Top 2/5 rucks, 2018 Thread

[Bully]

I still don't understand why people want to risk Lycett, Naitanui also due back.

Anyone we select at R2 carries some sort of risk, whether it be injury prone, poor JS or questionable scoring so at 277k he can certainly push 80+ so it's not a bad choice at all IMO, but I just don't like the overall feel of my side with him in it atm

If he gets injured, suspended, replaced by Vardy or just spuds it up every week you will need 2 trades to fix it.

[RaisyDaisy]

I still don't understand why people want to risk Lycett, Naitanui also due back.

Anyone we select at R2 carries some sort of risk, whether it be injury prone, poor JS or questionable scoring so at 277k he can certainly push 80+ so it's not a bad choice at all IMO, but I just don't like the overall feel of my side with him in it atm

If he gets injured, suspended, replaced by Vardy or just spuds it up every week you will need 2 trades to fix it.

Pretty much the reasons why I'm not starting him atm

[Nige]

Sandi's just kinda got the same issue as Gaz in that scoring isn't the issue, it's more about whether he'll get through unscathed. I'm tempted, but it's gonna be hard to pass up my boy Nank.

Doesn't carry the price tag Gaz does though, and with no good RUC/FWD cover options this year you could say that whoever we start alongside Gawn has some kind of risk and chances are we're going to be burning a trade or two in the rucks this year anyway so might as well YOLO on the big man

True.

I thought Sandi was a bit cheaper than he actually is. Got Nank who is 8k more, hardly worth making the change.

[quinny88]

I've toyed around with my rucks a lot but I'm locked and loaded on Gawn/Goldy. The only thing that could change that in the next 2 weeks would be a season ending injury to Kreuzer in which case I'd bring in Lobbe

[Ringo]

For those that are considering Lycett this sobering news:

West Coast: "We'll have a meeting.. to see where that's at.. if it's not Round 1 it's Round 2" Adam Simpson on when Nic Naitainui will play

[iZander]

Gawn and Martin
Ryder would be there but he has round 10 bye

[Colty]

Gawn has only got through one season without being injured, add to that whatever other ruck you pick there is an injury certainty, I honestly think its worth having a Lycett or someone else who regularly plays for cover as if Gawn or another ruck goes for 1-2 weeks you're in all sorts because you will need to trade out and then probably trade back in, whos to say there wont be more niggles, it could be a black hole for trades if there is 0 coverage.

[quinny88]

For those that are considering Lycett this sobering news:

West Coast: "We'll have a meeting.. to see where that's at.. if it's not Round 1 it's Round 2" Adam Simpson on when Nic Naitainui will play

Lycett will probably score 150 round 1 against a ruckless Sydney and then 50 the week after when NicNats back haha

[Colty]

Anyone considering playing Mason Cox in forwards as DPP ruck cover?

[Gigantor]

Gawn has only got through one season without being injured, add to that whatever other ruck you pick there is an injury certainty, I honestly think its worth having a Lycett or someone else who regularly plays for cover as if Gawn or another ruck goes for 1-2 weeks you're in all sorts because you will need to trade out and then probably trade back in, whos to say there wont be more niggles, it could be a black hole for trades if there is 0 coverage.

Thats why I'm leaning away from starting Cameron if he is named and using a DPP at R3 instead

If someone like Pedo or Cox miraculously average 80+ they could be handy F7/R3 cover. If you have a M/F DPP on your mid bench they can even cover the mids as well

[Colty]

Darcy Cameron is a no go, I'm a swans fan and I highly doubt he will spend much time in the seniors unless Sinclair goes down, in which case not worries bring him in.
Anyway, I'm thinking id rather have Cox and get a few 80s here and there than waste a trade if one of my rucks are out for 1 or two weeks.

[frenzy]

Isn't Grundy  copping a week at match review? Oh thats right, magpies run the MRP now.

EDIT; $2000 fine, predictable joke.

[_wato]

Starting Sandi is starting to get me very interested...

As mentioned I'm still very stuck on a second ruck I want and Goldy/Stef/Kreuzer/Ryder have all been there at some stage. But if you look at his first 5 opponents (PA, Dons, GC, Giants, Dogs) not to mention a pretty soft draw up until Rd 10 (where NN/Lycett, Nank, Longer, Sinclair follow Rd 5), the man giant could average 110 before restings occur in latter part of the year and they transition to Darcy dependent on their wins/losses.

Obvs injury is a massive concern but he looks ripped af and healthy. Plenty to like about a score of 110 from 24 hitouts and 58% game time in JLT (even to mention he played a preseason game, wtf)

[jfitty]

Starting Sandi is starting to get me very interested...

As mentioned I'm still very stuck on a second ruck I want and Goldy/Stef/Kreuzer/Ryder have all been there at some stage. But if you look at his first 5 opponents (PA, Dons, GC, Giants, Dogs) not to mention a pretty soft draw up until Rd 10 (where NN/Lycett, Nank, Longer, Sinclair follow Rd 5), the man giant could average 110 before restings occur in latter part of the year and they transition to Darcy dependent on their wins/losses.

Obvs injury is a massive concern but he looks ripped af and healthy. Plenty to like about a score of 110 from 24 hitouts and 58% game time in JLT (even to mention he played a preseason game, wtf)

I must admit, the big man is starting to grab my attention as well..

Looked in ripping shape yesterday, and played both JLT games which wouldn't have happened for years. With that draw to start the year with, I reckon he could be an awesome POD to start the season off. If he gets rested later, potentially look to trade then, but the scoring potential is definitely there.

I've had Goldy most of the preseason alongside Gawn, but the Preuss factor makes me nervous.. They won't play in the same team, but there's a chance Scotty could switch them in and out during the season.

[PowerBug]

Time for some Lycett love I think. Here's my rundown on the situation:


- There's no other premium ruck that sticks out. Ryder with the bye; Martin, Grundy and Goldstein all with their backups playing in the same team; Jacobs just boring; and the others I don't think can get better than what they were last season (Smith, Belly, Nank).
- Lycett in 2016 played 20 games and averaged 83.1. In the first 10 rounds of that season he scored five tons. He had double digit hitouts each match, he scored a goal every match from Rd 3-10. And in this time he was playing 2nd Ruck to Nic Nat, who scored amazingly until his injury.
- He's $277k, and is best 22.
- If Darcy Cameron is nailed then you have cover if he gets injured/scores bad for a week or two. Remember the goal is for him to make some cash while you work out which ruck is the best to pair him with. He doesn't need to go 90+, you just want something that resembles a good rookie score.

I look at that and go geez this is a very very good pick for R2 and even playing behind Nic Nat I think he can score very well. He's priced at an average of 50, so if he goes 75-80 he's making money (Looking at going above $400k if he does that). The rucks are always viewed as different to the other positions and that we should always pick 2 set and forget. Ask yourself why that's the case, it certainly doesn't have to be, why not get the cheap guy who has shown he can score at above his price, no one else is putting their hand up for R2.


There's a downside to every player in this price range, and Lycett's is from 2015:
- 64, 96, 48, 60 injured Rds 1 to 4. You start a $277k guy and that happens, you are in big trouble if there's no playing R3.
- He scored 2 against GWS in Rd 21 2016. He played the full game. Enough said.
- 1, 2, 7, 12, 6, 20, 1 are his matches played since entering the league. How can you be confident he will last to the byes?


My wrap up? No one sticks out, and he's currently in my side. It's a huge risk to pick him but if he pays off wowee it'll be huge.