Why don’t ruckman wear knee pads like NBA players do.

1 hour ago, fredblackham said:

Why don’t ruckman wear knee pads like NBA players do.

Shortest OP ever?

(What prompted the question, Fred?)

If I recall correctly, knee and shin protectors went through a peak during the jumping ruck phase before the anti Jeff White rule shifted ruck to more wrestling.

We might see them more now that the anti Max Gawn rules have been introduced to encourage more Jeff White style rucks.

I do also have vague recollections that for shin and knee protection to be strong enough to protect the wearer they had to be so hard they became a danger to opponents.

Everyone is talking about the potential for PCL's like they've removed the centre circle rule that came in in the 2000's.

That's not the case. They've simply banned crossing the line to block an opponents jump which started with Grundy v Gawn in Opening round of 2024.

The rucks don't have to jump directly in to each other. They can still choose to go body on body or come in from the side.

I think most of them will effectively form a truce and cut down the amount of jumping to protect each other, possibly until big moments in games or finals.

I was at the game tonight and was knee on knee or knee into opponent at almost every centre ball up.

1 hour ago, fredblackham said:

Why don’t ruckman wear knee pads like NBA players do.

Geelongs Shannon Neale went down in the practice match last night against Carlton with a possible PCL after a ruck run and jump.

Hopefully AFL feeling the heat after big Maxy threw them under a bus re injury concerns.

Edit: Geelong confident it’s not PCL but that was first concern. Check AFL app for more.

Edited February 25Feb 25 by GawnOfTheDead

Sadly it might take a serious knee on knee injury to a high profile ruckman to immediately reverse this new earth shattering decision again

pretty simple fix - ban lifting the knee in a ruck contest. run and jump, etc, just no lifting your knee up. gotta either be tall or be able to jump. or use your body to win the space - but no knee.

AFL: " We want ruckman jumping at each other again"

Later: "Oh but we didn't want more knee injuries!"

Apologies if already posted but reading Maxy's thoughts in this article a few days ago tells me everything I need to know about how it's been received so far.

If you haven't read it please do. Once again you get a great insight into the amazing attitude that has got this guy to where he is.

The 34 y.o 8-time All Australian displays such a growth mindset that he even mentions that he can observe and learn from someone like Darcy Cameron. Always hunting improvements to his game.

Leaving aside the yo-yoing history of encouraging/discouraging ruckmen running into each other, this rule is going to allow difficult umpiring decisions to reach new heights (pun intended). Eg. last nights free against Calrton's ruck.

1 hour ago, biggestred said:

pretty simple fix - ban lifting the knee in a ruck contest. run and jump, etc, just no lifting your knee up. gotta either be tall or be able to jump. or use your body to win the space - but no knee.

It isn’t basketball what they need to do is stop the holding on arms around the neck etc another over reaction from the AFL to please the media won't take long to change it.

Easy solution, because like Shannon Neale last night, there will be more PCL injuries.

The AFL obviously forgot why they altered the rules the last time.

Simply move the dividing line in the centre circle 90 degrees.....

That way the ruckman go for the tap alongside each other, not crashing into each other, which causes these knee injuries.

6 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Easy solution, because like Shannon Neale last night, there will be more PCL injuries.

The AFL obviously forgot why they altered the rules the last time.

Simply move the dividing line in the centre circle 90 degrees.....

That way the ruckman go for the tap alongside each other, not crashing into each other, which causes these knee injuries.

I need the thinking emoji for this one 'george'...interesting idea.

It's a pity that Max feels the need to comment on every little thing happening in football these days, because I feel that his views on important issues (such as this one) are well considered and tend to be overlooked. If he only spoke out when it was important, people would be more likely to take note.