11 hours ago, Little Goffy said:

Ruck is a merry-go-round and having the best is not a problem. We may yet be extremely lucky to have Heath doing the big target 70-30 fwd-ruck role.

I have my own suspicion that Gawn will often drop back to provide some intercepting height, which we know he does well, and that Heath will be a continuously present ruck for the forward portion of the ground. Saves Max a ton of running, supports our vulnerable tall defenders, and is also very appropriate with the new faster ball ups.

Agree with this, and it might even get another year or 2 from Max, turn him into a floating backman. Ensure we've got a good enough competitor in the ruck (Heath or other) to do all ruck contests in the forward 60, then have Max poistioned 40-50 meters from that contest. Try to have Lever or Disco on the other side of the feild so we stop any quick movement out of the opposition defense.

Having said that I wouldn't start Heath in that role, wait until he has confidence in doing a full game (like the Nth practice game), then get him working in with Max from then on.

46 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Why would he care about that? He was already a Sydney Swan in every way except physically.

In my view, him (Grundy) risking injury was also a big factor as he had all but signed with the Swans

He'd checked out and the club had no real hold on him as we'd dumped him down to Casey without a promise of him being picked for the seniors again

He was surplus to needs and both him and the MC would have known that. So the Swans come knocking (in season)

Let's not forget that Grundy wasn't playing badly when he got dropped. It's just that we went in a different direction (One Ruckman only)

Having a rash of injuries to most of our forwards didn't change anything either (obviously)

Schashe was on the bench to cover for Gawn (who played with an injured big toe)

Hardly ideal but that's my take on it

Watching T-Mac struggle to get into a jog in that SF against Carlton kind of summed things up

Edited March 10Mar 10 by Macca

5 minutes ago, Macca said:

In my view, him (Grundy) risking injury was also a big factor as he had all but signed with the Swans

He'd checked out and the club had no real hold on him as we'd dumped him down to Casey without a promise of him being picked for the seniors again

Having a rash of injuries to most of our forwards didn't change anything either (obviously)

Schashe was on the bench to cover for Gawn (who played with an injured big toe)

Hardly ideal but that's my take on it

Watching T-Mac struggle to get into a jog in that SF against Carlton kind of summed things up

Exactly. He would’ve been foolish to have played. By that stage he didn’t care how we fared. His mind was in Sydney with his body following as soon as possible thereafter.

1 minute ago, Ghostwriter said:

Exactly. He would’ve been foolish to have played. By that stage he didn’t care how we fared. His mind was in Sydney with his body following as soon as possible thereafter.

When we dumped Grundy to the 2nds that was it, as we had decided to go with just the one ruckman

The experiment was over and everyone at the club knew it

The fact that we needed him back because of all the injuries and suspensions to our talls (Petty, JVR, Brown & T-Mac) was irrelevant (unfortunately)

Other 3rd tall marking targets like Melksham & Fritsch were both injured (Melk out and Fritsch proppy)

In the end, we had a D Grade forward line and that's the big reason why we didn't advance in 2023

Not an excuse, but a reason

A fit and firing forward line and we win the flag in 2023

However, 2022 was a different story. We really did blow that chance - the one that got away

Edited March 10Mar 10 by Macca

8 minutes ago, Macca said:

When we dumped Grundy to the 2nds that was it, as we had decided to go with just the one ruckman

The experiment was over and everyone at the club knew it

The fact that we needed him back because of all the injuries and suspensions to our talls (Petty, JVR, Brown & T-Mac) was irrelevant (unfortunately)

Other 3rd tall marking targets like Melksham & Fritsch were both injured (Melk out and Fritsch proppy)

In the end, we had a D Grade forward line and that's the big reason why we didn't advance in 2023

Not an excuse, but a reason

A fit and firing forward line and we win the flag in 2023

However, 2022 was a different story. We really did blow that chance - the one that got away

It was doomed before it even started IMHO

We'd be stuffed if we didn't have max out there. We don't have any obvious leaders coming through & he is an outstanding player on field.

It's going to be a sad day when he finishes

6 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

It was doomed before it even started IMHO

Did you say that at the time?

Hindsight tells us that but Grundy came relatively cheap and we had gone with a 2 Ruck combo in 2020, 2021 & 2022

So the pattern had been set

Like most here I agreed with the decision at the time as we had visions of a type of Max/LJ combo

It didn't work but it was worth a try

The far bigger issue was losing all our forward line to injury or suspension. That cost us a premiership and there was nothing we could do about it

The fact that we got so close in both finals backs up that argument

D Grade forward lines don't win premierships

Edited March 10Mar 10 by Macca

6 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

We'd be stuffed if we didn't have max out there. We don't have any obvious leaders coming through & he is an outstanding player on field.

It's going to be a sad day when he finishes

it's not often that the greatest player in his position, ever, retires

we've been so lucky to have him as a player and a leader

3 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

We'd be stuffed if we didn't have max out there. We don't have any obvious leaders coming through & he is an outstanding player on field.

It's going to be a sad day when he finishes

This isn’t the case. There are several players that are worthy of consideration

Edited March 10Mar 10 by Ghostwriter

3 hours ago, waynewussell said:

Heath played against North in the unofficial practice match. He did very well, matching it with Xerri and eclipsing him at centre re-starts. This was the week before Kentfield got injured.

