Top 2/5 rucks, 2018 Thread

[RaisyDaisy]

There may be bugger all fwd rookies tho. Bundy may become a liability if he is F4 and only 4 rookies total get named 2 or 3 of which are any good. Makes it hard to downgrade Bundy then. Especially if Rayner/ Stephenson flop or get dropped. Rayner may have safer JS but I have huge doubts on scoring ability with poor tank. Stephenson could lose out to DeGoey early on.

If Bundy turns out to be a flop at least there are guys like Bell, Cyril even Lids who we can bail out to

If you're starting two rookies on field and they are scoring 40's you're flowered

Bundy at F5 is a lock for me - refuse to field a rookie at F5 this year. There might be 5 or 6 available come round 1, but that means squat if they can't score - 2 of those fill the bench and the best one gets F6 while I pass on the rest

[ubeaut]

There may be bugger all fwd rookies tho. Bundy may become a liability if he is F4 and only 4 rookies total get named 2 or 3 of which are any good. Makes it hard to downgrade Bundy then. Especially if Rayner/ Stephenson flop or get dropped. Rayner may have safer JS but I have huge doubts on scoring ability with poor tank. Stephenson could lose out to DeGoey early on.

If Bundy turns out to be a flop at least there are guys like Bell, Cyril even Lids who we can bail out to

If you're starting two rookies on field and they are scoring 40's you're flowered

Bundy at F5 is a lock for me - refuse to field a rookie at F5 this year. There might be 5 or 6 available come round 1, but that means squat if they can't score - 2 of those fill the bench and the best one gets F6 while I pass on the rest

Fair enough. I agree that F5 may have to be a non rookie. Really are very few options tho. Bundy worries me after JLT, Deledio I think is past it and will play fwd with Whitfield/Shaw/Griffen playing the friendly SC halfback role.
Bell is borderline best 22. Cyril just makes me think Hamstrings and is 50 k more so unless u have that in the bank or somehow get away with downgrading  a 200 k rookie it makes that move hard.
The fwds is the worst line this year no doubt and is giving me a headache having to compromise rest of team to go deep there.

[Bully]

Cyril apparently looking sharp & focused at training. Just get the feeling he'll be switched on from the get go, I'm very tempted to pick him over Bundy who looks quite sluggish.

[ubeaut]

Back to the rucks, Vardy will miss 4 weeks according to Fox sports, JJK at least 2. 
Surely that gives Lycett a real chance to cement his place in best 22.
NicNat should play round 1, maybe round 2 but will need to be managed resting fwd and bench. WC will be super cautious and first sign of a niggle he gets rested.
Vardy will also be below 100% on return.
Just when I've ruled him out he's tempting me again.

[MontyJnr]

Surely Stefan Martin is the safest R2 option?

Unlike Preuss, Archie Smith seems to be on the outer of Brisbane's best 22. He did not play a single JLT game, which is the time and place to trial guys like him. Could Archie simply be used as depth this season? He did not have much of an impact when he got his chance at AFL level last year i thought...

Stefan averaged 105 in the JLT, which was only second to Gawn of the premium ruck options.

His 175 minutes on field during the JLT is also impressive compared to Ryder (168 minutes), Goldstein (144 minutes) & Sandilands (131 minutes).

[meow meow]

Stef won't get within 10 points of the top 2. It's like picking a Cotchin or Seb Ross vs the real premos.

[enzedder]

Surely Stefan Martin is the safest R2 option?

Unlike Preuss, Archie Smith seems to be on the outer of Brisbane's best 22. He did not play a single JLT game, which is the time and place to trial guys like him. Could Archie simply be used as depth this season? He did not have much of an impact when he got his chance at AFL level last year i thought...

Stefan averaged 105 in the JLT, which was only second to Gawn of the premium ruck options.

His 175 minutes on field during the JLT is also impressive compared to Ryder (168 minutes), Goldstein (144 minutes) & Sandilands (131 minutes).

Brisbane have McInerney too who they'll be looking to blood at some point this year as he has shown some serious promise. Having said that though Stef looks a solid pick. Personally though I'm going for Jacobs because he is the safest R2 option.

Stef won't get within 10 points of the top 2. It's like picking a Cotchin or Seb Ross vs the real premos.

Disagree. He could easily be a top 2 ruck, let alone within 10 points of them. At least you're half right about the Ross and Cotchin bit not being among the better mid picks.

[StuL]

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

Yes. Looks like he might play perm fwd and pinch hit in the ruck this year. With not much on offer at F4/5 anyway, it's worth a punt.

[quinny88]

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

Yes. Looks like he might play perm fwd and pinch hit in the ruck this year. With not much on offer at F4/5 anyway, it's worth a punt.

It's really not worth a punt. If he didn't have a big JLT game last weekend would you have given him a thought at all?
He played on an 18 year old and was allowed a free run and jump at the ball every time it came in, that just won't happen in the real stuff. He's got the potential to have the off good game but I would expect 60s most  weeks

[PowerBug]

Mason Cox is someone I’d get with my 29th or 30th trade if I didn’t have ruck cover and I felt it might be needed in the last few rounds.

[dmac07]

Mason Cox is someone I’d get with my 29th or 30th trade if I didn’t have ruck cover and I felt it might be needed in the last few rounds.

But by then youll be paying 600k  ;)

[Marty101]

Nank started 2017 off with a bang averaging 100+ up until RD9 and obviously tailed off in the second half of the season.

Does anyone think with a second preseason as the number one ruck under his belt at Richmond that the extra conditioning will see him hold the early 2017 form for the whole season this year?

He's still relatively young in terms of rucks and could be on the verge of pushing higher up on everyone's radars this season.

Showed what he's capable of against Nth in JLT2 (albeit Goldy/Preuss played limited time).

[Bully]

Nank started 2017 off with a bang averaging 100+ up until RD9 and obviously tailed off in the second half of the season.

Does anyone think with a second preseason as the number one ruck under his belt at Richmond that the extra conditioning will see him hold the early 2017 form for the whole season this year?

He's still relatively young in terms of rucks and could be on the verge of pushing higher up on everyone's radars this season.

Showed what he's capable of against Nth in JLT2 (albeit Goldy/Preuss played limited time).

Goldy was pantsing Nank in the first half, then Preuss came on. Don't think he's worth it, especially given Dimma will give Soldo/Hampson a run at some stage.

[HappyDEZ]

Nank started 2017 off with a bang averaging 100+ up until RD9 and obviously tailed off in the second half of the season.

Does anyone think with a second preseason as the number one ruck under his belt at Richmond that the extra conditioning will see him hold the early 2017 form for the whole season this year?

He's still relatively young in terms of rucks and could be on the verge of pushing higher up on everyone's radars this season.

Showed what he's capable of against Nth in JLT2 (albeit Goldy/Preuss played limited time).

Goldy was pantsing Nank in the first half, then Preuss came on. Don't think he's worth it, especially given Dimma will give Soldo/Hampson a run at some stage.

Soldo yes Hampson no. I reckon Balta or CCJ would get a taste before Hampson gets a call up.

[meow meow]

I don't think Soldo is much of a threat to anything, even if he plays. Nank should still average 150+