Shaun Hampson

[Bully]

looks like Ivan is battling an ongoing ankle injury and may require surgery (according to Dimma). If so, that would make Hampson Richmond's sole ruck, possibly with some cameos from Vickery and Griffiths. Just for the record, Hampson has the second highest tap to advantage % over the past 2 years.

Nothing has been confirmed but I would watch this space.

[Grufflez]

looks like Ivan is battling an ongoing ankle injury and may require surgery (according to Dimma). If so, that would make Hampson Richmond's sole ruck, possibly with some cameos from Vickery and Griffiths. Just for the record, Hampson has the second highest tap to advantage % over the past 2 years.

Nothing has been confirmed but I would watch this space.

Thanks for the heads up, would depend on how long Maric would be sidelined for of course but interesting none the less.

[auscoyote]

Thanks for the heads up. Possibly a cheap sole ruckmen. Will have to do some investigating into his scoring potential.
After the cricket of course :)

[Bully]

Thanks for the heads up. Possibly a cheap sole ruckmen. Will have to do some investigating into his scoring potential.
After the cricket of course :)

should be good for an 80 average as sole ruckman, possibly higher given his age and experience. 

[Gigantor]

If Maric is out for a long time (at least to the byes) then could be worth a look otherwise I think there are options with better JS in the 300k range, Sandi, HMac, Hickey, Grundy(if he gets a haircut!)

[roti]

If Maric is out for a long time (at least to the byes) then could be worth a look otherwise I think there are options with better JS in the 300k range, Sandi, HMac, Hickey, Grundy(if he gets a haircut!)

FWIW gave Grundy a bath today

[Bully]

If Maric is out for a long time (at least to the byes) then could be worth a look otherwise I think there are options with better JS in the 300k range, Sandi, HMac, Hickey, Grundy(if he gets a haircut!)

FWIW gave Grundy a bath today

Sure did, Hampson is a ruckman first and foremost. He has an amazing leap and the Champion Data stats don't lie, only Sandi has bettered his tap to advantage ratio over the past 2 years.

As for the contenders, HMac hasn't played for two years and is likely to be managed. Hickey looks a reasonable option as well, and given the bye structure and cheaper price, may edge him out. But having closely watched Hampson performance today, I can only conclude he's miles in front of Grundy. This should be no surprise given he was up against a 9 gamer, no disrespect to Grundy, but he's still a teenager learning the trade. Grundy's temperament was also tested and he found himself subbed out as a result.

The one thing I learned today is that Hampson is worth considering if Ivan goes in for surgery, and that I won't go near Grundy with a barge pole.

[Grufflez]

If Maric is out for a long time (at least to the byes) then could be worth a look otherwise I think there are options with better JS in the 300k range, Sandi, HMac, Hickey, Grundy(if he gets a haircut!)

FWIW gave Grundy a bath today

Sure did, Hampson is a ruckman first and foremost. He has an amazing leap and the Champion Data stats don't lie, only Sandi has bettered his tap to advantage ratio over the past 2 years.

As for the contenders, HMac hasn't played for two years and is likely to be managed. Hickey looks a reasonable option as well, and given the bye structure and cheaper price, may edge him out. But having closely watched Hampson performance today, I can only conclude he's miles in front of Grundy. This should be no surprise given he was up against a 9 gamer, no disrespect to Grundy, but he's still a teenager learning the trade. Grundy's temperament was also tested and he found himself subbed out as a result.

The one thing I learned today is that Hampson is worth considering if Ivan goes in for surgery, and that I won't go near Grundy with a barge pole.

I must confess i have lost faith in the Gundilands combo,in my eagerness to go with 2 cheap rucks i was pushing the fact Grundy is just a kid to the back of my mind...the rucks are looking so important to get right this year..maybe a set and forget approach is on the cards..

[tor01doc]

If so, what do you give up to get a premium Mother Rucker?

[Dayze]

Set and forget on the rucks doesn't exist.
Way too much fluctuation from year to year.

Nice info bully, has put himself on my radar

[Southstorm]

The rucks won't fluctuate too much this year because nothing that matters has changed. Minson and Goldstein are miles ahead of everyone else in terms of potential and the only other ruck who has a good chance to pull similar scores is Nic Nat. If you were going to do a set and forget, you'd have two of these three.

[Dayze]

That's what we thought about maric nic nat and Jacobs last year.
And Goldstein the year before that.
And a premium ruck every year since the dawn of time.

I think minson is a chance to have a fall from grace.
Goldy less likely

[dmac07]

That's what we thought about maric nic nat and Jacobs last year.
And Goldstein the year before that.
And a premium ruck every year since the dawn of time.

I think minson is a chance to have a fall from grace.
Goldy less likely

exactly, so many people had jacobs and or maric as set and forget ruckman, confident they would keep it up. Its hard to find a solid second cheap option after sandi, and minson and goldy I think are big risks to pay 600k+ for, when you look at whatvthat money can get you on other lines, like mitchell, watson, dangerfield, all cheaper than the big rucks and I would think so much more reliable.

That leaves guys like lobbe, who im not sold on breaking out, but a lot of people think ge will, mcevoy at a new club, ryder with bellchambers out early, but ryder is so up and down, and even cox, despite his age, who is as fit as he has ever been. Nic nat 100%  fit would be a look, but he hasnt been 100% fit in a while.

[Doggoneit]

I think minson is a chance to have a fall from grace.
Goldy less likely

based on what - gut feel ?

I think it will be the opposite - Goldy was whinging about being tired in the second half of last season and North are very likely to play a 2nd ruck this season to give him a chop out. It may not be every game but they will want to manage goldy better this year.
Big Will on the other hand has stated he prefers to stay on the ground - if you watched him last year, in most games (especially against the other good rucks) at half time he was only breaking even or a bit behind his opponent, but he wears his opponent down and by the end of the game he is well ahead. His ruck work is not going to get any worse and he can still improve his work around the ground.

That said, IMO,  they are both too expensive to start them and I will look to upgrade to one of them post bye.

[hawkers65]

Everything would be so much more simple if NicNat was fit..  :-\ :'( Everybody would just have NicNat/Sanid combo and wouldn't have to worry.