Sure and as stated it was a single practice match, basically a glorified training session. As we saw this weekend the form from those games is a meaningless proxy for the real thing. We would need to see a lot more from Heath before anyone should be talking about sacrificing Max’s game. If he has the talent it will be evident without Max needing to change anything just as it was with Jackson.

Edited March 10Mar 10 by Garbo

You just don't get it do you! We are talking about complementing Max's game, not sacrificing Max's game... you may not realize this, but you may be agreeing with us!

It's simple. I don't want to see TMac or JVR in the ruck. Just imagine JVR, who has had a very good pre-season and is possibly on the verge of a break-out season as a full-forward, was to get injured backing up for Max in a centre bounce. This site would go into meltdown. And TMac is still possibly our best option at full back, given Petty doesn't look strong enough, so he just isn't a viable back up. Heath is the only option and his game against North suggests to me he has value in the side.

On 09/03/2026 at 01:30, DeeMee said:

Very pleased to see my worry is not justified- I can sleep again!

You can sleep again but you should have your face in mud for suggesting it.

44 minutes ago, deespicable me said:

It's simple. I don't want to see TMac or JVR in the ruck. Just imagine JVR, who has had a very good pre-season and is possibly on the verge of a break-out season as a full-forward, was to get injured backing up for Max in a centre bounce. This site would go into meltdown. And TMac is still possibly our best option at full back, given Petty doesn't look strong enough, so he just isn't a viable back up. Heath is the only option and his game against North suggests to me he has value in the side.

Or JVR continuing to average just 1 goal a game because he can’t get his forward craft sorted out.

On 09/03/2026 at 12:03, Fritta and Turner said:

Max Heath is only 23 and in 2 years time when perhaps max retires he should be in his Prime. Kalani is still a kid.

That is IF he doesn't get itchy feet and move on again.

On 09/03/2026 at 12:33, Nasher said:

Hah, I literally forgot we had Grundy on our list for a year. Kind of definitively proves my point about how most true rucks won’t be able to play with Max, doesn’t it? What a train wreck.

Max is now 3 years older than when Brundy joined us - maybe older, wiser, tireder, more mature.

On 09/03/2026 at 15:25, waynewussell said:

I think we will soon see that Heath has more strings to his bow than being purely a ruckman. He is a very good high mark with a big body. He has key position credentials, even if they are used sparingly. He is a very good, long kick. I don't think we will be embarrassed if he has to spend time forward or in defence when Max is still in the ruck.

On 09/03/2026 at 15:49, rpfc said:

The fact is that we had two great ruckmen on the list in 2023 and the skipper refused to put much effort into making that two good ruckmen in the team and for him to work out how to kick a couple goals a game and solve our debilitating forward structural issues.

The view that Goodwin should never have pushed for Grundy is spot on but that doesn’t atomise all blame from Max for that sihtshow.

Personally, I would put effort into Heath as a forward ruck for three reasons; rucks that can go forward are increasingly important in a world of rotation limits, Gawn’s successor should be on the list now so let’s play him, and JVR should be given the opportunity to play as a true CHF and work into a game and not be pulled into the ruck.

Smaller Max will also be competing with Luker for the ruck / forward position.

Can both succeed while Big Max is at his best?

On 09/03/2026 at 16:33, KozzyCan said:

I get the feeling we basically knew during preseason that the Gawndy experiment was doomed to fail.

I must say that in the practice match at Casey v Toiges I though Brundy looked OK as a forward / ruck.

But then maybe that was not a good test of the plan.

On 09/03/2026 at 16:37, DeeMee said:

I believe Heath is quite serviceable as a forward. Just don’t know how we fit all the tall forwards in.

Exactly. JVR ,Jeffo, Luker, not-quite-so-big Max and Mihocek (and AJ, Campbell)

11 hours ago, Macca said:

Did you say that at the time?

Hindsight tells us that but Grundy came relatively cheap and we had gone with a 2 Ruck combo in 2020, 2021 & 2022

So the pattern had been set

Like most here I agreed with the decision at the time as we had visions of a type of Max/LJ combo

It didn't work but it was worth a try

The far bigger issue was losing all our forward line to injury or suspension. That cost us a premiership and there was nothing we could do about it

The fact that we got so close in both finals backs up that argument

D Grade forward lines don't win premierships

I actually did say it at the time, or at least, thought it. Reason being, I tried to imagine two big egos working together and making it successful and felt it was a stretch. The “Tap Brothers” name alone made me cringe.

Just now, Ghostwriter said:

I actually did say it at the time, or at least, thought it. Reason being, I tried to imagine two big egos working together and making it successful and felt it was a stretch. The “Tap Brothers” name alone made me cringe.

Fair enough

I was in on the concept but we soon found out that Grundy was really poor up forward so the only way it could work was with Max up forward (both dropping back capable of taking intercept marks in defence aside)

But Max stationed up forward as compared to Max pinch-hitting up forward are 2 entirely different scenarios

But with Jacko, it kind of did work even though LJ was not a natural forward either. Nor does he have good hands

But first ruckmen are different types. They are like Generals and it's rare to have 2 in the one side (performing well)

Having said all that I reckon Heath might get into the 23 periodically anyway. Just having the extra rotation might suit a 2 ruck combo (at times)

Being a development year, the MC might want to find out if Heath has any forward nouse (we could assume that he can ruck)