Ruck Coverage

[Maggie May]

Okay here is a question that has been rattling around in my mind that I was thought was worth discussing and that is whether it is worth going in with ruck coverage or not.

A lot people have been going with one of Ryder or Bellchambers (mostly Bellchambers) in the forward line and Cox/Read on the ruck bench to cover their playing rucks.  But with both possibly missing a chunk of the season with this ASADA stuff (especially now that the Bombers have made it impossible for ASADA/AFL to backdate their suspensions without it looking like it's caving to threats) the question is do you:

a) go with another less fancied ruck/forward in your forward line
b) stick a player worth $250k+ on your ruck bench
c) get the best option forward available and deal with ruck injuries when they occur

The second part to this question is, if Ryder and/or Bellchambers are cleared to play from round 1, would it change your answer?

NB: I am assuming Bellchambers is caught up in the ASADA stuff, though I don't know his name has been confirmed given that all identities are supposed to be confidential.  However given the circumstances surrounding Ryder's departure from the Bombers I think it is safe to assume he is indeed caught up in all of that.

[RaisyDaisy]

I definitely wouldn't be going with Option B

At this stage, it's business as usual I'd say. Either go with Belly on your forwards for cover or roll the dice on 2 good rucks albeit willing to sideways them if they miss a game

As for Ryder, if he was a FWD only I don't think anyone would pick him, so I don't think I'd be spending that much on him just for DPP. Belly is much cheaper, will make money and provide handy cover

[Grufflez]

Coming from a guy who worried about this same issue last year with Sandi...forget ruck coverage just keep a trade up your sleeve and hopefully the 300k-400k ruckman you have picked has gone up enough in value to straight swap if an injury occurs.

Remember you are really only going to cover a player for 1-2 maybe 3 at most weeks anyway if you are going for overall rank so if its a 5 or 6 week injury you'd be losing to many points and have to trade anyway.

[Mat0369]

I would go with one of Lobb or Durdin on the bench. Both are probably going to see games at some point and may be handy for a 50 odd in a week when your ruck gets rested/byes compared to the donut or the extra cash spent on someone like Bellchambers. If we still ran 4 rucks I would look at maybe putting a Bellchambers in the forward line but I think if you have the ability to get possible bonus scores and generate cash from that position you have to pull the trigger especially with the lack of cheap rucks. I would rather my rolling dounut in the mids with someone like Krak as he has DPP and could get a game anyway so you can swing players need be.

[AaronKirk]

I'm picking Goldy and Nic Nat in the ruck. If one gets injured than i'll have to trade.

Still IMO safer than picking Belly/Lycett etc in the forwards with a mid pricer at R2 (which is how I'd have to do it) and having to upgrade 2 mid pricers.

[Ricochet]

Still sticking with Bellchambers. Almost certain he'll be the #1 ruck and can go 90+ so the value is there.  If he gets done with the ASADA shower I'll trade him to a rookie or someone like Garlett and run with a rookie at R3 like Mat mentioned

[eaglesman]

I'm thinking the only reason I am considering Rick coverage is because I just now at some point there will be an injury and people on here will be like ... How do people feel about not having Ruck coverage now haha

[Hoggyz_a_legend]

What's people's thought on having Kreuzer/Leuenberger/Bellchambers R2 and one of Lobb, Durdin, Naismith or Nankervis as R3?

[honza]

b) stick a player worth $250k+ on your ruck bench

NicNat, Lycett, Sinclair. As long as West Coast play two rucks you're safe. And have 2 dual position rucks. Also the added security that if one goes down with a LTI you're still golden.

[Sabretooth Tigers]

 :)

Going with  Mumford  and Nicnat ,  and no cover.  Just out of interest, if you take Bellchambers  as cover and he gets injured, how will you trade then ?                    :-\

[H1bb3i2d]

Bellchambers isn't even a bad pick purely as a FWD mid-pricer anyway...! (Oh, and the DPP is a handy bonus)

[Sabretooth Tigers]

 ::)
Fair enough Hib,  especially if you have a ready - made on the forward bench to replace Belly ??

[Mat0369]

:)

Going with  Mumford  and Nicnat ,  and no cover.  Just out of interest, if you take Bellchambers  as cover and he gets injured, how will you trade then ?                    :-\

If you go with Mummy you pick up Lobb since if he gets injured you have coverage for him anyway.

[H1bb3i2d]

::)
Fair enough Hib,  especially if you have a ready - made on the forward bench to replace Belly ??

With Belly at F5, my F7 will hopefully be the 2nd best possible forward rookie. I'm sure they won't be half bad. Better than any R3, that's for sure.

But as I said, DPP aside, he's at least 30 points underpriced - so he'll probably make more than the 4th best forward rookie anyway, whilst scoring more and playing every game.

[honza]

Simple fact re: Bellchambers is the Essendon 34 are under provisional suspension right now. This is the year that it's all real. So if you go in with players that may be exposed you need a plan B.