The search for a big man ...

[spirit of norm smith 16,457]

With Max having a standout year, we are blessed by one of the best ruckman in decades. 

But like in 2017, if Max is missing, we would only have backup like Tom Mcd & Weideman 

King and the Flipper are not showing me anything and likely both will be delisted. 

So who is available ?

Braydon Preuss (Roos) could be worth a trade deal 

Tom Campbell might be delisted from the Dogs and has the size and strength to be an option

Alex Barns (23yo) is an emerging ruck/fwd from Nth Adelaide who could be available around draft pick 50-60

other options may include Billy Longer or Matthew Leuenberger who are both ex low number draft picks but failed to fire due to injuries, and would be a gamble  

 

[DemonLad5 1,642]

Jordan Roughead also been linked to the Dees, looks headed for WA though

[WERRIDEE 5,479]

I think Campbell will be the best bet. He knows where he stands unlike Pruess who wants to be a no 1 ruck.

[Deemania since 56 6,636]

1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

With Max having a standout year, we are blessed by one of the best ruckman in decades. 

But like in 2017, if Max is missing, we would only have backup like Tom Mcd & Weideman 

King and the Flipper are not showing me anything and likely both will be delisted. 

So who is available ?

Braydon Preuss (Roos) could be worth a trade deal 

Tom Campbell might be delisted from the Dogs and has the size and strength to be an option

Alex Barns (23yo) is an emerging ruck/fwd from Nth Adelaide who could be available around draft pick 50-60

other options may include Billy Longer or Matthew Leuenberger who are both ex low number draft picks but failed to fire due to injuries, and would be a gamble  

 

Some big opportunities there, with Preuss possibly the best of them for our game. Just imagine Gawn with that level of support - what a level he could still reach is almost unprecedented in the history of the game. It would also free up both TMac and Weidemann to continue with their respective development/s as king-hit forwards whilst still providing a diverse, third tier of rucking support if needed.

[FireInTheBennelly 4,072]

It depends which way the footy dept. want to go. If we want to play 2 genuine rucks then Preuss the obvious best available. If it's purely a backup option I'd say Campbell.

For mine I can't see us going with 2 rucks, because I think they'll be looking to squeeze all of Hoges, TMac and Weid into the 1 team next year. You just can't add another ruck into that equation, can you?

[demoniac 1,333]

Can't see us playing 2 rucks in the Tiger Small Ball era.

Weed is clearly our best bet as forward/relieving ruck.

Can't see Preuss wanting to join a team where he won't be number 1 ruck or in contest for number 1 ruck. Has he shown enough as a forward to be forward/ruck?

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Darcy Cameron from Sydney is another option. He's young and is dominating in NEAFL footy, like he did previously in the WAFL.

Only played 1 senior game in his 2 years so far as he's 3rd in line behind Sinclair & Naismith, but he didn't look out of place.

Coming to the Dees would see him 2nd in line as a ruck, so would be a promotion for him. Worth a look IMO.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

What we need to find is a ruckman who is capable enough to fill in for Max, but willing to bide their time at Casey.  I don't think we can theoretically fit two ruckmen in our side going forward, and I'd be surprised if we tried.

Is Preuss that person?  He would be great, but at the same time he might want more minutes than we can offer him.

Tom Campbell might be a better option if he doesn't get interest from elsewhere.

Darcy Cameron is another who would be worth a look, but if he is dominating at reserves level, he might feel as though he is good enough to play regular AFL footy, something I don't think we can offer.

Do we look to the state leagues to pluck a mature age who would be stoked to be on a list and, therefore, happy to wait down at Casey for a chance?

I think we can all agree that Max needs further support, but who that turns out to be is a mystery!

[Deemania since 56 6,636]

8 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Is Preuss that person?  He would be great, but at the same time he might want more minutes than we can offer him.

He is a good player and he knows it - if we cannot guarantee him more minutes, let's offer him a winning team association and comradeship/culture backed up by a Premiership Flag in 2019.

[poita 3,902]

Just go and find the best state league ruckman available and recruit them with a late national draft pick or a rookie pick.  

The era of clubs giving an 18 year draft pick five years to show something is over. The reality is that talented talls will walk for more game time as soon as they feel their path to senior football is blocked, as is the case with any ruck behind Gawn at Melbourne. 

With the VFL reserves gone, I can't see anything other than the elite young ruckmen (Kreuzer, Grundy, etc) being drafted in future. Why spend years developing a project ruck when the chances of finding a good one are so low, and when you can pinch one from another club for a third round pick? Better to let the state leagues do the work for you.

[pineapple dee 2,892]

4 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Some big opportunities there, with Preuss possibly the best of them for our game. Just imagine Gawn with that level of support - what a level he could still reach is almost unprecedented in the history of the game. It would also free up both TMac and Weidemann to continue with their respective development/s as king-hit forwards whilst still providing a diverse, third tier of rucking support if needed.

