Forward-Ruck and team balance

[old55 21,411]

I've been a big proponent of our need to recruit a forward-ruck.  Someone who can play mostly forward, go into the ruck and give Max a rest and possibly ruck well enough allow Max to go forward as a marking threat.  That means they'd be playing at least 60% game time forward so they'd need to be good there.

When I've thought about it further with our current personnel and team balance I don't think we could fit a forward-ruck together with Hogan, Weidemann and Watts forward.  We'd be too top heavy across the 22.  These players play 85%+ game time, so they'll all be on the field together a significant amount.  Bench rotation spots are best used for mids, half-backs and half-forwards.

I think we need to persist with Watts in the ruck and we should expect Weidemann to start to ruck also as his body matures.

Edited September 13, 2016 by Fifty-5

[Fat Tony 4,467]

I am a fan of Watts playing the role. He is reasonable in the centre bounces and we can use a third man up around the ground where he gets out bodied. Watts also has good second efforts once the ball hits the deck and he is also far too mobile for his opponent around the ground.

This is not to say we should not nab a Jenkins, Lobb or Wright if they come cheaply and we should still look to continue to develop such a player. (Hopefully King.)

As you say, we cannot go with Hogan, Weideman, and Watts plus another tall.

[deanox 8,713]

I agree RE forward/ruck. In an ideal world one of your three tall forwards can ruck. Id still look to develop one in case Gawn gets injured or Hogan leaves. 

On a slightly different note, if actually like to see the AFL ban the third man up.  No rule change is necessary: if a third man goes up when the other two ruckmen are engaged in a physical contest for position, then a free kick should be paid for shepparding in the ruck, which is already illegal. Too often do we see one ruck only attempt to negate the other, allowing a free run from a third player and an easy HO to advantage. 

 

 

 

[Deevolution 103]

One option could be throwing Jesse back in certain games ( Think Neita in his early years) & Bring in another tall fwd/ ruck when needed for team balance, apart from that happy to see Jack pinch hitting.

[Ricky P 757]

1 hour ago, Fifty-5 said:

I've been a big proponent of our need to recruit a forward-ruck.  Someone who can play mostly forward, go into the ruck and give Max a rest and possibly ruck well enough allow Max to go forward as a marking threat.  That means they'd be playing at least 60% game time forward so they'd need to be good there.

When I've thought about it further with our current personnel and team balance I don't think we could fit a forward-ruck together with Hogan, Weidemann and Watts forward.  We'd be too top heavy across the 22.  These players play 85%+ game time, so they'll all be on the field together a significant amount.  Bench rotation spots are best used for mids, half-backs and half-forwards.

I think we need to persist with Watts in the ruck and we should expect Weidemann to start to ruck also as his body matures.

I agree with this. I haven't agreed with the push for recruiting a forward ruck. With Max as dominant as he is, anyone we recruit is barely going to get a look in, in the ruck. I don't mind Watts in the ruck, I reckon he goes pretty well and is pretty damaging as a midfielder once the ball hits the deck. Roos said he was concerned about the toll it may have on Watts' body but Watts doesn't get injured much and he's a fairly big bloke these days.  

People have probably answered this before, but does Hulett do any ruck work?

[hemingway 7,601]

I can understand the logic for team balance, but I don't favour Watts being used in the ruck, very much robbing Peter to pay Paul. He has a bigger frame these days but he is not huge. Like Roos, I just worry about the physical toll on his body and the heightened risk of injury. His mobility and pace, together with his marking skills leading up the ground and kicking accuracy make him our major weapon up forward. I would hate to see this sacrificed. However, it does not answer the question as to the best bet back-up for Max.  I really think that either we play Spencer or we clear him. He has been around a long time a la Jamar, and he is wasting away playing for Casey every week. Yes, I know that raises questions of team balance but some game time early in the season is warranted. 

[ManDee 7,091]

I know Vickery has few friends here, but at his best he has what we need.

