Jump to content

"Luke Jackson won't make it as a ruckman" Dwayne Russell 3/12/20


Bring-Back-Powell

Recommended Posts

In defence of Dwayne a little the segment was based on Leppitsch saying rucks are the least valuable position on the ground.

Which honestly might still be true to an extent. Although the 3rd tall at either end, the 5th best mid and the 7th best forward or back gets an easy run sometimes. No one ever says don’t draft a 3rd string forward flanker early!

But it’s still one of the key positions to have a player who doesn’t get destroyed. Getting smashed in the ruck is still the fastest way to lose a game.

Leppitsch himself is probably undervaluing Toby Nankervis who has been a warrior for the Tigers. Just because Nankervis was cheap and underrated doesn’t make him bad or easy to replicate.

The conversation should be that hit outs are overrated. It’s the least valuable part of Gawn’s game, which really is built on around the ground marking, follow up and positioning. And Jackson’s game is based on follow up and athleticism. 

He absolutely can be a ruckman, which Dwayne was incorrectly worried about. He’s just not going to be a hit out machine. And he’s hopefully going to be more than a ruckman too. I’d love to see him play CHF with a summer of Ben Brown teaching him leading craft.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Garry Lyon said that a new definition needs to be found for the role Jacko played.  I agree it wasnt pure ruck, he left Martin and English near the centre circle after competing for the tap, and become another ground ball midfielder.  Mind blowing performance !

  • Like 5
  • Love 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Luke Jackson and Gawn have redefined what ruckmen are in the modern game, they are now midfielders who win their own ball or create a loose man.

The problem is yesterday footballers are exactly that and if they don't keep up with the trend they never become coaches of premiership team but line coaches in areas which they played and remember their line coaches instruction and like parrots repeat.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/24/2021 at 2:45 PM, Davos said:

After listening to Jackson on the Gus and Gawny podcast, I'd be extremely surprised if he ever left Melbourne.

Also, every team should be "throwing everything" at him. Kid is a freak.

I believe Dogga and most of the boys have got their MFC tattoos today … he ain’t going nowhere. 

  • Like 3
  • Love 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, KysaiahMessiah said:

Garry Lyon said that a new definition needs to be found for the role Jacko played.  I agree it wasnt pure ruck, he left Martin and English near the centre circle after competing for the tap, and become another ground ball midfielder.  Mind blowing performance !

It reminds me of the way they spoke about Natanui early on, and although he plays that way at times, early predictions never really came to fruition. Jacko is certainly playing that way at the moment, a true freak.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm one like Leppitsch and Beveridge that haven't rated rucks. I'm on record as calling it a junk position, but as others are saying, Jackson has reimagined what a ruck role looks like and has elevated it as a position to exploit.

I keep hearing people say Jackson jumped over the top of English. That's not how I see it at all. He simply halved the contest, ensured the tap didn't go wide and dropped at his feet. From there he became a midfielder and that's his strength because most midfielders, let alone rucks, cannot compete with his athleticism. 

As for Dwayne, he'd be hating Melbourne's recent success. He won't know what to do with himself. Has been a long time hater.

Edited by A F
  • Like 6
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


1 minute ago, A F said:

I'm one like Leppitsch and Beveridge that haven't rated rucks. I'm on record as calling it a junk position, but as others are saying, Jackson has reimagined what a ruck role looks like and has elevated it as a position to exploit.

I keep hearing people say Jackson jumped over the top of English. That's not how I see it at all. He simply halved the contest, ensured the tap didn't go wide and dropped at his feet. From there he became a midfielder and that's his strength because most rucks cannot compete with his athleticism. 

As for Dwayne, he'd be hating Melbourne's recent success. He won't know what to do with himself. Has been a long time hater.

I've been the same mate. Watching Jackson go about on the weekend was simply impressive as you'll see from a ruck performance.  Same as the Gawn performance in the prelim.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, A F said:

I'm one like Leppitsch and Beveridge that haven't rated rucks. I'm on record as calling it a junk position, but as others are saying, Jackson has reimagined what a ruck role looks like and has elevated it as a position to exploit.

I keep hearing people say Jackson jumped over the top of English. That's not how I see it at all. He simply halved the contest, ensured the tap didn't go wide and dropped at his feet. From there he became a midfielder and that's his strength because most midfielders, let alone rucks, cannot compete with his athleticism. 

As for Dwayne, he'd be hating Melbourne's recent success. He won't know what to do with himself. Has been a long time hater.

Dwayne - Geelong and Port Adelaide both embarrassed at the pointy end and MFC won the flag!

  • Like 1
  • Love 4
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I've been the same mate. Watching Jackson go about on the weekend was simply impressive as you'll see from a ruck performance.  Same as the Gawn performance in the prelim.

And at only 19 he will get better. Scary stuff for the opposition.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

In defence of Dwayne a little the segment was based on Leppitsch saying rucks are the least valuable position on the ground.

 

It is, until you come up against a team with dominant ruckmen who can play wing, back or forward and take contested marks, as well as dominate hitouts. Like the team that won the flag on Saturday.

Then suddenly your least valuable position becomes your most valuable position, and you are sad that your ruckmen are trash. 

  • Like 6
  • Love 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


5 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

It is, until you come up against a team with dominant ruckmen who can play wing, back or forward and take contested marks, as well as dominate hitouts. Like the team that won the flag on Saturday.

Then suddenly your least valuable position becomes your most valuable position, and you are sad that your ruckmen are trash. 

I suspect that's exactly how Chris Scott feels. And Beveridge. And many others.

Apart from his own attributes, Jackson's value also came from us not having to run Gawn into the ground throughout the year. That enabled Gawn to be a dominant force for the whole year rather than an exhausted workhorse.

