What about Jarrod Witts from Collingwood? He is now third in line there behind Grundy and Cox. Compared to Gawn  he is 1cm taller, 1 year younger and debuted 2 years later. Still has plenty of upside and would offer more years of service as a backup ruckman than Spencer who will be 27 next year.

5 minutes ago, Romey said:

What about Jarrod Witts from Collingwood? He is now third in line there behind Grundy and Cox. Compared to Gawn  he is 1cm taller, 1 year younger and debuted 2 years later. Still has plenty of upside and would offer more years of service as a backup ruckman than Spencer who will be 27 next year.

Why would he come in Melbourne ? He would be second in line behind Gawn.

Ruckman move on for more opportunity. Witts would try to get to a club where he has a chance of being number one ruckman. 

 

8 minutes ago, Romey said:

What about Jarrod Witts from Collingwood? He is now third in line there behind Grundy and Cox. Compared to Gawn  he is 1cm taller, 1 year younger and debuted 2 years later. Still has plenty of upside and would offer more years of service as a backup ruckman than Spencer who will be 27 next year.

Spud of the highest order.

I'd rather Holmes or Daw and I don't want either of them.

We have Spencer signed for at least another year and Mitch King ready to go next year. Whilst I would consider taking a ruckman at any of our picks, I do not see it as a pressing matter.

The more I look into him, the more Darcy Cameron appeals to me.

204cm, 104kg and turns 22 halfway through next year. Has spent time playing forward with Claremont this year.

Averaging nearly 2 goals a game, over 12 hitouts, 11 possessions, 2 tackles & 5 marks.

http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/4672

Would allow us to let Spencer go at the end of 2017 with Cameron our number 2 ruck & Mitch King with his first full season under his belt to develop properly. 

 

 

Edited August 17, 20169 yr by AngryAtCasey

11 hours ago, John Dee said:

We have Spencer signed for at least another year and Mitch King ready to go next year. Whilst I would consider taking a ruckman at any of our picks, I do not see it as a pressing matter.

Nothing about Mitch King is ready to go next year. He's a kid coming off a knee. Shouldn't even be counted in any way as a viable AFL option. 

We need a 3rd option to compete with Spencer and ideally replace him.

Edited August 17, 20169 yr by DeeSpencer

On 16/08/2016 at 2:38 PM, Nasher said:

Who would he play in front of?

Watts seems to have been pretty much settled upon for the second ruck.  Since moving in there, Pedersen has only been picked as a pure forward - even in the last two weeks when Pedersen has been in, Watts has been the second ruck.  I think this role for the MFC died some time ago.

To that end, I wouldn't bother bringing in any ruck types from other clubs.  Spots are finite - for rucks, use them to develop plays who will be used primary as first rucks - for backup to Gawn during apprenticeship years, and to take over from him later.  We've already got an already capable ruckman (Spencer) and an apprentice (Mitch King) on our list, so I don't see a need for another one.  Spencer gets released when King is ready, or approaching it, and at that point, we recruit a ruckman from the draft as the apprentice.  

It probably makes this thread boring, but I can't see us adding a ruckman to our list at all this year.  Three is the right number in my opinion.  

For all the talk of the game speeding up and 2 ruckman going out of fashion off the top of my head the only team to win a premiership without 2 rucks has been Collingwood in 2010 with Leigh Brown. The Hawks have always had 2, as did Geelong, as did Sydney.

Watts as 2nd ruck has been a nice way to get him in to the game and give us more skill around the ground but I don't see it as sustainable. I think we need a player around the 200cm mark who can ruck more effectively than Watts and can really spell Gawn and even rotate with Gawn more frequently depending on the match up. I don't really care if that player is more of a forward who can ruck or a ruck who can play forward, but it's still a need position. Watts could keep doing it and Weideman might have to but I think that's asking for trouble.

I'm yet to see any evidence that Spencer is capable at AFL level. Mitch King won't be ready for another few years. There's a gap in between there. And there's a gap in team to fill the Dawes/Pedersen role as a big body up forward.

I'd be inquiry in to what Toby Nankervis would cost. He reminds me of a young Mumford with his physicality and I think he can play forward.

I'd prefer to target a fwd who can ruck. In the Tippett mould. 

Gawn, spence and kings are enough pure ruck depth imo

Lobb would be the ideal player to go after, but there's no hope of landing him.

On 15 August 2016 at 8:03 PM, AngryAtCasey said:

Darcy Cameron is someone who i think could well be worth a look. ...

Only other options i see out there is Nathan Vardy, but reckon Geelong would want a lot in a trade.

 

On 15 August 2016 at 8:14 PM, mdemon said:

Daniel Currie is a true 'journeyman' ruckman. ...

Nankervis and Naismith at the Swans appeal as younger alternatives ...

 

On 15 August 2016 at 8:38 PM, dazzledavey36 said:

Tom Campbell from the Western Bulldogs.

 

On 15 August 2016 at 9:19 PM, mattjm said:

nathan vardy for 2 years

 

On 16 August 2016 at 2:18 PM, juzzk1d said:

Would we possibly entertain Zac Clark? 26 years of age and can take a grab.

...

Worthy suggestions all. But honestly, which of them is definitely & significantly better than Spencer?

Not that it helps, but Jeff White would've done wonders in this team!

7 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Not that it helps, but Jeff White would've done wonders in this team!