[Wrecker45 3,378]

Max Gawn is arguably our most important player and certainly the player we can least avoid to lose through injury. Yet somehow I am always worried about Watts getting injured in the ruck.

 

[poita 3,665]

How is Pedersen not the player we want for this role, at least in the short term? He can ruck, he can play forward or back, and he has a big body that can take a fair amount of punishment. Next in line should be Spencer if he can develop his forward play to the point where he can make a contribution each week, even if he is not necessarily kicking a heap of goals.

Watts is too valuable to play ruck, and doesn't have the body strength to ruck around the ground against bigger opponents. I really don't see Weideman as an option long term either, for much the same reasons.

There is no doubt that Gawn needs support, but I don't see that we need to over complicate things.

[rjay 23,956]

58 minutes ago, ManDee said:

I know Vickery has few friends here, but at his best he has what we need.

Lazy, non competitive and can't ruck...not so sure about this 'Man'.

[Maldonboy38 5,971]

Zac Clarke? 

[KingDingAling 3,614]

1 hour ago, ManDee said:

I know Vickery has few friends here, but at his best he has what we need.

Vickery only fills the need on paper. On game day though he doesn't provide a target up forward, and is a very ordinary ruck man.

 

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

1 hour ago, poita said:

How is Pedersen not the player we want for this role, at least in the short term? He can ruck, he can play forward or back, and he has a big body that can take a fair amount of punishment. Next in line should be Spencer if he can develop his forward play to the point where he can make a contribution each week, even if he is not necessarily kicking a heap of goals.

Watts is too valuable to play ruck, and doesn't have the body strength to ruck around the ground against bigger opponents. I really don't see Weideman as an option long term either, for much the same reasons.

There is no doubt that Gawn needs support, but I don't see that we need to over complicate things.

I assume because they don't want to play Wiedeman and Pedo in the same team, and since Weed can't ruck yet, Watts is it.

[old55 21,411]

To revisit my OP - I'm not sure how Pedersen/Vickery/Clarke, Hogan, Weideman and Watts all play in the same forward line?

I'm all for retaining Pedersen as back up to Hogan, Weideman and Watts.  Spencer as back-up to Gawn.  But a new ruck-forward can't fit in the 22 IMO.

[monoccular 16,273]

Ricky P asked a question that I have also asked in the past - can / does / could Hulett become a forward ruck?  Certainly looks monstrous.

As a MFC fan I am naturally a pessimist: Max had a dream year but were he to miss even a few games Watts, Weideman, Hogan could not be expected to carry the load.

That leaves Spencer, if he doesn't ask for a trade, or Pedersen assuming he stays on the list.

 I reckon if Spencer stays he should be given a lot more forward time at Casey to see if he could work on the forward role: otherwise maybe groom Hulett. Maybe these two experiments / developments should actually be concurrent. 

[Wilson7 2,532]

2 hours ago, Maldonboy38 said:

Zac Clarke? 

He would have to be a backup only, can't play forward at all. Can't see him playing in the same team as Gawn, not much difference between Clarke & Spencer except Spencer can take a mark

[dino rover 625]

1 hour ago, Fifty-5 said:

To revisit my OP - I'm not sure how Pedersen/Vickery/Clarke, Hogan, Weideman and Watts all play in the same forward line?

I'm all for retaining Pedersen as back up to Hogan, Weideman and Watts.  Spencer as back-up to Gawn.  But a new ruck-forward can't fit in the 22 IMO.

That assumes weed hoges and watts all make it and or stay

As a contingency develop a new fwd/ruck particularly if king isnt making enough progress

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

I agree we can't fit another tall in our forward sttucture. There is an answer though that would let us bring in a legitimate forward/ruck. 

Given his refusal to discuss re-signing with the club, we have to consider Hogan to a flight risk. We pre-empt him and trade to Fremantle this year for their first round picks in 2016/17. Bring in Clark as a FA and trade a second round pick for someone like Vardy. Use the first round pick from Freo to try to muscle in on the O'Meara deal. 

