Krooz, Leuey, Belly and the DPP Saga

[Bully]

I am trying to figure out the infatuation with Maric. The guy has had one good year in his career and doesn't he have a groin injury that needs to be managed through the rest of his career? He has also never played 22 games so that is not a great sign for those going with no ruck coverage. If you are going to pick a ruck with one elite season and injury problems you are better off picking the cheaper Nic Nat or Minno. The only reason I can see people picking him is his high hit out to advantage numbers the last few years but Nic Nat is the guy that leads the category and Minno lead the league 2 seasons ago

He moved over to Richmond and averaged 113 in his first year there. The following year his average did drop to 97ish, but he only had 4 sub 80 scores that year and then he was injured last year coming in at rd11 and played every single game remaining in the year while "managing his groin issues" and still averaged 107 over the last 10 games

Has then completed a full pre-season and averaged 102 from 2 NAB matches at only 76% TOG

At 535k he is priced at an average of 99 which I think represents great value. I think he can average 105-110

Mummy, Sauce and even Sandi will have higher scoring days then Maric, but I just cant bring myself to spend 600k on rucks, especially when you factor in the new rule. I'd love to start Mummy, but I just think Goldy, Maric and NN represent the best value for money, I just decided to go with Maric because personally for me I think his value for price is spot on

There is a lot of uncertainty around the rucks this year. I wouldn't be surprised if Minson pops up and dominates, we just don't know, and have to just pick 2 we are comfortable with and hope for the best :)

Well said, Maric is a good pick, no qualms about the Mullet although I will personally take Nic Nat given I have a set structure in place and can't afford 50k. He should comfortably average 100+ this year, he has done so over the course of his Richmond career and that won't change. Both players represent value, both players are unlikely to drop in value and both players are some sort of chance to feature in the top 2-3 rucks for season 2015. 

[Drak]

Everyone is entitled to their strategies, but I think the top 4 ruck men will be essential this year.

With the new scoring system they will be amongst the top scorers weekly.

I would have taken a punt on Nic Nat as his ceiling is enormous, but until he stays on the park more than 3 seconds Im not risking it now that the ruck bench is a party of 1.

[Mat0369]

He moved over to Richmond and averaged 113 in his first year there. The following year his average did drop to 97ish, but he only had 4 sub 80 scores that year and then he was injured last year coming in at rd11 and played every single game remaining in the year while "managing his groin issues" and still averaged 107 over the last 10 games

Last year he had an ankle injury which saw him start the season late and when he was right to go he came in. His scores last year aren't injury affected. If we are going to pick and choose averages over the last 10 games, Nic Nat went for 107.5 over the last 11. The argument of Maric being a safer more durable pick is flawed. Maric has played 21, 19 and 13 games in his last 3 years which is only 2 more then Nic Nat. He is just as big a risk to miss games and if you are going to take a risk and take durability into account Minno has played 21, 22 and 21 the last 3 seasons.

Has then completed a full pre-season and averaged 102 from 2 NAB matches at only 76% TOG

At 535k he is priced at an average of 99 which I think represents great value. I think he can average 105-110

The thing is I think the 535k represents his true value where as the more expensive guys Goldstein and Sandi are likely to be up in the top 5 again. If you are going to spend the extra cash you might as well get in one of those 2 or go all out and get Sauce. Maric is sitting in no mans land in terms of price and he won't outscore either of the other 2 unless injury strikes.

Mummy, Sauce and even Sandi will have higher scoring days then Maric, but I just cant bring myself to spend 600k on rucks, especially when you factor in the new rule. I'd love to start Mummy, but I just think Goldy, Maric and NN represent the best value for money, I just decided to go with Maric because personally for me I think his value for price is spot on

This I can understand, I am not a fan of paying for top end rucks because they top guys generally drop out the following year. This is the reason I am not going near Sauce or Martin and Mummy's body won't hold up for a whole season. This is why I am looking at Nic Nat and Bellchambers (unless suspension hits) and then I am looking at a few plan B's, some involving mid price options and a couple of more expensive options if it doesn't pan out

There is a lot of uncertainty around the rucks this year. I wouldn't be surprised if Minson pops up and dominates, we just don't know, and have to just pick 2 we are comfortable with and hope for the best :)

I just think looking at a lot of the posts jumping off Nic Nat and onto Maric for his perceived durability is crazy. There is about 50k difference in price and the cheaper players is the one the new rules suit most (maybe 2nd behind Sauce) in the comp. Even looking at the difference in scoring, there is not a hell of a lot over their careers.

