On 15/08/2016 at 8:38 PM, dazzledavey36 said:

Tom Campbell from the Western Bulldogs.

Think this could be the guy.

I'm starting to cool on other options like Vardy (injury issues) and Zac Clarke (effectiveness as a forward).

Tom Campbell is a good ruck who's aggressive at the contest and can take a grab forward. He also combined well with Roughead earlier this year to limit Max's effectiveness when we played them.

I'd still like usto also draft Darcy Cameron as an option in this role, but Tom Campbell followed by Shaun McKernan I think would be the two best candidates for this vacant position of ours.

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

Tom Campbell from the Western Bulldogs.

http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2016-09-16/campbell-signs-on-for-two-more

Thanks Dazzle... That put's paid to Tom, it's a tough one!!!

Darcy Cameron
Claremont
204cm/104kg
18/7/95
Cameron was overlooked at the 2013 NAB AFL Draft with a query on his pace and his consistency in competing. But he's improved those aspects of his game and presents as a mature-age tall who is able to play in the ruck and in attack. Cameron has enjoyed a solid season at WAFL level for Claremont.

Darcy Cameron during the 2013 NAB AFL Draft Combine. Picture: Darrian Traynor

While I still want us to draft Cameron (see above) I think Luke Lowden is someone we could also look at as a delisted free agent.

Played the majority of the year in the SANFL as a 2nd ruck/forward to good effect it seems booting over 20 goals.  Unable to get a look in at the Crows behind Jacobs & Jenkins.  Would cost us nothing as compared to Nathan Vardy who is also more injury prone.  Will turn 26 before the start of next seson.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-09-23/crows-delist-exhawk-luke-lowden-and-youngster-keenan-ramsey

http://www.aflplayerratings.com.au/Ratings/Player/115529/Luke-LOWDEN

Wouldn't at all be surprised if Hawthorn try to lure him back.

Despite the contract extension, I'm not convinced about Jake Spencer even as a back up for Max Gawn. We should be looking for a couple of younger blokes who can also play forward.

Jack Hannath. Delisted today by Freo. Either a late draft pick or rookie.  

Some romance to a second chance given Freo stole him away back in 2012

On 27/09/2016 at 8:07 PM, Spirit of the Demon said:

Despite the contract extension, I'm not convinced about Jake Spencer even as a back up for Max Gawn. We should be looking for a couple of younger blokes who can also play forward.

Much as I would like spencer to be successful with the dees I did not see a lot in either of the VLF finals games from him, maybe he needs another ruck coach to help him along, otherwise we need to seriously start looking for a successor to max

49 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Jack Hannath. Delisted today by Freo. Either a late draft pick or rookie.  

Some romance to a second chance given Freo stole him away back in 2012

wouldn't be against this

http://cha-cdn220-is-3.se.bptvpd.ngcdn.telstra.com/pd_afldemons0/OnDemand/AFL/2010/Club/Video/121211_Hannath_1M.mp4

Seemed so dissapointed to be going to Freo back then and committed to the dees. Could be a good cheap option...

 

Just looking at that video our list was SOOO bad back then.

9 minutes ago, GCDee said:

http://cha-cdn220-is-3.se.bptvpd.ngcdn.telstra.com/pd_afldemons0/OnDemand/AFL/2010/Club/Video/121211_Hannath_1M.mp4

Seemed so dissapointed to be going to Freo back then and committed to the dees. Could be a good cheap option...

We could get him for zip as a DFA.  We may give up a very late pick so he is on our list to train a month or so 'earlier' as Hawks did last year with Fitzy.

While Hannath hasn't done well at Freo, I don't put a lot of score of Lyons faith nor development of players.  So If mfc didn't have other options I'm with you and think he would be good for us.

Edited October 4, 20168 yr by Lucifer's Hero

There aren't really many options out there right now, and for those that are available there are questions around either their work ethic or fitness to stay on the ground.

If I had to choose someone, I'd go after Zac Clarke. Melbourne born and bred, put him back in his home state surrounded by family and friends and see if he can kick it into another gear.

 

Use what we've got. By my calculations if Ben Newton was trained to stand on Kennedy Harris' shoulders they would be about 3 m 40 tall.........easily the biggest ruck combination in the competition.

36 minutes ago, juzzk1d said:

There aren't really many options out there right now, and for those that are available there are questions around either their work ethic or fitness to stay on the ground.

If I had to choose someone, I'd go after Zac Clarke. Melbourne born and bred, put him back in his home state surrounded by family and friends and see if he can kick it into another gear.

 

People are shooting down the Zac Clarke option but if you have a look at his stats from the 2013 year (when they made the GF) they are actually fairly solid.

We desperately need another backup ruck as we cannot go into next season with Gawn, Spencer and Mitch King as our only options! 

Don't think there is much doubt we will pick up another ruckman as Insurance. 

Interesting to see if Mitch King develops. Someone posted that he is now 202 cms.