Yeah absorbed a fair amount of salary cap 

On 16/8/2559 at 11:41 AM, dino rover said:

I think forward ruck not ruck forward

So 2m plus who plays fwd and can chop out in the ruck not a ruck who cant play fwd

Spot on I reckon DR.

Rory Lobb's your man, will be a star, and he's already wearing number 37! No idea how that can be made possible though. If he wants out of GWS it won't be for success or more opportunity, would either be number one ruck role, money or mummy's (not Shane) roast lamb. Not sure we can provide him with any of those. Unless Goody does a mean herb crusted lamb......

On 15/08/2016 at 9:26 PM, chook fowler said:

Caleb Daniel?

I think you'll find he's not as tall as you might think once he takes his helmet off.

If the injury news from overnight turns out to be bad for the ruckmen involved then the hunt for ruckmen for next year is really going to hot up.

How's Hannah tracking at Freo?  Having been in the system for a good few seasons now, I'd expect that he'd be showing something by now if he's going to make it.

Have had a bit of a soft spot for him since he spent part of a preseason with us (prior to getting picked up by Freo).  That said, I haven't watched any of his games!

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

If the injury news from overnight turns out to be bad for the ruckmen involved then the hunt for ruckmen for next year is really going to hot up.

And shows how vulnerable we are if anything happens to Max! Spencer and Max King with Mitch King returning from and ACL repair, all a bit thin in the tall man dept. Sydney have Tippet, Naismith, Nankervis, Sinclair and Derikx all over 200 cm with a few of them never expected to play unless there is an injury. They have also carried Alex Johnson on their long term injury list for the last 3 years. maybe our list needs a slight change in structure.

We need an agile quick  200cm  forward/follower, who is strong when the ball is on the deck, and will defend aggressively. can catch can ruck.

Witts will be in demand, if Ceglar and Nic Nat are both ACL's.

On 17/08/2016 at 11:36 PM, DeeSpencer said:

For all the talk of the game speeding up and 2 ruckman going out of fashion off the top of my head the only team to win a premiership without 2 rucks has been Collingwood in 2010 with Leigh Brown. The Hawks have always had 2, as did Geelong, as did Sydney.

Watts as 2nd ruck has been a nice way to get him in to the game and give us more skill around the ground but I don't see it as sustainable. I think we need a player around the 200cm mark who can ruck more effectively than Watts and can really spell Gawn and even rotate with Gawn more frequently depending on the match up. I don't really care if that player is more of a forward who can ruck or a ruck who can play forward, but it's still a need position. Watts could keep doing it and Weideman might have to but I think that's asking for trouble.

I'm yet to see any evidence that Spencer is capable at AFL level. Mitch King won't be ready for another few years. There's a gap in between there. And there's a gap in team to fill the Dawes/Pedersen role as a big body up forward.

I'd be inquiry in to what Toby Nankervis would cost. He reminds me of a young Mumford with his physicality and I think he can play forward.

Yep. With the full rigors of an AFL hime and away season, followed up by a finals campaign, last night's injuries to key ruckmen proved the importance of a back up. And a decent back up. West Coast are stuffed.

On 8/20/2016 at 8:52 AM, billy2803 said:

How's Hannah tracking at Freo?  Having been in the system for a good few seasons now, I'd expect that he'd be showing something by now if he's going to make it.

Have had a bit of a soft spot for him since he spent part of a preseason with us (prior to getting picked up by Freo).  That said, I haven't watched any of his games!

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/trade-delist-fa-keep.1143776/

Freo fans on BF have Jack Hannath universally delisted.

Also Zac Clarke is UFA - but the knock on him is lack of intensity which is not our mantra.

Both worth considering and they probably come for free trade-wise.  Not everyone fits into Ross Lyon's program.

On 8/20/2016 at 1:48 PM, A F said:

Yep. With the full rigors of an AFL hime and away season, followed up by a finals campaign, last night's injuries to key ruckmen proved the importance of a back up. And a decent back up. West Coast are stuffed.

Famous last words. It actually shows how important Spencer is to us

Edited August 30, 20169 yr by binman

To find someone to replace Max in the event (god help us) of a season ending injury is the most important thing of all for 2017. Max's dodgy knee (even his good knee) was my on-going concern this year. To see him land awkwardly or in a tangle on the ground filled me with anxiety every time..

To not have Max for any significant part of the season is my greatest fear and also our greatest threat to making progress in 2017. 

Spencer, Pedersen or Watts may provide support for a fit Max but they cannot replace Max. I suspect that the King boys are still a long way off. 

5 minutes ago, hemingway said:

To find someone to replace Max in the event (god help us) of a season ending injury is the most important thing of all for 2017. Max's dodgy knee (even his good knee) was my on-going concern this year. To see him land awkwardly or in a tangle on the ground filled me with anxiety every time..

To not have Max for any significant part of the season is my greatest fear and also our greatest threat to making progress in 2017. 

Spencer, Pedersen or Watts may provide support for a fit Max but they cannot replace Max. I suspect that the King boys are still a long way off. 

We're not going to attract a very good ruckman who is prepared to spend all his time at Casey waiting for a Max injury.  Jake Spencer is the best you can get for this role.  If we recruit a ruckman he needs to be a forward-ruck who can play alongside Max.

4 hours ago, binman said:

Famous last words. It actually shows how important Spencer is to us

Haha. They won't win it though.