[RaisyDaisy]

I've never said Maric is a safer pick

I have Maric and NicNat as my rucks

I think they are the best value for money rucks who can push 110 and at their starting prices makes them the most value for me

They've both completed full pre-seasons and are fit. That's all we can ask for from rucks. The rest is anyone's guess and we will just have to watch how the season plays out

[eaglesman]

He moved over to Richmond and averaged 113 in his first year there. The following year his average did drop to 97ish, but he only had 4 sub 80 scores that year and then he was injured last year coming in at rd11 and played every single game remaining in the year while "managing his groin issues" and still averaged 107 over the last 10 games

Last year he had an ankle injury which saw him start the season late and when he was right to go he came in. His scores last year aren't injury affected. If we are going to pick and choose averages over the last 10 games, Nic Nat went for 107.5 over the last 11. The argument of Maric being a safer more durable pick is flawed. Maric has played 21, 19 and 13 games in his last 3 years which is only 2 more then Nic Nat. He is just as big a risk to miss games and if you are going to take a risk and take durability into account Minno has played 21, 22 and 21 the last 3 seasons.

Has then completed a full pre-season and averaged 102 from 2 NAB matches at only 76% TOG

At 535k he is priced at an average of 99 which I think represents great value. I think he can average 105-110

The thing is I think the 535k represents his true value where as the more expensive guys Goldstein and Sandi are likely to be up in the top 5 again. If you are going to spend the extra cash you might as well get in one of those 2 or go all out and get Sauce. Maric is sitting in no mans land in terms of price and he won't outscore either of the other 2 unless injury strikes.

Mummy, Sauce and even Sandi will have higher scoring days then Maric, but I just cant bring myself to spend 600k on rucks, especially when you factor in the new rule. I'd love to start Mummy, but I just think Goldy, Maric and NN represent the best value for money, I just decided to go with Maric because personally for me I think his value for price is spot on

This I can understand, I am not a fan of paying for top end rucks because they top guys generally drop out the following year. This is the reason I am not going near Sauce or Martin and Mummy's body won't hold up for a whole season. This is why I am looking at Nic Nat and Bellchambers (unless suspension hits) and then I am looking at a few plan B's, some involving mid price options and a couple of more expensive options if it doesn't pan out

There is a lot of uncertainty around the rucks this year. I wouldn't be surprised if Minson pops up and dominates, we just don't know, and have to just pick 2 we are comfortable with and hope for the best :)

I just think looking at a lot of the posts jumping off Nic Nat and onto Maric for his perceived durability is crazy. There is about 50k difference in price and the cheaper players is the one the new rules suit most (maybe 2nd behind Sauce) in the comp. Even looking at the difference in scoring, there is not a hell of a lot over their careers.

I think everything said here is spot on ...

[Mat0369]

I've never said Maric is a safer pick

I have Maric and NicNat as my rucks

I think they are the best value for money rucks who can push 110 and at their starting prices makes them the most value for me

They've both completed full pre-seasons and are fit. That's all we can ask for from rucks. The rest is anyone's guess and we will just have to watch how the season plays out

While you may not have, quite a few others have jumped off Nic Nat to start Maric and Goldy instead with that their reasoning behind the move

[Keeper27]

i cant believe there is still any love for Belly.

No other bomber has even been mentioned for months due to the ASADA crap and yet people still has this injury prone muppet on their teams. WTF??

[RaisyDaisy]

Is anyone starting Luey?

