Our lack of Clearance players and ruckman

[tigersforever06]

Watching last nights game really rammed home the fact that we have very few players who are willing to get thier hands dirty at stoppages.

Apart from Foley, our other main clearance winner Coughlan is out. I think we are starting to realise he is one player we could not afford to lose. Who are our other clearance players, Johnson?? Tuck?? Thats it.

Watching North last nite, they had Swallow,Simpson,Harris dominating the stoppages, abley supported by Mcintosh in the ruck. Collectilvey as a team they also tackled hard

It is clear Ruckman are underatted. Any decent team who has premership aspirations needs an A-Grade ruckman. Just ask Grant Thomas

Our recruiting should be focused heavily on Ruckman and midfielders. But when I say midfielders I mean players who win the ball at stoppages and not pacy wingman. We are on the way to rectifying this last draft with the recruting of Daniel Conners, however we need more players of this ilk.

 

[BBC]

You are preaching to the converted with me TF06. We have too many outside players on our list and not enough ruckman and inside mids.

With our first 3 national draft picks (1,17 and19) we should prioritise a ruckman and an inside mid.

With our number 1 pre-season pick it should be a ruckman.

 

[Anduril]

We had a reasonably good season last year, and who was at the top of his game?
Simmo!
A fully fit and functioning Troy will make a huge difference IMO. (It was obvious he was lacking match practice when he returned this year.)

So yes we need a good ruckman to help him out.

 

[Growl]

Why stop at one?

I would be very surprised if the Knob is with us next year.

One recruit ruckman only gives us Simmo and a novice. Sure we can call on Patto and Polak to help out but I'd like to see Polak settled at CHB.

 

[Rosy]

Is Gus being developed as a ruckman? Anyone know how he's progressing?

 

[King of the Jungle]

Pretty Sure we are going to target Jamie Charman who is an aggressive bash & crash ruckman who also can go forward & kick a goal a partnership with him & Simmonds would be imposing.

 

[CarnTheTiges]

I'm wondering if Richo can be turned into a Benny Gale type of ruck. He'd obviously need support, but he'd be a nightmare to try and match up on. Besides the less time he spends forward the more time Cleve and Jay have to get their double act working, throw young JR in there and in a couple of years they're going to be pretty dangerous. Having said that it would be nice to have another genuine ruck prospect coming through. If Knobel goes, and he probably will, wouldn't Richmond's dearth of ruckmen mean that one of PRE's other whipping boys Hall may have to stay as insurance?

 

[tigersforever06]

I'm wondering if Richo can be turned into a Benny Gale type of ruck. He'd obviously need support, but he'd be a nightmare to try and match up on. Besides the less time he spends forward the more time Cleve and Jay have to get their double act working, throw young JR in there and in a couple of years they're going to be pretty dangerous. Having said that it would be nice to have another genuine ruck prospect coming through. If Knobel goes, and he probably will, wouldn't Richmond's dearth of ruckmen mean that one of PRE's other whipping boys Hall may have to stay as insurance?

We lack quality ruckman. Ray Hall is not the answer and never was

 

[SfB_AkA._DeLiCiOuS]

Is Gus being developed as a ruckman? Anyone know how he's progressing?

Surely he is gone at the end of the year

 

[King of the Jungle]

Is Gus being developed as a ruckman? Anyone know how he's progressing?

Surely he is gone at the end of the year

He has only been a rookie for 2 years hasn't he? Don't the big blokes take a lot longer to develop to AFL standard than most?

 

[jb03]

Poor old Richo. At an age when most key forwards are long retired or have their careers winding down the big fella is being asked to play in the ruck and run himself into the ground.

You gotta have some sypathy for him.

 

[SfB_AkA._DeLiCiOuS]

Is Gus being developed as a ruckman? Anyone know how he's progressing?

Surely he is gone at the end of the year

He has only been a rookie for 2 years hasn't he? Don't the big blokes take a lot longer to develop to AFL standard than most?

Yeah, I know maybe that fact that we aren't blessed with ruckman atm might save him.
He's really struggling at vfl level to get a kick. He's pretty average imo.

 

[SfB_AkA._DeLiCiOuS]

Poor old Richo. At an age when most key forwards are long retired or have their careers winding down the big fella is being asked to play in the ruck and run himself into the ground.

You gotta have some sypathy for him.

It's not really fair on him is it.

 

[tannerztigers]

I read/heard somewhere tho they Richo offered to go into the ruck and wants to play there for the team, knowing the Hughes and Schulz/Riewoldt are up forward.

 

[justice]

great thread

the club has a chance to rectify this problem in the draft and we will see if they have what it takes

you get the engine room right and suddenly the guys down back are more comfortable and the forwards are getting quality feed = good footy

our centre square setups have been really poor this year, voss commented on it in the first nab game and not much has changed

 

[Tigerfan]

Our recruiting should be focused heavily on Ruckman and midfielders. But when I say midfielders I mean players who win the ball at stoppages and not pacy wingman. We are on the way to rectifying this last draft with the recruting of Daniel Conners, however we need more players of this ilk.

i think this year we can rest assured we will draft rucks, key positions & inside mids. Even i am happy with our supply of outside flankers

 

[akhoury]

I read/heard somewhere tho they Richo offered to go into the ruck and wants to play there for the team, knowing the Hughes and Schulz/Riewoldt are up forward.

Wouldn't suprise me. Richo is a god among men. All hail the #12 :clap

 

[Pomsta]

I wouldn't mind seeing us trade for one of the SA ruckmen. Port have Brogan, Lade and Maric while Adelaide have Hudson, Meeson, Griffin, Biglands and just drafted Sellar. As I am not a big fan of Meyer I would put him in with any possible trade as he would have some decent value to go back home.

Then I would scour the VFL, SANFL and WAFL for the biggest 22-25 year old ruckmen and use the last 2 rookie list spots on them. Most guys at this level and age should be able to step up and at least give a contest in the AFL if they need to be promoted. This is a sadly underused tactic with the rookie rule changes. I thought it was the developing ruckman rule when the age limits changed.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Wouldn't suprise me. Richo is a god among men. All hail the #12 :clap

Yep if only his team mates would show the same team oriented ethics and passion.

Totally agree with the gist of this thread BTW.

Charman is an interesting one. Likely Knobel & Hall won't be with us next year so we'll need another seasoned body to help Troy.
Go for it Greg.

As for the inside mids, I hope they find some from somewhere quickly.
Imagine if Foley hadn't come on as well as he has?