Its seems we are in furious agreement here.
1. We can't afford to carry Soldo in the form he is currently in.
2. We don't want a makeshift 2nd ruck (eg: Pickett)
3. The extra run created by replacing Soldo with a mid like Dow has multiple benefits.
4. Balta is the best 2nd ruck option (giving us the flexibility we need).
It seems to me the big question is what to do with Balta when he is not rucking. Perhaps we need to work towards him doing 40% ruck, 20 Wing Fwd or even RR, 20% Fwd and 20% Bench. Nank 60% Ruck, 20% Fwd, 20% bench. The bottom line is that we can do without him in the backline in Tarrant (1st option) can hold down that position. We have plenty of height with Tarrant, Gibcus, Grimes, Broad and Vlaustin (maybe too much). Although all bar Tarrant can play equally well on smaller opponents. If we can minimise the calamaties (3) - The Gibcus to Rioli miskick and stuff up, the Tarrant missed punch (when he should have marked) and the Heywood goal and the Frees (5) Reid (ridiculous free, no idea who it was against), Heeney (free against Grimes), Ladhams (free against Nank), Buddy (free against Gibcus), Warner? (50 against Bolton). 50% of their goals were avoidable but if we can cut out the bad ones (Grimes, Bolton, Nank) and 1 or 2 of the calamaties, they score only 10 or 11 goals and we will cover that against anyone!
Some good points made about our centre clearance quartet - agree completely regards Edwards and Cotchin not being in there together. I like Short rotating through more and Dusty will do more and more in there.