Why Leysy Says we DONT NEED to draft any more young ruckmen! | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Why Leysy Says we DONT NEED to draft any more young ruckmen!

BrisTiger24 said:
Not saying we've neglected rucks, just that we need to have one developing ruck on the rookie list at one time. Gus has now been lifted off the rookie list so I think we need to replace him and get another developing ruckman on that list. For two reasons: 1. to be a last resort cover for any injuries to Simmonds, Pattison, Graham, Putt (I don't want to see Polak or Tuck rucking in 2008) and 2. It is inevitable that Simmonds will only have 2 or 3 years left and that one or two of Pattison, Graham and Putt won't make the grade. We need the back up option for 2 or 3 years time.
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Agree bristiger. Now that the rookie list is finally being used to its potential, there is no harm whatsoever in recruiting another ruckman based on the above reasons. And as ToO says, ruckmen tend to hold over the odds value if you need to offload.
 
Phantom said:
Saw Simmonds out on the running track at Olympic Park while the screening session was taking place.

After seeing Simmonds on the track, I have no concerns over his recovery from his ankle or lungs.
The only thing would be if the ankle broke down again, or he had a new injury.

Tend to get 'em when you're round 30yo.
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Simmonds at his best is a running ruckman. A very poor mans Dean Cox around the ground. If his body allows him to get miles into the long he will make a massive difference.
 
Maybe I'm just sub-consciously holding a spot on the list for Natanui next year. ;)
 
Another young ruckman on the list also gives you trade bait.

If Cameron Wood can get you pick 14 in a draft why wouldn't you have one extra ruck on your rookie list and try to get to the point of having some chance of getting more picks at the draft table?
 
I don't think it's right to put a line though prospective rucks that may be available in the rookie draft just because we already have three young ruck prospects.

I'm of the opposite view.

One of the reasons that the rookie draft has delivered so many high quality rucks is that competition is essential in bringing out the best in players. With rucks, if they don't have team-mates breathing down their necks it's too easy for them to take their spots for granted. They're a protected species in some respects, what with special rules and the game being held up for them and Digger and Tuck their main threat.

You've got to keep them very keen and the best way to do that is with competition.

Another big thing in favour of rookie rucks is that the candidates are, because of their growth patterns, often massively immature. Might look like a leper at 19yo and become a star at 23yo. It's happened before. You can get lucky.

But the main factor in favour of rookie rucks is the size of the sample. You can comfortably have two on your list every year and turn them over every year or two - another incentive for the youngsters. For every Biglands there's a Golding, for every Simmonds a Jamar. The failures outweigh the successes.

This I do know: Patterson, Graham, Putt is not a big enough sample. And not one of those blokes has put the writing on the wall yet. They could all fail.

Sure, maybe there are none suitable this year. And we can't fix a long term deficiency in a single year. But we've gotta keep taking rucks in the rookie draft. If we do we'll probably find a bloke who can break Kreuzer in half. And it won't cost us a #1 draft choice.

FWIW I'm fine with taking an experienced ruck from the SANFL or VFL. Jeez I'd have twenty Hudsons before I had a single McMahon. Pick 19 Adelaide?
 
All good interesting points of view.

Makes perfect sense to Rookie a potential ruck each year, just about have to really given the failure rate and late maturing rate - kind of decides itself really! And as someone inferred, if it gets us some currency by becoming "the club of ruck excellence" and we trade one or more for players or picks, so much the better.
 
we definitely need another ruck option, just depends on what type

guys like stefan martin and fanning will do a job for 1-2 years until one of graham or putt are ready to step up, or they could go for another 18yo ruck and back graham in for the start of the season

either way its not ideal
 
Phantom said:
Maybe I'm just sub-consciously holding a spot on the list for Natanui next year. ;)
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Could the club stomach a year where we won only 4 games and as a result picked up Natanui and Rich?

This would a case of short term pain / long term gain
 
Phantom said:
Yes, you could be right Leysy.

Graham & Putt, now, gives us two U-21yo ruckmen on or over 200cm. That's probably enough as far as list management is concerned.

The areas that still need more U-21s are:
1. A 195-198cm mobile tall defender, and
2. Two rovers or inside midfielders (depending on your terminology).

So, with these taking up 3 spots, and with us still in the market for 5 overall (1 x PSD and 4 x rookies) there is some flexiblity in those other 2 spots.

Stefan Martin still sticks in my mind as a 20/21yo ruckman ready to play AFL now.
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What do you think of Aaron Joseph?
 
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