THE HUNT FOR A RED HOT RUCKMAN

[The Chazz 4,077]

On 6 November 2016 at 7:19 PM, Pinball Wizard said:

WJ in another thread quoted the AFL Prospectus earlier in the year with the top 25 young draft prospects and it included a SA ruckman Peter Ladhams.

"Peter Ladhams Ruck South Australia Plays like: Robert Warnock

A 202cm ruckman, impressed with his tap work at the 2015 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, recording a hitout win rate of 54% - ranked second."

He seems to have fallen out of favour. Is that due to injury, poor form or that comparison with Robert Warnock.

 

There's a good article about Ladhams here, and probably goes a long way in explains the reasons why he fell out of favour.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/local-footy-sa/sanfl/norwood/how-norwood-ruckman-peter-ladhams-went-from-top-draft-prospect-to-lost-soul-and-back-again/news-story/ac459cef0b19fe09d36b41cfae72d26f

Considering he's a raw, young ruck, he seems to have a fair bit of coordination for big bloke, so you would think that this will only be improved with a few years in the system.  I'd have no hesitation taking a punt with him, but I'm not as familiar with the players likely to be still around when we enter the draft, not compared to Jason Taylor!

[Ted Lasso 19,513]

The challenge is we probably need an experienced ruck as backup rather than a younger guy, and we need them to come through either the national draft or rookie draft. 

I am not sure what mature age ruck options are out there in the state leagues but i am sure we'd be having a good look around at options.

Jack Hanneth i think would be a good option as a rookie pick 

[BAMF 4,351]

7 minutes ago, Abe said:

The challenge is we probably need an experienced ruck as backup rather than a younger guy, and we need them to come through either the national draft or rookie draft. 

I am not sure what mature age ruck options are out there in the state leagues but i am sure we'd be having a good look around at options.

Jack Hanneth i think would be a good option as a rookie pick 

I would rather pick up someone who we think has a chance of replacing Spencer. I don't think Hannath is that player.

Hannath is 26 this year and will be that 2 year option (3 max).

I would much rather take a punt on a 18-22 year old who we think could actually have a chance at a career with us.

It will be interesting to see what Taylor does.

 

[DeeSpencer 25,687]

The more I see of him the more I want Tony Olango. He's got skills and athleticism. Yeah he'll take a while but I'd love to see what he'd become with 5 years of professional development.

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,780]

It usually takes too long to develop an effective ruckman from a young age.

The last decade's most successful club ( the Tassie /Waverley Hawks) have a successful formula. They let other clubs groom them, then take them when they're mature.

The ones that come immediately to my mind are Byrne, Salmon, Everett, MacEvoy, Ceglar...and several others..(remind me, please).

We've done well with big Max.Let's do everything in our power to keep him on long contracts. I think Spencer is a good back-up, and I guess we're trying to develop Mitch King. I don't think the Scorps back-up guy,Declan Keilty) is tall enough.

Perhaps Hawthorn's tactic is the way to go, rather than using early draft picks on 18y.o. beanstalks.

Edited November 13, 2016 by Jumping Jack Clennett
Remembered Keilty's name

[DeeSpencer 25,687]

3 hours ago, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

It usually takes too long to develop an effective ruckman from a young age.

The last decade's most successful club ( the Tassie /Waverley Hawks) have a successful formula. They let other clubs groom them, then take them when they're mature.

The ones that come immediately to my mind are Byrne, Salmon, Everett, MacEvoy, Ceglar...and several others..(remind me, please).

We've done well with big Max.Let's do everything in our power to keep him on long contracts. I think Spencer is a good back-up, and I guess we're trying to develop Mitch King. I don't think the Scorps back-up guy,Declan Keilty) is tall enough.

Perhaps Hawthorn's tactic is the way to go, rather than using early draft picks on 18y.o. beanstalks.

Hawks won in 08 with a couple of home breeds in Robbie Campbell and Brent Renouf. Max Bailey was crucial in 2013. After that in the middle of a flag window they topped up with McEvoy for 2014/15. Ceglar had done a couple of years at Collingwood but was still a young developing ruck when he went to Hawthorn.

If/when we get in a flag window we should look to trade if need be, but for the time being there's no reason not to keep adding young rucks with late picks or rookie picks.

[Dees2014 2,377]

On 10/11/2016 at 9:30 PM, Abe said:

The challenge is we probably need an experienced ruck as backup rather than a younger guy, and we need them to come through either the national draft or rookie draft. 

I am not sure what mature age ruck options are out there in the state leagues but i am sure we'd be having a good look around at options.

Jack Hanneth i think would be a good option as a rookie pick 

Not sure that I agree. We have a mature aged back up ruckman in Spencer, in my view an underestimated and under used resource (aka his game against Geelong in 2015, one of the few times Gawn and Spencer have played together and look what happened?).

I think Gawn is the outstanding example of what can come from being patient with developing young ruckman. Before him Darren Jolly. King was never in their class because he did not have the size. I would much prefer to see us recruit a young giant and develop him. If Gawn is injured we have an adequate replacement in Spencer, but I would far prefer to see Spencer and Gawn in the same side and have Max spend more time up forward. I really think he has the potential to be another Paul Salmon, and would give Jesse and Watts so much more power up forward. 

it will be interesting to see what Goodwin's views on this are.