 

I'd take Nankervis or Longer. Preferably Nankervis 

3 hours ago, DemonLad5 said:

I'd take Nankervis or Longer. Preferably Nankervis 

Billy Longer and the forward line is a marriage that will end poorly.

Also St Kilda would want a 2nd round pick for him minimum.  They probably initially ask for a 1st Round Pick.

On 27 September 2016 at 8:22 AM, AngryAtCasey said:

While I still want us to draft Cameron (see above) I think Luke Lowden is someone we could also look at as a delisted free agent.

Played the majority of the year in the SANFL as a 2nd ruck/forward to good effect it seems booting over 20 goals.  Unable to get a look in at the Crows behind Jacobs & Jenkins.  Would cost us nothing as compared to Nathan Vardy who is also more injury prone.  Will turn 26 before the start of next seson.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-09-23/crows-delist-exhawk-luke-lowden-and-youngster-keenan-ramsey

http://www.aflplayerratings.com.au/Ratings/Player/115529/Luke-LOWDEN

Wouldn't at all be surprised if Hawthorn try to lure him back.

 

I'm not totally against Lowden and I'm the first to admit, I haven't seen a lot of him. But seeing he's already effectively made no impact at two clubs, why would it be any difference if he came to us? Would he actually be an upgrade of Spencer? 

 

18 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Jack Hannath. Delisted today by Freo. Either a late draft pick or rookie.  

Some romance to a second chance given Freo stole him away back in 2012

 

Could be an option, but was very underwhelming for Freo and being delisted by a poorly finishing side hardly speaks well. Especially given he only played two (?) games this year with Sandilands being injured. 

18 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Jack Hannath. Delisted today by Freo. Either a late draft pick or rookie.  

Some romance to a second chance given Freo stole him away back in 2012

Is he "just" a pure ruckman or someone who can play forward (such as David Hale)?

4 hours ago, Redleg said:

Don't think there is much doubt we will pick up another ruckman as Insurance. 

Interesting to see if Mitch King develops. Someone posted that he is now 202 cms.

 

I'd think the club holds hopes he can become a really good ruck/fwd. But I suspect he would still be 2-3 years off having any chance of getting an AFL game at this stage.

5 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Is he "just" a pure ruckman or someone who can play forward (such as David Hale)?

Played forward in some early games for Freo, back in 2013. He wasn't horrible. Decent sized body, 101kgs and 200+ cms. 

Although he doesn't have the ability to move well like Hale, Ryder etc. 

I think the fact that Fitzy was taken by the Hawks, and Vickery is talked about as an option (by some) really indicates how hard it is to fill that ruck/forward role.

If we don't find anyone to fill it, I think going with someone who's a 'better backup' option than Spencer is where we'll end up. For me, that's Zac Clarke right now, although he's clearly not ideal. Not many options right now.

It forces us into the same position of Watts doing the chop out ruck like this year, but it also gives us another year of King's development as well as hopefully shaking loose a better option from the lower leagues or another side.

Vickery is easily the best forward/ruck player on the market currently.

And yet again we're hearing the same posters chime in using the emotional bias card that seems to trump the critical thinking one.

Here's a reminder:

Vickery was pick 8 in the same draft as Watts. Patiently, Melbourne supporters have waited for Watts to 'deliver', and he finally has this year.

In 2011, Vickery kicked 35 goals for the season and finished 5th in their best and fairest. He also kicked a bag of 6 against collingwood last year. Fitzpatrick went at pick 50 in that draft and was part of the same Vic Metro team in which both Vickery and Watts played in.

The humour in all of this is that these posters are happy to afford all the time in the world for players like Watts and Fitzy to develop and they most certainly refrain for criticising any part of their game. But as soon as a similarly inconsistent opposition player comes into calculations as a player to trade in (Melksham or Vickery), the criticism and emphatic 'NO WAY''s come from every angle.

As said, Vickery has shown (as Melksham has), that at his/their best they can be very good. 

There is a reason clubs invest so heavily in player development you ninnies. 

Trust your farken club.

And take your one-eyed glasses off.

 

Edited October 5, 20168 yr by stevethemanjordan

13 minutes ago, stevethemanjordan said:

The humour in all of this is that these posters are happy to afford all the time in the world for players like Watts and Fitzy to develop and they most certainly refrain for criticising any part of their game. But as soon as a similarly inconsistent opposition player comes into calculations as a player to trade in (Melksham or Vickery), the criticism and emphatic 'NO WAY''s come from every angle

I'm not buying into the pros and cons of Vickery, but it is perfectly natural to want to persist with inconsistent players already at the club and not want to import more of the same (assuming there is a better alternative available to import).

Edited October 5, 20168 yr by sue

Richmond have just re-signed Maric despite only playing 3 games this year.  They are looking to get rid of Vickery. 

Sort of gives you an idea of their assessment of Vickery's capabilities.