Which Rucks?

[RaisyDaisy]

I've currently got Gawn and Grundy, they're 24 and 22 respectively, and with pretty much every other position we assume that players around that age will improve their average with a few years under their belt, there's no reason why we can't assume rucks are the same.

Stef, Goldy, even Sauce, they're all on the wrong side of 26, even if under-priced I think I'll avoid this year as I look to build a team of mainly younger premos with room to add about 5ppg.

I understand what you're saying, but it's pretty flawed considering 27+ is when players are generally in their absolute prime and already proven

Saying you'll pick Grundy because he is 22 over Goldy who is a proven beast just seems bizarre

[fanTCfool]

I've currently got Gawn and Grundy, they're 24 and 22 respectively, and with pretty much every other position we assume that players around that age will improve their average with a few years under their belt, there's no reason why we can't assume rucks are the same.

Stef, Goldy, even Sauce, they're all on the wrong side of 26, even if under-priced I think I'll avoid this year as I look to build a team of mainly younger premos with room to add about 5ppg.

I understand what you're saying, but it's pretty flawed considering 27+ is when players are generally in their absolute prime and already proven

Saying you'll pick Grundy because he is 22 over Goldy who is a proven beast just seems bizarre

A proven beast maybe, but carrying Goldy at some stages last season was painful.
North were so skinny in the ruck department, they continued to play a bloke who was clearly half-shot.
At times last season I would have accepted a donut if it meant he got the week off to somewhat recover for the weeks ahead.

I don't really want to start the whole Goldy debate again, but as some will tell you, that 128.8 is statistically a one-off. Other season bests are 113s in 2011 and 2013, which are a while ago now. I don't those numbers are out of reach for Goldy, but I also don't think it is out of reach for Grundy.

At this stage I'd say they may well average quite similarly, so I personally would prefer to take the younger option who could continue to break out, or the proven beast who surely has no further improvement in him. Grundy doesn't have Goldy's injury troubles, and is starting 60k cheaper.

Maybe Goldy beats Grundy by 5ppg each and every week, not ideal, but it's only 110 points over the entire season.
The old arguement to this is that Goldy is a captaincy option and Grundy is not, and therefore it will be more than 110 points, but last year Goldy only scored above Dangerfield's average twice, Round 3 and Round 9. I don't think that Goldy will be a common captaincy choice so even a potential 5ppg gap doesn't overly worry me.

[fasttrack13]

I'm not sure whether it'll be this year... but grundy will rival the stats of Dean Cox, possibly better it!

- Racks them up like Cox
- Tackles like Mummy
- Averages more hitouts this year already than Cox in a season

His ruck work will only improve, been down to a few sessions for the pies and he's flying which suggests to me he will get a heavier work load than 84.6%TOG (or is at least ready for it). Add to that just the year to year improvement of stats which happens for most players, the potential is there to be the best supercoach Ruckman in the game. His actual tap work isn't great but even if he improves slightly it will be beneficial to his scores.
Wouldn't be picking him hoping he's a 105-115 type, 105 will be his ceiling... goldy can easily hit 115-120 again. Seriously he was injured part the year and averaged 108, like the improvement is pretty obvious.

*Grundy has had niggling back problems previously btw*

If you could use that 60k better somewhere else then go for it... but goldy will outscore him by 8-12 points over the year. The bloke is still a jet!!

[GoLions]

I hate flowering around in the rucks. Goldy and Gawn, set and forget.

[DunnyBrush]

Should be a short thread here too.
Gawn,Goldy,Gundy,Sandi (fit R1) & Martin (if willing to risk knee only feeling ''largely better'' and solo ruck duties).
Jacobs on a steady decrease since the Ruck scoring system changed a few years back, Hickey will improve but not enough to warrant selection.

[sidvicious]

Are one of Ryder. Nankervis a must have in the Fwd line if starting Sandi at R2 ?

[Holz]

I've currently got Gawn and Grundy, they're 24 and 22 respectively, and with pretty much every other position we assume that players around that age will improve their average with a few years under their belt, there's no reason why we can't assume rucks are the same.

Stef, Goldy, even Sauce, they're all on the wrong side of 26, even if under-priced I think I'll avoid this year as I look to build a team of mainly younger premos with room to add about 5ppg.

I understand what you're saying, but it's pretty flawed considering 27+ is when players are generally in their absolute prime and already proven

Saying you'll pick Grundy because he is 22 over Goldy who is a proven beast just seems bizarre

A proven beast maybe, but carrying Goldy at some stages last season was painful.
North were so skinny in the ruck department, they continued to play a bloke who was clearly half-shot.
At times last season I would have accepted a donut if it meant he got the week off to somewhat recover for the weeks ahead.

I don't really want to start the whole Goldy debate again, but as some will tell you, that 128.8 is statistically a one-off. Other season bests are 113s in 2011 and 2013, which are a while ago now. I don't those numbers are out of reach for Goldy, but I also don't think it is out of reach for Grundy.

At this stage I'd say they may well average quite similarly, so I personally would prefer to take the younger option who could continue to break out, or the proven beast who surely has no further improvement in him. Grundy doesn't have Goldy's injury troubles, and is starting 60k cheaper.

Maybe Goldy beats Grundy by 5ppg each and every week, not ideal, but it's only 110 points over the entire season.
The old arguement to this is that Goldy is a captaincy option and Grundy is not, and therefore it will be more than 110 points, but last year Goldy only scored above Dangerfield's average twice, Round 3 and Round 9. I don't think that Goldy will be a common captaincy choice so even a potential 5ppg gap doesn't overly worry me.

The solution is clear. Pick Goldy and Grundy.