I'm doing my head in trying to figure out what ruck set up to settle on, and I'm now considering Luey at R2

The cash I save allows me to strengthen other lines, but because it's so hard to pick 2 set and forget rucks (because I just don't know which rucks will be Top 2-4 this year) I'm thinking that starting Luey will give me time to see how the rucks go, then I can eventually upgrade him to the best ruck available

Obviously I'd be losing points in the rucks, but the money saved should get me those missed points in another line

The Rucks are doing my head in. Mummy and Sandi have question marks over their durability, Goldy and Maric seem safe (even though Maric might be managing an issue), but part of me feels wrong leaving NicNat out, but it's hard to pick him to start with because I'm concerned Lycett will do a fair chunk of the ruck work in the first few rounds while Nic gets match fit and back into things and I'd hate to spend nearly 500k on him if he isn't churning out good scores from the get go

Goldy/Maric at R1 with Luey at R2 is tempting

Argh!

[Jay]

Is anyone starting Luey?

I'm doing my head in trying to figure out what ruck set up to settle on, and I'm now considering Luey at R2

The cash I save allows me to strengthen other lines, but because it's so hard to pick 2 set and forget rucks (because I just don't know which rucks will be Top 2-4 this year) I'm thinking that starting Luey will give me time to see how the rucks go, then I can eventually upgrade him to the best ruck available

Obviously I'd be losing points in the rucks, but the money saved should get me those missed points in another line

The Rucks are doing my head in. Mummy and Sandi have question marks over their durability, Goldy and Maric seem safe (even though Maric might be managing an issue), but part of me feels wrong leaving NicNat out, but it's hard to pick him to start with because I'm concerned Lycett will do a fair chunk of the ruck work in the first few rounds while Nic gets match fit and back into things and I'd hate to spend nearly 500k on him if he isn't churning out good scores from the get go

Goldy/Maric at R1 with Luey at R2 is tempting

Argh!

I've had him for most of the pre-season and have just taken him out today to go with a set and forget ruck approach.

Reason being, I think with Leuey you need cover given his injury history and the only cover I could see was Belly in the fwds. Can't justify spending 300k on Belly with no pre-season and hence Leuey is gone.

[Mat0369]

Not touching Leuenberger with Martin in the team. I can't see him scoring enough to justify the pick, if Martin was out, well that's a different story.

I think I would rather Grundy if I went that route

[jfitty]

i cant believe there is still any love for Belly.

No other bomber has even been mentioned for months due to the ASADA crap and yet people still has this injury prone muppet on their teams. WTF??

As a number one (and hopefully sole) ruck he offers some awesome value at 300k. But of course that's all depending on the ASADA verdict.

I think his injury history doesn't matter as much for a guy you're not planning on keeping. Last year he only played 7 games, but before that he's gone 18, 16 and 13, more than enough for him to increase in price and be upgraded.

I'm not 100% sold on him, but I like the amount of cash it frees up with him at R2.

[Ricochet]

Not touching Leuenberger with Martin in the team. I can't see him scoring enough to justify the pick, if Martin was out, well that's a different story.

I think I would rather Grundy if I went that route

+1 but I wouldn't go anywhere near Grundy

[RaisyDaisy]

Yeah thanks fellas :)

Luey will probably only average 75-80, so although the cash saved can be used elsewhere, I don't think I'll bother with him

Would rather put another 130k on the table and take the gamble with NicNat

[Nige]

Not touching Leuenberger with Martin in the team. I can't see him scoring enough to justify the pick, if Martin was out, well that's a different story.

I think I would rather Grundy if I went that route

+1 but I wouldn't go anywhere near Grundy

Yeah, you're best avoiding both Leuey and Grundy.

[Bones Bombers]

Interesting ownership percentages.

Nic Nat      22.90
Luey         20.44
Belly         19.24
Goldy       18.35
Jacobs      10.09
Mummy      7.78
Maric         7.72
Sandy        6.81
Z.Smith      5.85

A bit surprised so many are still going with Luey and Belly.