Jeff White

[drdrake 3,066]

Sorry to say this but he got towelled up by a second rate ruckman, Laycock smashed him. Where to from here the games I watched him live he has been beaten in ruck contests. His value around the ground is good but our midfielders aren't getting first use of the ball. Tonight I thought we actualy looked better with PJ in the ruck.

[Jaded No More 60,218]

I have to agree.

He dominated last week and our midfield got smashed.

He was poor tonight and we did well in the clearances after quarter time.

The days of him being our most important and most influential player are over.

If Yze is out for the year with that hernia, I'd be keen to promote Neaves and maybe give him a couple of games just to get a taste of AFL.

PJ is getting better each game, but a forward he ain't!

[beelzebub 22,762]

Yep.. he was beaten for mine ..

A rather strange thing he did at one point summed up Melbourne for me... that is ...bad decisions are mor enumerous than good ones.

The ball bounced in the middle. Not quite straight up and down.. came towards Jeff who for all intents and puproses of a centre bounce had a paddock before him.. Ess-ruck was easily 3 metes away.. and Jeff chose to wildly thump it forward...and of course not to our advantage..That was when a better ruck would have simply grabbed it and spotted someone up...that being TO advantage.. Just bloody annoys me things like that!!

[CHAMP 347]

Sorry to say this but he got towelled up by a second rate ruckman, Laycock smashed him. Where to from here the games I watched him live he has been beaten in ruck contests. His value around the ground is good but our midfielders aren't getting first use of the ball. Tonight I thought we actualy looked better with PJ in the ruck.

Jeff's been playing the stats game for a while now. He gets numbers sneaking around the back of the square but does no damage.

[Sleeve 67]

The White influence departed when the Sam Newman rule came in and denied Jeff a fair crack at the centre contest... restraint of trade?

[Mazer Rackham 14,970]

he got towelled up by a second rate ruckman

Hate to break it to you, but these days, Jeff is a second-rate ruckman.

[davey_magik 1]

Thought we were better with PJ in there to be honest.

[Jonesy is the next captain 0]

He had one ordinary week, big deal! We have had one ordinary year. He IS NOT second rate, he has been great this year and last nights commentators also said he was great although I dont totally agree with it

[QueenC 74]

He IS NOT second rate

No, he is not second rate but he is getting older and whether we like it or not this affects the way he can play the game.

He was great last week and not so good last night, that is an unfortunate reality.

And I agree with Jaded, I would love to see what Neaves can do at AFL level (or at least give him a taste of it) if he can now be elevated.

Our ruck stocks relatively poor, and as I said White is not getting any younger, and we may need to see if the kid can play.

[Jerry Lundergard 412]

Can anyone who has played in the ruck before, explain to me, why when a Jeff White gets a free hit at the ball due to poor umpire bounce, other ruckman slipping,etc., he is unable to have the smarts/ability to just tap it down to one of our onballers, rather than just smashing it aimlessly foward?

I can never quite understand why this would be so hard. Lade would do it, as would Cox and Everitt.

We need to prioritise a great tap ruckman in the draft and trading period.

[Dee*ceiving 1,297]

The White influence departed when the Sam Newman rule came in and denied Jeff a fair crack at the centre contest... restraint of trade?

The cicle has f****d him

[Little Goffy 13,049]

Thought we were better with PJ in there to be honest.

Didn't help that bloody Bruce 'The Goose' Macaveny still called it as 'White' when PJ was rucking.

How does he still get allowed in. He deliveres commercial hype and stupid outlandish comments ' oh, the best game in 100 years' and idiotic garbage like that, which just undermines the genuine recognition which the other commentators give players during a game.

Bah.

[diesel 420]

The cicle has f****d him

Quite right and it not something you can adapt to like the hands in the back.

[sylvinator 96]

i noticed a few time macavaney called players different names....

he called newton 'bruce' about 3 times. he such a [censored].

and white is having a very good season. his rucking is competative and his around the ground stuff is still first class. 1 bad quater (1st quater) against laycock and people call for his head...i gues thats expected on demonland it happens every week.

he is in the top 10 most important players on our list. we're in strife when he retires

[Dee*ceiving 1,297]

i noticed a few time macavaney called players different names....

he called newton 'bruce' about 3 times. he such a [censored].

and white is having a very good season. his rucking is competative and his around the ground stuff is still first class. 1 bad quater (1st quater) against laycock and people call for his head...i gues thats expected on demonland it happens every week.

he is in the top 10 most important players on our list. we're in strife when he retires

I agree but before the circle he was THE most important player....If not top 3

[jacey 333]

and white is having a very good season. his rucking is competative and his around the ground stuff is still first class. 1 bad quater (1st quater) against laycock and people call for his head...i gues thats expected on demonland it happens every week.

he is in the top 10 most important players on our list. we're in strife when he retires

I don't think anyone's calling for his head but i personally like to see him play another role.

He gets smashed in the centre bounces (centre circle has f++ed him) and he gets manhandled in ball up situations.

In the ruck, it's different rules to everywhere else. You can rape the opposition ruckmen and get away with it and sadly White's not strong enough the keep his ground and compete against bigger ruckmen.

When he does win in the ruck, he doesn't tap it to our midfielders, he thumps it 20 metres forward.

So instead of punishing White in the ruck, play him as a tall midfielder (ala goodes).

Try him as a backmen.

Play him somewhere else bar the ruck for god sakes.

[occo 2]

White was ordinary last night yes and he is no longer a good ruckman. But who can blame him. These limits with the circle have hindered him, a player not as tall as many other ruckman. He had a bad game yes, but hes #1 ruckman around the ground. He may longer not be an effective ruckman but at least hes not dropping his head, instead hes working his ass off around the ground.

We cant forget the increadible effort this bloke has given MFC since signing...3 years where he was the best leuges ruckman or 2nd best is an achivement

[demoniac 1,246]

White is a follower not a ruckman.

The centre circle has robbed him of his main asset, the use of his leap at centre bounces.

Has hard hands so his overhead marking is poor. Gets lots of possessions in space but his decision making when in possession is slow - "stops, props, stops, props again" - and rarely does he hurt the other team with his possesions. And of course he has no physical presence whatever.

As guilty as Bruce, Yze, Johnstone and Green when it comes to our inconsistent performances in the Daniher era.

[Rogue 585]

In the ruck, it's different rules to everywhere else. You can rape the opposition ruckmen and get away with it

Indeed, and I don't see the rule where it says you can get away with whatever you want as long as it's in a ruck contest.