Thought since draft is over we could get some specific threads happening and discussion on players to keep eye out this preseason. Starting with the blokes drafted. Orren Stephenson (Geel) - 29 years old and Cats have already said they plan on playing him. Lock and load him on your bench Billy Longer (Bris) - Will probably be behind Leuenberger & Hudson. Jarrod Witts & Corey Gault (Coll) - Cant see either them playing next year, unless Jolly, Wood go down. But think would still behind couple others? Tom Downie (GWS) - Dont know much about him, but given they have Giles & Brogan he wont be first choice. Sentanta O'hailpin - hahahahahaha James Sellar (Melb) - same as above Todd Elton (Rich) - Cant see him getting games next year with recent addition of Maric and also Vickory in the side. Jay Lever (St.k) - More long term project, cant see him getting any games next year Figured dont really need to go over the other rucks at this stage, we already know what they can all produce. But couple cheaper options would have to be: Trent West Mathew Kruezar (all depends on discount) Ivan Maric (if your feeling extremely gutsy)
ah yes was just about to add him to the list.. Is that a record for quickest reply to a new thread ever. Dont think it was even been up for 2mins!!! Stephenson & Giles is looking like the best bench combo.
Ruckman generally take a few years to develop, are there any that got drafter last year or the year before who would be in line for a game?
What if Sam Rowe gets R/F eligibility? Mature aged recruit in a team screaming out for a decent forward, elite midfield kicking it down his throat.
The choice of premium rucks next year appears to be one of the harder decisions to make. Sandilands Cox Mumford Are the stand-out choices - but who do you leave out? Is Goldstein going to have another cracking year? Or is the return of HMAC going to curve his output? The same could be said of Leuenberger and the recruitment of Hudson Will McEvoy & Jacobs build on his break-out year? Is Paddy Ryder finally the choice his talent demands given Essendon only have 3 genuine rucks this year and Hille & Bellchambers are rather injury/suspension prone? Will Darren Jolly return to some semblence of form in the 2nd best team in the country? Decisions!
On Sandilands, whilst he is truly a premium ruckman when he plays its also a major concern at how many games he misses these days. He isnt exactly a spring chicken anymore. With a new coach and the fact they kept all 3 big men, there is also concern at how he is used. Will Griffen spend more time in the ruck to help nurse him through to potential finals? For me theres to many question marks over him. Think id rather take the punt on the younger brigade.
Honestly can't see Derickx leaping up the Tigers rucks considering they traded to get Maric. What i'm personally waiting to see is what ruckmen are given R/F MPP status.
I agree with you Bearfly. I'm expecting Ryder to be R/F this year and as long as at least one semi-decent rookie-priced ruck (i.e. better prospect than J.Tippett was this year) is also R/F, then Ryder will be a lock in my Forward line.
Rhys Stanley should hopefully be R/F this year again. Will get discount for only playing 1 game so should be sub $200K. Guess depends on how much you want to pay above rookie price for one!!
A lot hinges on two things: -The magic number -The number of bench players These two factors could change the structure of my team.
First post Who else do you think is a R/F possibility? Vickery? And going the other way, do you think Petrie will keep his R/F status?
Consider the byes! Notable big men and their team's byes: Round 11 Cox Goldstein Leuenberger Naitanui Petrie Jacobs McIntosh Giles Round 12 Mumford Sandilands Ryder Jamar Stephenson West Jolly Round 13 McEvoy Warnock Kreuzer Z.Smith Lobbe Bailey *** I've going for a Leuy-McEvoy combo atm, keeping an eye on the WCE/KAN ruck battles over the pre-season. Mummy and Sandi can't discount. R3 will be Big O and 4 will likely be Todd Spudton if he gets R/F.
Welcome aboard Patrician! I'm thinking McEvoy, NicNat, Giles and Stephensen at the moment but there's still a lot of water to pass under the bridge before round 1
It's hard when thinking of each position in isolation as the byes are going to hit hard in all positions. If you're planning on using MPP to bring in a forward to cover your rucks then you might not want to pick a premium from round 12 as somebody posted in the FWD thread the carnage that is going to take place in that round. With this in mind my initial thoughts are; Sam Jacobs, Ben McEvoy, Jon Giles and a rookie priced FWD/RUC MPP with Ryder down FWD(If he gets MPP)coming in to the RUC to cover in round 11/13. Thoughts behind McEvoy and Jacobs is they are the two ruckman with the least support hence having to shoulder more of the load and eating more of the supercoach pie.
Interesting that Sandilands and Mumford have a bye in the same round. Hudson to affect Leaunberger's output?
Matty C One could put carnage into every week in the bye rounds for every position let's be honest. The key is moderation and not overloading. Or if you do, you overload initially in R12/R13 bye prospects, and kill them off after the R11 has gone through. That's where guys like Gray, Vickery, even Walker can be used in your team to start with, then switch when the bye comes around. All 4 rucks are up for grabs at the moment, but McEvoy appears to be the one that's most likely to get in the team.