Another Ruck Thread

[RaisyDaisy]

There's been so much discussion about rucks, and I am just so over it now, I just want the season to start so I can stop ummming and ahhhing over this

3 days out, what ruck setup are you going with and why?

For me, the 400-500k ruck options are pointless, they are not going to be keepers, so I am not spending that much on them only to have to upgrade them later, so....

Do we fork out the cash on Goldy or Cox and set and forget? Do we go with Luey, and do we really think he will be a top 3-4 ruck come seasons end? Or do we go with Hampson or HMac to utilise the extra cash we save elsewhere? By picking one of them I think we should assume they will average around the 70 mark, with perhaps the odd 90+ score, and then upgrade them later once we get to see who is looking like the best rucks to upgrade them to will be?

I just cant bring myself to start NicNat. I reckon he will get subbed for sure, and I doubt he will come out scoring 120+ every week anyway, so I can get him later in the season if he shows that he is killing it and is 100% fit

What are we doing lads?

[nperera95]

I was considering of a Hickey and Sandi combo but probably should play it safe so currently i have Leuy and Sandi  :D

[korodos]

I'm going to back in Big Boy McEvoy and Sandi, I reckon Big Boy is the safest option at his price and has shown that he is durable, while Sandi is Sandi

[GCSkiwi]

Currently Cox and Sandi.

I crunched a bunch of numbers and for me Cox is by far the safest reliable high scoring option. Always a top 5 ruck while those around him swing all over the place, and plays full seasons. The epitome of set and forget in my book. With that said, I'll probably agonize over whether I should swap to Minson in the seconds before the game. However in the last 5 years no top 5 ruck has backed up the next season with the exception of Cox...
Sandi because you cannot pass up that man at that price. Big injury risk sure but for a guy who can average 100-110 and you can pick him up for 300k you're laughing. If he can last until bye rounds he should become almost a straight swap for a top ruck. If they can manage his toe then he could be a very cheap keeper. A set and forget ruck of yesteryear with a basement pricetag. well worth the risk.

[tor01doc]

Hickey - to become a top 2 - 3 in due course.
Sandi - hit or miss but safe as everyone will have him. If he flops, then upgrade early. If he fires - maybe keep but prob turn into a reliable keeper if trades allow.

The $300000 saved gives me a much more likely keeper elsewhere. eg Turns Higgins into someone valued at $550 plus.

NB - that is today's thinking.

[RaisyDaisy]

Currently Cox and Sandi.

I crunched a bunch of numbers and for me Cox is by far the safest reliable high scoring option. Always a top 5 ruck while those around him swing all over the place, and plays full seasons. The epitome of set and forget in my book. With that said, I'll probably agonize over whether I should swap to Minson in the seconds before the game. However in the last 5 years no top 5 ruck has backed up the next season with the exception of Cox...
Sandi because you cannot pass up that man at that price. Big injury risk sure but for a guy who can average 100-110 and you can pick him up for 300k you're laughing. If he can last until bye rounds he should become almost a straight swap for a top ruck. If they can manage his toe then he could be a very cheap keeper. A set and forget ruck of yesteryear with a basement pricetag. well worth the risk.

My thoughts exactly mate. Age doesn't slow him down, his had a ripping preseason and with question marks over NicNat I am pretty sure I am going to change from Luey to Cox. The extra 50k is worth it

Luey is a safe pick, but he hasn't shown us he can go 150+, his ceiling seems relatively low

[Ricochet]

For those considering Cox... What about that Cox only averaged 98 with NicNat in the team last year?

[GCSkiwi]

For those considering Cox... What about that Cox only averaged 98 with NicNat in the team last year?

Here are their scores playing together last year (Cox, NicNat):
96, 102
84, 142
108, 148
91,104
132, 109
115, 114
107, 73
83, 79
70, 69
70, 78

On average NicNat scored 6ppg better than Cox in that time true. But they went up and down together mostly, I would rather have the safety of Cox's record of playing full seasons

[tor01doc]

For those considering Cox... What about that Cox only averaged 98 with NicNat in the team last year?

Rick,

Did you really say Goddard can be top 2 mids???  :o :o :o

Credibility crisis alert - wah wah wah.

[Ricochet]

For those considering Cox... What about that Cox only averaged 98 with NicNat in the team last year?

Here are their scores playing together last year (Cox, NicNat):
96, 102
84, 142
108, 148
91,104
132, 109
115, 114
107, 73
83, 79
70, 69
70, 78

On average NicNat scored 6ppg better than Cox in that time true. But they went up and down together mostly, I would rather have the safety of Cox's record of playing full seasons

Fair enough on wanting a durable ruckman but 107 to 98 is a big drop off in average. Maybe look at Goldy instead. Durable and limited competition.

[Ricochet]

For those considering Cox... What about that Cox only averaged 98 with NicNat in the team last year?

Rick,

Did you really say Goddard can be top 2 mids???  :o :o :o

Credibility crisis alert - wah wah wah.

Read the thread Doc. I have explained myself further, not that I really had to.

[Danzac]

Sandi and Hickey/HMac with Hale at F5

So many question marks amongst the 400/500 brigade, basically only McEvoy and Luey looking reliable in my price range.
Hickey and HMac are both week 2, so if one steps on a landmine I've got the other.

[tor01doc]

For those considering Cox... What about that Cox only averaged 98 with NicNat in the team last year?

Rick,

Did you really say Goddard can be top 2 mids???  :o :o :o

Credibility crisis alert - wah wah wah.

Read the thread Doc. I have explained myself further, not that I really had to.

Read? What is read?  :-\

[GCSkiwi]

For those considering Cox... What about that Cox only averaged 98 with NicNat in the team last year?

Here are their scores playing together last year (Cox, NicNat):
96, 102
84, 142
108, 148
91,104
132, 109
115, 114
107, 73
83, 79
70, 69
70, 78

On average NicNat scored 6ppg better than Cox in that time true. But they went up and down together mostly, I would rather have the safety of Cox's record of playing full seasons

Fair enough on wanting a durable ruckman but 107 to 98 is a big drop off in average. Maybe look at Goldy instead. Durable and limited competition.

Yep reasonable point but that also implies that the 107 to 98 point drop off was solely because of NicNat entering the team. Doesn't take into account that they both scored poorly in rounds 15,16, and 17 against Adelaide, Freo and Sydney, and that if you don't include those games Cox's average only drops from 107 to 105 when playing with NicNat... On the other hand, Goldstein was a top ruck last year but prior to that he languished at 9th (I think), and in the last 2 years only 2 players have held a position in the top 5 - Cox and Roughy. Roughy no longer a ruck takes him out, but in 2012 the top 5 were Cox, Maric, NicNat, Jacobs and Roughy, in 2013 the top 5 were Minson, Goldy, Cox, Roughy, McEvoy - in 2012 Minson and Goldy were down the bottom end of the top 10 while McEvoy wasn't in it, and In 2013 Jacobs and Maric fell to 8th and 9th and obviously NicNat didn't register...

I'd love to have confidence picking Goldy or Minson, but Cox is the only one who backs it up with numbers...

[tor01doc]

Cox represents better value too - on paper.

I might be tempted to reconsider my dislike of Cox.