Whilst this sounds appealing Deemania, what you are suggesting amounts to 4 talls in one side and wouldnt necessarily work in all games against all opposition. Preuss looks like a very useful type though as long as he understood his role in the structure.

[layzie 33,801]

I like the idea of Preuss but can't see it happening. Surely Geelong is knocking the door down?

[spirit of norm smith 16,457]

Prefer Tom Campbell. 27yo is 200cms 106cms  mature body ready to step in if needed. 6 years at Bulldogs. 42 games. May stay at Dogs if Roughead leaves.

I think a left field call for Tom Goodwin. 

27yo son of Andy Goodwin. 200cms 111 kgs. Captain Coburg Lions. 

Would be perfect as a ruck backup and leader at Casey. 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,754]

I haven't seen any discussion about Austin Bradtke. I assume he's a potential ruckman, should he make it. Does anyone know what his prospects are? Seems relevant to this discussion.

[Demon_JB 1,385]

8 hours ago, demoniac said:

Can't see us playing 2 rucks in the Tiger Small Ball era.

And yet Clarkson just named both Ceglar and McEvoy against Richmond tomorrow night. 

Edited September 5, 2018 by juzzk1d

[whatwhat say what 22,755]

post-season meat market is about looking to 'improve' your list, which i guess why a ruckman (who can also rotate forward) would seem to be a primary aim

of preuss and roughead, i'd take the former every time

from my understanding, a lot of what has held him back at north is that he's simply not fit enough for modern afl football

Edited September 5, 2018 by whatwhatsaywhat

[Tough Kent 2,137]

8 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I haven't seen any discussion about Austin Bradtke. I assume he's a potential ruckman, should he make it. Does anyone know what his prospects are? Seems relevant to this discussion.

The club is genuinely excited about him as a prospect, but as a 17 year old he would be 4-5 years minimum away from being able to play any meaningful role in the ruck.

[Red and Blue realist 2,051]

20 hours ago, demoniac said:

Can't see us playing 2 rucks in the Tiger Small Ball era.

Weed is clearly our best bet as forward/relieving ruck.

It only takes 1 game to change the thought patterns of coaches, left footers, precise movement, run off half back and then small pressure players have all been in vogue over the last 5 or so years, as soon as a team wins using talls most will jump back on the big man bandwagon. Best bet is to have a very balanced side and then play to our strengths and if that includes 2 rucks so be it. At the moment I agree Weid is a great option playing that role and I think we'll be able to use him TMac and Hogan in the same team, which on current trends is a no-go. 

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,734]

3 minutes ago, Red and Blue realist said:

It only takes 1 game to change the thought patterns of coaches, left footers, precise movement, run off half back and then small pressure players have all been in vogue over the last 5 or so years, as soon as a team wins using talls most will jump back on the big man bandwagon. Best bet is to have a very balanced side and then play to our strengths and if that includes 2 rucks so be it. At the moment I agree Weid is a great option playing that role and I think we'll be able to use him TMac and Hogan in the same team, which on current trends is a no-go. 

I agree with this, as Hogan has a massive tank so should play more through the midfield in a similar role to Riewoldt in his last few seasons.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

11 hours ago, juzzk1d said:

And yet Clarkson just named both Ceglar and McEvoy against Richmond tomorrow night. 

True, although we are yet to see how that pans out, plus they have less options for playing talls down forward than we do.  It's a little different to us getting Preuss and trying to slot him in alongside T Mac, Hogan and potentially Weideman.  The Hawks don't have that issue.

[DeeSpencer 25,704]

The Prooster to give us a genuine back up option is a great idea IMO.

And Bradtke as a cat B.

Probably room for 1 more developmental prospect.

Not sure if it's possible to track down games or tape of him but the Swans picked a former rugby player who had 60 hit outs on debut in the NEAFL.

Sydney have an absolute eye for a ruckman so I'd track him down and give him strong consideration based on that alone. The Swans will no doubt be trying to hide him.

Quote

Jack Blair, in his NEAFL debut, had 60 hit-outs, and Alex Johnson was solid in defence.

Sydney has the bye next week whilst Gold Coast hosts Brisbane in a blockbuster AFL curtain raiser at Metricon Stadium.

 

Sydney Swans v Gold Coast SUNS at the SCG

GOLD COAST 3.0 3.3 5.5 11.10 (76)
SYDNEY 3.3 3.4 5.4 8.5 (53)

GOALS – Gold Coast: E Baru 3 B Fiorini 2 F Greenwool 2 H Simington D Koenen K Boakye J Bowes. Sydney: J Dawson 3 A Styles 2 L Swaney 2 D Towers.
BEST – Gold Coast: B Fiorini M Barlow J Dawson J Leslie M Rosa J Scrimshaw. Sydney: J Dawson J Blair A Johnson.