  • Like 6
  • Love 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

41 minutes ago, adonski said:

Jackson is an inside mid, just may as well play him as a ruck to fit him in the centre bounce

He's inside / outside. He spreads from the contest like Oliver and Petracca do. He's a freak. Thank you, Jason Taylor.

  • Like 1
  • Love 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, A F said:

I'm one like Leppitsch and Beveridge that haven't rated rucks. I'm on record as calling it a junk position, but as others are saying, Jackson has reimagined what a ruck role looks like and has elevated it as a position to exploit.

I keep hearing people say Jackson jumped over the top of English. That's not how I see it at all. He simply halved the contest, ensured the tap didn't go wide and dropped at his feet. From there he became a midfielder and that's his strength because most midfielders, let alone rucks, cannot compete with his athleticism. 

As for Dwayne, he'd be hating Melbourne's recent success. He won't know what to do with himself. Has been a long time hater.

I feel like Bevo and Chris Scott and the coaches that don't invest in old school ruckman are philosophically on the right track because why get a dinosaur type if you can try to find an extra midfielder.

Chris Scott loves Blicavs, he's routinely at the top of the Cats B+F. Bevo really liked what Roughead and Boyd did and they've been chasing Stef Martin for years because in his prime he could hold up in the hit outs and provided a lot around the ground.

The question is should you chase the hope of an extra mid when it's more hope than reality. Tim English and Rhys Stanley are both rucks who on their best days look similar to what Jackson can be, they just don't always have their best days. So do you just suck it up and get yourself an old war horse type. Someone like John Ceglar is never going to be considered an extra midfielder but his size and strength would make life harder in the actual ruck contest for Jacko to just halve it then follow up.

It's funny how these coaches get the reputation for not rating rucks when it could be they're just too desperate for the perfect ruck and not appreciative enough for an honest battler. They player they all want in the ruck is the player Jackson is hopefully becoming. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe tap work as a single entity is rightly de-valued now, but the role of ruckman should never be. After a goal, boundary throw in, or in-play stoppage the entire game stops and teams can reset. This resetting happens around a great big human being who acts as a 360 degree hub for the midfield to generate possession. 

Great rucks have a dominance at ball-ups, and a significant skill in general play. Jackson is actually only a slightly above average tap ruckman, but as a hub for the midfield to gather possession, he is ridiculously good - especially considering he only just turned 20. As soon as the ruck clash is halved he is a 200cm midfield with ridiculous athleticism. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lyon talked about a new term, I haven’t nailed it yet, Ariel Midfielder, Tapping Mid, etc, anyway, Strong rucks have always been essential in finals, the only exception was when there could be a 3rd man up. Right now between all our players, that other teams want Gawn and Jackson would be at the top of the tree. Nothing will throw other teams balance off like trying to cover two mobile dominant big men, when teams are lucky to have one. Two aces to quote Ted. (There is so much Ted about Melbourne right now.) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    PREGAME: Rd 17 vs West Coast

    The Demons return to Melbourne in Round 17 to take on the Eagles on Sunday as they look to bounce back from a devastating and heartbreaking last minute loss to the Lions at the Gabba. Who comes in and who goes out?

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 17

    PODCAST: Rd 16 vs Brisbane

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 1st July @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the Demons loss at the Gabba against the Lions in the Round 16. You questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human. Listen & Chat LIV

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 9

    VOTES: Rd 16 vs Brisbane

    Captain Max Gawn has a considerable lead over the injured reigning champion Christian Petracca in the Demonland Player of the Year Award. Steven May, Alex Neal-Bullen & Jack Viney make up the Top 5. Your votes for the loss against the Lions. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 20

    POSTGAME: Rd 16 vs Brisbane

    The Demons once again went goalless in the last quarter and were run down by the Lions at the Gabba in the final minutes of the match ultimately losing the game by 5 points as their percentage dips below 100 for the first time since 2020. 

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 275

    GAMEDAY: Rd 16 vs Brisbane

    It's Game Day and the Dees are deep in the heart of enemy territory as they take on the Lions in Brisbane under the Friday Night Lights at the Gabba. Will the Demon finally be awakened and the season get back on track or will they meekly be sacrificed like lambs to the slaughter?

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 920

    UNBACKABLE by The Oracle

    They’re billing the Brisbane Lions as a sleeping giant — the best team outside the top eight —and based on their form this month they’re a definite contender for September AFL action. Which is not exactly the best of news if you happen to be Melbourne, the visiting team this week up at the Gabba.  Even though they are placed ahead of their opponent on the AFL table, and they managed to stave off defeat in their last round victory over North Melbourne, this week’s visitors to the Sunshi

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Previews

    WILDCARDS by KC from Casey

    Casey’s season continued to drift into helplessness on Sunday when they lost another home game by a narrow margin, this time six points, in their Round 13 clash with North Melbourne’s VFL combination. The game was in stunning contrast to their last meeting at the same venue when Casey won the VFL Wildcard Match by 101 points. Back then, their standout players were Brodie Grundy and James Jordon who are starring in the AFL with ladder leaders, the Sydney Swans (it turned out to be their last

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Casey Articles

    LIFE SUPPORT by Whispering Jack

    With Melbourne’s season hanging on a thread, Saturday night’s game against North Melbourne unfolded like a scene in a hospital emergency department.  The patient presented to the ward in a bad way. Doctors and nurses pumped life-saving medication into his body and, in the ensuing half hour, he responded with blood returning to his cheeks as he stirred back to life. After a slight relapse, the nurses pumped further medication into the bloodstream and the prognosis started looking good as the

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports 19

    PREGAME: Rd 16 vs Brisbane

    The Demons head back on the road for their fifth interstate trip this season when they head up to Brisbane to take on the Lions under lights on Friday night at the Gabba. Who comes in and who goes out?

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 381
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...