20 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Even then it’s not a huge issue as long as the ruck is physical or big enough to make sure the opponent can’t hit it 360 degrees. Pedersen was great at that, he’d crash in at make the taps very predictable so our mids could either shark the taps or just crunch the receiver. Brown doesn’t have the bulk but he has the height and long limbs to try to mess with an opponents taps. He’s been generally fine to my eye when he takes boundary thrown ins inside 50.

Yep I’d never enter a game with the plan for Ben to be the second ruck, just more an option if the game goes a certain way. Brown’s now at the stage where I see little need to protect him unless his form is far better and he’s our main goal kicker. So if he’s in the side and JVR is on fire I’d just throw Ben in after the centre bounces to have a run around.

If Brown is fit and firing he could probably handle a few rucking contests in the F50 but JVR is a much better option

A lot depends on whether Fullarton measures up and whether we go with 2 or 3 tall forwards

At this stage, I don't see Brown taking the place of JVR.  They either both play alongside Petty or Brown misses out.  And again, we need to see if Fullarton makes the grade (and the fitness of Petty is a factor)

In my view, If we need a bona-fide 2nd ruck it's either Fullarton or JVR and in that situation, we'll probably need to play 3 tall forwards (otherwise it's 2 with one having to do the relief rucking)

And the club probably needs to start 'managing' Gawn as he gets older thus the probable need for a bona-fide 2nd ruck

9 hours ago, defuture15 said:

BB should be the long option in the square. The other forwards should be on the move.

If we can get the smalls to crumb to him it would be a good plan.

Must be quicker with our movement 

The flooding in the forward line is killing us

Who causes the flooding?

Can’t jump, buggered knees and can’t keep his feet in a contest. I say, give the kid a shot. 

2 hours ago, Kent said:

Who causes the flooding?

Climate change

On 21/01/2024 at 12:30, Ethan Tremblay said:

Do people even watch football? Ben Brown is not a ruckman. Not in any way, shape or form. 

Agree 100%: however, he has kicked a lot of goals, something we need someone to do every week. Everything is, however dependent on the wobblers called his knees.

3 hours ago, Kent said:

Who causes the flooding?

The opposition

We are moving the ball too slowly and bombing it in

4 hours ago, Kent said:

Who causes the flooding?

Why BBB what about Harry P?

On 21/01/2024 at 12:10, Wizard of Koz said:

Absolutely. Without wanting to sound like the Rono of 24, our time with BB should have been over 2 years ago. Last year was just embarrassing and this year is the year where het is an encumbrance to the list development. Whatever the reasons were back then for a 4 year contract are coming back to bite us now.

And before I get roasted, yes I know he is a 21 immortal. He kicked 3 against a very undersized and ordinary WB backline in the GF. He was handy for sure but I reckon Jack Fitzpatrick would have even kicked a couple during the hour of power.

Very harsh. He was absolutely critical to us in the 21 finals series. played well in all 3 games. he took heaps of marks that September. how short some memories are. 

Moves like this aren't gonna win us a premiership. We'd be shuffling deck chairs.