 

 

[rjay 24,919]

On 14/11/2016 at 11:43 AM, Dees2014 said:

Not sure that I agree. We have a mature aged back up ruckman in Spencer, in my view an underestimated and under used resource (aka his game against Geelong in 2015, one of the few times Gawn and Spencer have played together and look what happened?).

I think Gawn is the outstanding example of what can come from being patient with developing young ruckman. Before him Darren Jolly. King was never in their class because he did not have the size. I would much prefer to see us recruit a young giant and develop him. If Gawn is injured we have an adequate replacement in Spencer, but I would far prefer to see Spencer and Gawn in the same side and have Max spend more time up forward. I really think he has the potential to be another Paul Salmon, and would give Jesse and Watts so much more power up forward. 

it will be interesting to see what Goodwin's views on this are.

Max is not a forward, it just doesn't work. It stalled his career at Casey trying to make him something he wasn't.

He only made the big leap forward when he took over the ruck position. Not broken, doesn't need to be fixed.

...by the way Paul Salmon was a forward who later became a ruckman.

[Grimes Times 1,278]

Snoop Dog AFL 2016 Phantom Draft

A few options around our picks as per Snoop from above

# 53 Melbourne – Esava Ratugolea / Murray Bushrangers / 194cm / 94kg

Gap between his best and worst is significant. Must remember he is raw talent and hasn’t been playing that long. Really athletic type whose leading patterns are going to need work but he has the speed to create distance between he and his defender and he can take a mark. Usually a pretty good shot at goal but been times when he is really wayward such as the champs but I kind of think nerves got a hold of him. If doesn’t work out as a forward he has the ability to play some different roles but at pick 53 a guy that can play forward and ruck might be a good choice. Bit bold but Melbourne usually are. They need some more depth in this area though.

Who else – Thought long and hard about Darcy Cameron here as a mature option and Mitch McCarthy as a development prospect.

# 61 Richmond - Mitch McCarthy / Dandenong / 196cm / 93kg

19yo wh is athletic tall from Dandenong who can play CHF, CHB or ruck. Has been hurt by injuries so clubs will take more on scope than form line but he has shown enough to suggest clubs will go for him. Got terrific hands and ball use for a kid his size.

Who else – I think the Tigers could look at Eddy as someone to partner Jack and take some heat off him.

# 66 WCE Residual Selection - Darcy Cameron / Claremont / 204cm / 99kg

I have been drafting this kid for years and think to myself it has to be this year. Not sure the knock on him but suspect its got to do with his agility and clubs concerns around him covering the ground. Went forward more this year and averaged a couple of goals a game so appeals as a ruck with terrific hands at the tap out and someone who can push forward. Probably needs to work on his consistency of effort as in some games you wonder whether he is just coasting a bit.

# 70 Melbourne - Tony Olango / NT / 197cm / 82kg

Bit of a fan of this bloke and behind English is probably my best ruck prospect. He is really raw but he ticks a lot of boxes. Incredibly athletic, good leap, good endurance and speed and can be effective when the ball is on the ground. Seen him dodge through traffic like a mid and he seems to use the ball within his limitations. Will take time but he has a few things to work with.

Who else – Oscar McInerney

[junk 342]

In veiw of the recent "kiddie draft" we didn't pick up  a ruckman,having sais that we may get one in the rookie draft. If we don't get one Goodwin may have manufacture one out of our existng players which could be Watts or O.Mac or the Weed,Pedo at 193 cm is too short and not quick enough. The surviving King will take time to develop. My money is on the Weed,Spencer is lucky to survive the cull .

[spirit of norm smith 16,450]

I think MFC will grab either Oscar Mcinnnerney or Jack Hannath as mature options.  However they could see the potential in developing Tony Olango (this kid could be better than Natanui) or Peter Ladhams.

[Whispering_Jack 30,054]

The hunt is over ... Lachlan Filipovic is our big man.

[spirit of norm smith 16,450]

wow... the Maxy Gawn special tip !!

[jayceebee31 761]

Yep...a great prodigee as Gawn has been coaching him...a great pick up along with a cover of talls with other picks.Great draft overall..( first class )

[The Chazz 4,077]

On 10 November 2016 at 0:33 PM, billy2803 said:

There's a good article about Ladhams here, and probably goes a long way in explains the reasons why he fell out of favour.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/local-footy-sa/sanfl/norwood/how-norwood-ruckman-peter-ladhams-went-from-top-draft-prospect-to-lost-soul-and-back-again/news-story/ac459cef0b19fe09d36b41cfae72d26f

Considering he's a raw, young ruck, he seems to have a fair bit of coordination for big bloke, so you would think that this will only be improved with a few years in the system.  I'd have no hesitation taking a punt with him, but I'm not as familiar with the players likely to be still around when we enter the draft, not compared to Jason Taylor!

Will be interesting to see how Ladhams goes at Port (they picked him with the very next pick after we took Filipovic.

[wheaters31 675]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/western-bulldogs/western-bulldogs-ruckman-tom-campbell-explores-trade-options/news-story/b2844852bf3cd5f64689671d8e8c1884

Western Bulldogs ruckman Tom Campbell explores trade options. Should we enquire given Spencer's departure? 

Edited October 11, 2017 by wheaters31