Just A Quick Vote About A Potential Ruck Trade

[Windigo]

........Not much to say really......

[Just Clancy]

Lobbe?

[Windigo]

I don't see the point. I make cash, but I don't need it. I have 6 trades currently.

[Memphistopheles]

I don't see the point. I make cash, but I don't need it. I have 6 trades currently.

Make a downgrade somewhere and get McEvoy. Smith--->Lobbe and Bailey-->McEvoy works.

Otherwise take the punt on Jolly.

[Windigo]

Make a downgrade somewhere and get McEvoy. Smith--->Lobbe and Bailey-->McEvoy works.

I'll keep Z.Smith until he rises & a premo drops. I don't see how 4 trades will keep me afloat for the rest of the season.

[Memphistopheles]

Make a downgrade somewhere and get McEvoy. Smith--->Lobbe and Bailey-->McEvoy works.

I'll keep Z.Smith until he rises & a premo drops. I don't see how 4 trades will keep me afloat for the rest of the season.

Fair enough, but i've seen your team in RMT and I think your rucks are your weakest link/where you could make up the most points.

If you are going for league though you might want to just keep the trades. Although some cash for Smith (i.e. going to Lobbe) could be handy for later upgrades.

Then you can straight swap rather than having to downgrade/upgrade.

[Windigo]

Smith is the weakest link. But he is capable of the 70's.

[Memphistopheles]

Smith is the weakest link. But he is capable of the 70's.

Lets go through all the choices objectively (I'm also considering a ruck trade of Smith so helps me as well).

Leuenberger averages 86, but is very inconsistent - five tons, but also six scores below 80. With a tough run home (Haw, Gee, Nth, bye, Ade, GC, Coll, WCE, Syd) he doesn't look like the best pick.

Griffin has scored really well in the games he has played, but as soon as Sandi is back and fit he will be out of the team, which means most likely he won't be playing during the DT finals. Mark Harvey is not concerned with DT scores, just winning games and Sandi helps the Dockers do this. IMO Griffin is only an option if you think Sandi won't return or if you can afford to trade him out again when Sandi is back.

Jacobs is the number one ruck at the Crows at the moment which is a good start. Again he is quite inconsistent, with three tons and four scores below 80. Adelaide does have quite a good run home which works in his favour (bye, Ess, StK, Port, Bris, Gee, GC, Rich, WCE). With this in mind I think he can continue to average 85, and probably push that up towards 90 by the end of the season. Question is - is it enough to warrant a trade?

Zac Smith has done an admirable job for Gold Coast this season, but is still a raw, first-year ruck, who has already had both his byes. I think he will either suffer from a bit of burnout as the season wears on, or to prevent this GC will give him a rest for one or two more games (he has already had one 'rest' from memory). He has tonned up on three occasions, but they weren't big tons and the majority of his scores (six times) have been in the 60's and 50's. His current average of 77 is commendable, but I see that dropping to around 75 or maybe a bit lower by the end of the season. Having said that, playing Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Hawthorn in the last four games is quite attractive.

Finally we come to Darren Jolly. He's struggled with injury this season and his current average reflects that. But, he is the number 1 ruckman at Collingwood and if fit will play every game (possibly with the exception of the last game v geelong if there is nothing to play for). He had a good return against Hawthorn and should improve each week from here. I also think his altitude training will help immensely with his fitness as the season progresses. If he stays healthy (and with more than 20 games in his last six season i see no reason why he won't) then he should be a good, consistent choice. My only gripe with Jolly is that he has never really been a fantastic DT scorer. I see no reason why he won't average 80-85 for the rest of the season with the occasional ton, but I can't see him scoring much more than that (his highest average in those past six seasons is 86). Like Jacobs, the question is - is he worth a trade?

The final option, which is looking quite good to me after all that analysis, is to cash in Smith and upgrade elsewhere in your team. Chances are that you, like me, can easily cover all ruck eventualities (especially now Cox has his last bye) with Cox, Petrie and Bailey. If Petrie stays fit Bailey will only have to play one game.

So why not even downgrade Smith to an 80K player and get the most cash u can and use your final five trades to improve your team in the coming weeks - whether it is to win an important league match, or to try gain some ground in the next multi-bye round or to make an upgrade for another prem when Gibbs, Scotland, Boyd, Mitchell, Chapman, Stevie J or whoever has a bye.

Although the smart thing to do would be to get Lobbe, which with your Petrie ruck link, makes a handy 9th/10th playing forward and gives some extra ruck cover.

PS - i think this year is the only year where fourth ruck choices have actually counted.

Personally I would only make a ruck trade if I could improve my team enough that it is worth it - which is why I'm considering McEvoy.

[Windigo]

Good write up Memphis.  ;)

I agree on all points covered. I won't be trading Z.Smith to any of my options I put in the poll.

I have J.Tippet so I already have the ruck option with Petrie.

Was thinking about what you said in terms of trading Smith>$80,000 player. However.

I see a flaw if I do that with my team.

Trade Smith, then would have to play Bailey & Cox this week.

Next week Hawks have the bye. I'd swing Petrie into rucks with J. Tippet. Cox & Petre in ruck. But then oh flower, I now have to cover Franklin & Petrie in fwds.

I.Smith is out. So I'd have to play Mzungu & Prestia. Not taking into account that I'll have to play Stanley & Hibberd as well that week.

Mzungu, Prestia, Hibberd & Stanley playing that week. Instead of 3.

I'll have to sit tight on Z.Smith.

[yorgis]

problem with zac is, he has a high B/E of 109 [vs sydney] and has already dropped about $15K this week

[Windigo]

problem with zac is, he has a high B/E of 109 [vs sydney] and has already dropped about $15K this week

What would you do?  ???

[its me lads]

i dont think people know enough about jacobs, just cos he plays for crows doesnt mean he's shower. I have had him for a while and he is beasting it up. 84 average last 5 88 and last 3 games 103. he has got 3 hundreds give him a real thouhgt and look at his previous scores. I would really reccomend him.

[Windigo]

I was looking at his past few scores & he is definitely improving. If he was playing this week I'd trade him in. I'll see how Smith goes this week.

Anything over 85 & I'm keeping him. Anything less......Sammy might come into consideration.  ;)

[Andrew]

Why not Smith -> Lobbe and back him in this week to start in your rucks? Otherwise you could play Petrie ruck and Lobbe can cover in fowards. If Lobbe goes average then you can upgrade Bailey in 2-4 weeks, and I would've thought 4 trades to be enough from here until the end of the season with a complete side?

On your other options, Jolly is far too big a risk with the season he's had and Collingwood won't risk him in any match I don't think. Leuenberger I don't mind but Lobbe and extra cash is a better option. Tricky one but I think if you're selling Zac Smith then it has to be this week, as noted playing Sydney will be lucky to score more than 70 and even 70 would see him go down 15k.

[yorgis]

i have to keep him coz i've got lobbe, coxxy and derickz [ stuck with him for now]