the games out - no labouring to get to the footy, no balls sailing through his hands, no hesitancy to jump because of his messed up knee.

It is revisionism at its finest to suggest that Jamar is finished, and reminds me of 2010 when Junior Mac was done and Jordie McKenzie/Jordan Gysberts had to take his spot.

Pirlo, get those stats right dude.

Jamar - hitouts ave 30 disposal 7.8 marks 1.6 clangars 3.2 eff disp 69.2%

Gawn - hitouts ave 35 disposal 13.5 marks 2.0 clangars 2.0 eff disp 77.8%

Face it Jamar is behind Gawn and Gawn is no champion but he is 23 yo. Jamar will be 32 before the end of this season.

[CBDees 3,167]

Pirlo, get those stats right dude.

Jamar - hitouts ave 30 disposal 7.8 marks 1.6 clangars 3.2 eff disp 69.2%

Gawn - hitouts ave 35 disposal 13.5 marks 2.0 clangars 2.0 eff disp 77.8%

Face it Jamar is behind Gawn and Gawn is no champion but he is 23 yo. Jamar will be 32 before the end of this season.

Plus Gawn will be the tallest player in the AFL when Sandilands retires!

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I need to change the title of the thread to "Ruckmen". Gawn and Spencer were both very good today.

[Yossarian 1,820]

Maxy seems to be getting more and more confident about the state of his knees. Took some excellent jumping grabs today.

[Yossarian 1,820]

Side note: when did they become such bloody reliable kicks of the football? Ridiculous!

[What 18,810]

Our player development seems to finally be coming good

[Josh 1,420]

Plus Gawn will be the tallest player in the AFL when Sandilands retires!

Isn't Witts and the American at Most listed as taller?

[rjay 25,360]

I need to change the title of the thread to "Ruckmen". Gawn and Spencer were both very good today.

They were, but the Cats missed their taller options.

The question at selection is going to be...when Hogan comes back can we play Gawn, Spencer, Dawes and Hogan? I don't think so, but who goes out?

[Little Richard 6,265]

They were, but the Cats missed their taller options.

The question at selection is going to be...when Hogan comes back can we play Gawn, Spencer, Dawes and Hogan? I don't think so, but who goes out?

Tough. If Pedersen were fit it would be more straight forward to drop Spencer (who was good, but not as good as Gawn) as Ped can play ruck.

I still think it will probably be Spencer and they'll rotate others through there and use the third man up with Howe and Watts.

[dazzledavey36 55,995]

Need to re sign Gawn up asap.

Someone on here last week mentioned he turned down a offer from us to see if he could get more game time. Well in my opinion he has taken over as number 1 ruck for us and i now see him as a very important member of this footy side.

[JTR 2,897]

Our player development seems to finally be coming good

One week earlier....

We haven't improved under Roos at all. It is a disgrace

Paul Roos is a Neeld level match day coach

If he doesnt fix the culture he should hand back every cent we pay him cos he isnt here for his coaching ability thats for sure

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,825]

Plus Gawn will be the tallest player in the AFL when Sandilands retires!

Witts might be taller.

Sorry,Josh....just saw your post.

[ManDee 7,352]

Hands up all those that don't rate ruckmen.

[jazza 1,323]

I need to change the title of the thread to "Ruckmen". Gawn and Spencer were both very good today.

Spence,did a great job and still showed that he needs games yet.

He was limping at one stage and i thought could be gone for the day and we would be in trouble balance wise.

But he stood at FF in the 3rd and limped for another 10 minutes before being called back to the centre circle and went without fear.

Clearly his best game and clearly was excited about being in a hard fought win after the game.

Could actually be the making of him.

[Lucifers Hero 40,576]

Hands up all those that don't rate ruckmen.

I wonder how many DL will fess up?

Delighted Gawn and Spencer had excellent games yesterday.

Firmly believe teams can't win finals without an excellent ruckman.

Worth noting the games we have done well in/won have been vs teams without recognised ruckman playing: GCS, Richmond (don't rate Maric), Bulldogs, Pies, StK and Cats.

Our biggest losses have been where we have been killed in the ruck: GWS (Mummy), Sydney (Pike), (Hawks, Mc Evoy), Port (Lobe), Freo (Sandilands). No coincidence these are grand final/prelim final ruckmen/teams.

Recently, I was one suggesting we need a ruckman to grow into the role along side our growing young mid-field.

Yesterday, showed Gawn could be that guy!

[dazzledavey36 55,995]

If Max can finally establish himself as our genuine number 1 ruckman it actually saves us going out and looking to trade for one e.g. Luenburger

[Moonshadow 17,678]

Goes to show the value of giving guys numerous games in a row for development

[Deestroy All 14,266]

There was a great quote last week

"If Gawn's marks start sticking he'll be a star. Always in the right spot just doesn't hold em."

I was on the money.

Loved his run down diving tackle on Stokes too.

I think he beat Naitanui's career total contested marks in one half yesterday.

[Deespicable 2,886]

Unless Gawny does a knee in the last 10 weeks, then you can now scrap any idea of us going out of our way to lure another ruckman.

The issue for us is deciding how many back-ups you have on your list because as was the case last year and is now the case for GWS, a few injuries in the ruck department can pretty much derail your whole season.

And Roosy also has to balance the number of pure ruckman - (currently three - Jamar, Spencer and Gawny) with the mobile back-up key position ruck options (Pedo, Fitzy, Frost).

I haven't included Kingy on either list because unless you have watched him at development league games, it's a bit hard to comment yet on whether he has the mobility to make it as a forward or as a pure ruckman.

But obviously King's past few weeks means that he also now seems certain to get another year to develop.

My guess is that Jamar will retire and we will have room to take a project big on the rookie list.

[ManDee 7,352]

Pirlo, get those stats right dude.

Jamar - hitouts ave 30 disposal 7.8 marks 1.6 clangars 3.2 eff disp 69.2%

Gawn - hitouts ave 35 disposal 13.5 marks 2.0 clangars 2.0 eff disp 77.8%

Face it Jamar is behind Gawn and Gawn is no champion but he is 23 yo. Jamar will be 32 before the end of this season.

Update on Gawn

hitouts ave 38 disposal 15.3 marks 4.0 clangars 2.3 eff disp 76.5%

Gawn can be the dominant ruckman in the comp.

Time for the onballers to be buying him lunch, he will feed them for years to come. Go Maxy.

[Little Richard 6,265]

If Max can finally establish himself as our genuine number 1 ruckman it actually saves us going out and looking to trade for one e.g. Luenburger

I would feel much better if we were to trade in some more capable ruck depth, eg Gorringe from GC. But Maxy is looking like a lock for number one at this stage, as long as he stays fit.