As a result we have some almost acceptable ruck backup, we solve the ruck/forward problem and we have a shot at getting the type of mid we need, if not O'Meara then i'm sure there are others with pace and skill out there to target. 

Yes, I know we want to keep Jesse, but you have to admit that trading him now would give us maximum value for him and drastically improve our drafting and trading position.

[dtrinh 71]

I think this is definitely a position we are lacking in. Watts has covered that role this year and competed quite well but we definitely could have an upgrade in this position. I think we played wieds too early and he is not ready to play AFL level yet. He showed glimpses and it was good to give him some exposure to allow him to get some hunger and know what's required at this level. If you look at Hawks (Ceglar, McEvoy), Geelong (Stanley, Smith), GWS (Mummy Lobb), Adelaide (Jacobs, Jenkins) they all have a pretty ruck + forward/ruck combination. If we had Gawn and just say Vardy that would be a great ruck combination. Allows Jesse and Watts to play forward with a third tall that can really give Gawn a chop out. 

 

[Sideshow Bob 2,163]

Jeff white 195cm 95kg

Jack watts 196cm 92kg 

No problem with Watts size to compete in the ruck - he will be bigger in the body again next year. Think it has helped bring out a more physical side to his game. Wouldn't  be averse to persisting with Jack as the chop out ruck - i really beleive its been the trigger for him - can now play every position on the ground. I 5hink he will get better at it as well as his matures into his frame even further

[Moonshadow 16,346]

41 minutes ago, jako13 said:

Jeff white 195cm 95kg

Jack watts 196cm 92kg 

No problem with Watts size to compete in the ruck - he will be bigger in the body again next year. Think it has helped bring out a more physical side to his game. Wouldn't  be averse to persisting with Jack as the chop out ruck - i really beleive its been the trigger for him - can now play every position on the ground. I 5hink he will get better at it as well as his matures into his frame even further

Not apples with apples. Footy has changed. Watts' value as a forward is far greater than White's ever was. How many 200cm+ rucks were around in White's day compared to now? Every club seems to have at least one now. All of ours currently are over 200. Most these days are 100kg+

Watts is a skilful and adaptable key forward who is misplaced in the ruck. We are gambling with injury if we think he should clash in the ruck against the true big men.

Edited September 13, 2016 by Moonshadow

[Sideshow Bob 2,163]

The apples were big then too Moony -White was very much an undersized  ruck, but had a phenomenal leap to get over the big boys. Just used the example as saying at 6'4 or 5 jack is definitely  tall enough to compete woth the part timers - not saying he should ho toe to toe with mumford for example - unless its one of those situations where it just happens once a game. But his mobility and body awareness  will hold him in good stead against the part time rucks.

Between him and a more lumbering Pedersen type who is a full inch shorter than jack he is a far far better option and one that will get better with time and bulk. My thoughts are it has and will continue to jelp his game as opposed to hinder it and we are better if he does it with hogan and a 3rd tall (weed or other) than a less mobile traditional fwd/ruck type. 

I think we will continue  to disagree on this and thats ok

[deelete my account 1,194]

Can Son of Smith jump high enough? He might be a smaller Jeff White? 191cm? I suppose he's a few years away from being ready.

[Whispering_Jack 28,022]

I think the idea some 12 months ago was to develop Max King into the prototype forward/ruck. Unfortunately, the most you can say is that it hasn't quite worked out for him because he's languishing in the Casey Development League team and is certainly not kicking goals at that level. As a ruckman he's also been overtaken by a raw Oscar McInerney who has come out of suburban football. 

I don't think Max King is the answer but I agree we should be looking out for a goalkicking tall who can pinch hit in the ruck. Problem is that they're hard to find and take a while to develop.

[Earl Hood 5,798]

Imagine if we could get someone like Steff Martin!