Undoubtedly that's the aim, when I say credible ruck this year, I mean he can hold down the back up ruck position.Ruck long term, but will start senior career with more time forward and be backup ruck for Leysy.
I reckon Spook is right on this one, time will tell.Hang on, you’re saying Miller, despite years of playing down back in the VFL and a few games at AFL level is better suited to a ruck role where he’s only played a couple of times at AFL level ? That’s a massive call.
Tarrant and Riewoldt are both 34 this year and looked very shaky at times last year. I’d be surprised if the club thought that they’d try and use Miller in a ruck role before seeing if he could fill one of those spots , especially when we’ve already got Soldo and Ryan to play ruck.
The guy can run 2.9 for 20m so I’m pretty sure the club will see if he can primarily play a KPD or KPF role for us before putting him into the ruck and sending Soldo to purgatory. He might pinch hit in the ruck at times but I’d be surprised if the club didn’t have a primary KPD or KPF focus for him.
There was training sim footage of him the other week playing forward, with Grimes on him from memory. Think Caesar has said he’s been going forward a fair bit of the time in other games too. Good.
And if you think Balta was shaky last year down back, then isn’t that further reason to look at him as a defender before a ruck ?
You seem to be creating arguments against yourself where the long play with Miller is concerned (ie not just round 1).
If he shows enough form, there’s plenty of opportunity for Miller to play with Nank and Soldo in the side. Plenty.
Who does Gibcus push out?
Nank is more an old fashioned Ruck Rover, he tackles, gets possessions and takes marks around the ground, he mainly suppresses opposition taller ruckman rather than dominating in the hit outs. Neither of the other 2 can fill his role completely. Soldo is an excellent tap ruckman, Miller seems to be another all rounder like Balta (just a little less polished at present.)Nank and Soldo are both #1 rucks. Ruck is really the only position either can play. We'll see with Melbourne whether a team can play two #1s in the same side.
I think Miller will play as our second ruck and Soldo will start in the reserves. If we play both Soldo and Nank then I'm not sure there's a spot for Miller. You can't afford to rob your runners of rest time on the bench, not to mention the extra man in rotations.
Nank might not have long left in the game given he is 29, small, and has been a human battering ram. Him being captain could get problematic.
Would hope that Gibbo would be back well before round 23Grimes
Broad
Vlas
Balta
Tarrant
Rioli
Baker the 7th.
That's my starting 6 for R1. Round 23 hopefully has Gibbo back.