2011: 113 average
2012: 93 but that was because Hmac stuffed him up scored big without him
2013: 113 average
2014: 107 still super solid but was injured round 1, he averaged 125 in the last 14 games!!!!
2015: 128 average
2016: averaged 128 in the first 5 weeks then got some kncoks in a game and scored 52, then averaged 123 in the next 4 and got injured as struggled a little bit for the rest of the season.


So really over 40 consecutive games being back half of 2014, all of 2015, start of 2016 he averaged 127 points. then as i said the injured 52 and then 123 points over 4 weeks.

As you said the issue is a injured goldy will still play reducing his scoring. But that just turns him from a by far the best ruck in the comp to a top 3 ruck.

He has to be picked, those numbers cant be undisputed.

If he is uninjured and has no other number 1 (no majak is not Hmac) then he has averaged 113+ in the last 6 years. When he has been fully healthy in the last 3 years he has averaged 127.

Also just look at the draw, people say its tough yeah it is for north but not for goldy.

[Big Mac]

I've currently got Gawn and Grundy, they're 24 and 22 respectively, and with pretty much every other position we assume that players around that age will improve their average with a few years under their belt, there's no reason why we can't assume rucks are the same.

Stef, Goldy, even Sauce, they're all on the wrong side of 26, even if under-priced I think I'll avoid this year as I look to build a team of mainly younger premos with room to add about 5ppg.

I understand what you're saying, but it's pretty flawed considering 27+ is when players are generally in their absolute prime and already proven

Saying you'll pick Grundy because he is 22 over Goldy who is a proven beast just seems bizarre

A proven beast maybe, but carrying Goldy at some stages last season was painful.
North were so skinny in the ruck department, they continued to play a bloke who was clearly half-shot.
At times last season I would have accepted a donut if it meant he got the week off to somewhat recover for the weeks ahead.

I don't really want to start the whole Goldy debate again, but as some will tell you, that 128.8 is statistically a one-off. Other season bests are 113s in 2011 and 2013, which are a while ago now. I don't those numbers are out of reach for Goldy, but I also don't think it is out of reach for Grundy.

At this stage I'd say they may well average quite similarly, so I personally would prefer to take the younger option who could continue to break out, or the proven beast who surely has no further improvement in him. Grundy doesn't have Goldy's injury troubles, and is starting 60k cheaper.

Maybe Goldy beats Grundy by 5ppg each and every week, not ideal, but it's only 110 points over the entire season.
The old arguement to this is that Goldy is a captaincy option and Grundy is not, and therefore it will be more than 110 points, but last year Goldy only scored above Dangerfield's average twice, Round 3 and Round 9. I don't think that Goldy will be a common captaincy choice so even a potential 5ppg gap doesn't overly worry me.

The solution is clear. Pick Goldy and Grundy.

2011: 113 average
2012: 93 but that was because Hmac stuffed him up scored big without him
2013: 113 average
2014: 107 still super solid but was injured round 1, he averaged 125 in the last 14 games!!!!
2015: 128 average
2016: averaged 128 in the first 5 weeks then got some kncoks in a game and scored 52, then averaged 123 in the next 4 and got injured as struggled a little bit for the rest of the season.


So really over 40 consecutive games being back half of 2014, all of 2015, start of 2016 he averaged 127 points. then as i said the injured 52 and then 123 points over 4 weeks.

As you said the issue is a injured goldy will still play reducing his scoring. But that just turns him from a by far the best ruck in the comp to a top 3 ruck.

He has to be picked, those numbers cant be undisputed.

If he is uninjured and has no other number 1 (no majak is not Hmac) then he has averaged 113+ in the last 6 years. When he has been fully healthy in the last 3 years he has averaged 127.

Also just look at the draw, people say its tough yeah it is for north but not for goldy.

Yes, everybody do this please

[Holz]

The solution is clear. Pick Goldy and Grundy.
le say its tough yeah it is for north but not for goldy.

Yes, everybody do this please

I kinda hope people dont as it helps me win the 50k.

show me your tema and ill show you where the 150k could be used elsewhere.

[Money Shot]

When did the rucking scoring change? I remember it happening but can't remember the year.

I really am considering Jacobs but he has been slowly declining and I'm wondering if it's since the new scoring for rucks come in.

[Holz]

When did the rucking scoring change? I remember it happening but can't remember the year.

I really am considering Jacobs but he has been slowly declining and I'm wondering if it's since the new scoring for rucks come in.

before 2015 when everyone was saying how bad it was and that goldy was never going to match 107 then pumped out 128.

[Money Shot]

When did the rucking scoring change? I remember it happening but can't remember the year.

I really am considering Jacobs but he has been slowly declining and I'm wondering if it's since the new scoring for rucks come in.

before 2015 when everyone was saying how bad it was and that goldy was never going to match 107 then pumped out 128.

Hahaha love it! Thanks mate.

[fasttrack13]

Are one of Ryder. Nankervis a must have in the Fwd line if starting Sandi at R2 ?

Its a real safety net... not a must but you dont want to rely on sandi the whole year. Plus ryder could go top 10 forward the way they're set up and im one of the few who thinks nank will do the same

[meow meow]

Why don't you want to rely on Sandi?

2014: 21 games
2015: 21 games
2016: Collision injury that can happen to anyone.

2017: He's fully fit and will pump out another 20 games.

[Jukes]

Why don't you want to rely on Sandi?

2014: 21 games
2015: 21 games
2016: Collision injury that can happen to anyone.

2017: He's fully fit and will pump out another 20 games.

13, 12, and 7 games the three years before that though...I'd be locking him in of course, but his injury history is a cause of concern