So, the discussion is up late this week. Namely because Ive been very slack in getting it all put together.

Infact, *so* slack, I havent even added my own take to it.

Its a good thing then that just about all our writers have come up with their own take on the rucks this week.

So, this weeks topic: With Cox, Jolly and Clark all disappointing so much, what should we do?

Kicking it off over the break, with his thoughts is Knighty
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Two rounds in and we’re already having to discuss those annoying ruckmen again. All these problems are probably why Grant Thomas preferred not to have them. Anyway down to business. If you were smart enough to pick Sandilands/Kreuzer/Seaby give yourselves a pat on the back, you can officially stop reading. In particular well done if you picked Seaby, for you look like getting excellent value for your dollar (compared to those who picked Hille/NicNat anyway). If you didn’t get him at the start the boat has not sailed yet, but think carefully-do you really think he is a keeper? He is only viable if you believe that he is, and won’t go back to his WCE days of pumping out consistent 60s. For the rest of us who were sucked in though, here are my views on the rest of the popular ruck options whose scores have failed to reach the same height as their bodies.

Clark-struggling with illness and more importantly, a lot less time in the ruck. All the numbers seem to suggest that while Leuey is in the team, he will struggle-and even if he does go down, Charman will be fit pretty soon as well, which may force him into even less time in the middle. TRADE up to Sandilands or down to Kreuzer (unless anyone is volunteering to take Leuenberger out for us?)

Jolly-struggling to adjust to the new role at a club that isn’t as advantageous to ruckmen. I still say HOLD, as he hasn’t had positional change and is likely to come good.

Cox-probably not match fit yet. Will definitely come good, but consider going down to Kreuzer if you don’t have him-that extra dough could be used to do a quick upgrade later. 50/50

Hille-HOLD. Don’t sideways trade here-I firmly believe Hille will improve. He has looked reasonable, and since traditionally his sort of injury takes a full year to recover fully from, expect him to improve from round 5 onwards.

Tippett-Really really disappointing. But the whole Crow team has been. I have faith in him. HOLD.

With all trades though remember-you haven’t lost value until you trade that person out. If you have any doubts at all, I would say save the trade. It’s a SuperCoach cliché, but its true-its a marathon, not a sprint. And remember-no matter how bad your rucks look, it’s better than what Hawthorn has

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Lucas originally had more than this, but I had to edit it back to his dot points cause it was twice as long.

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1) Poor Premiums:

a. Cox – needs work and time in ruck – will get better but that will take time
b. Clark – needs fitness but is a premium; the question also is there surrounding time in ruck with Leuenberger
c. Jolly – needs time for structure but time in ruck appears also an issue
d. Fraser – time in the ruck is the issue – won’t get better
e. Ryder – time in the ruck is the issue – won’t get better

Interesting enough, the main issue with all 5 of these underperformers is time in the ruck. The only other is Tippett, who like Clark appears to be injury stricken. Players like this can be traded or nursed back to health. A tough call.



2) Performing Premiums:

a. Sandilands – doing well and a good bet to keep it up.
b. McIntosh – will be reasonable but when Petrie returns there may be a squeeze with Goldstein. Lucky that the North forward line is so average.
c. Kreuzer – hard to gauge. Looks much better than last year but against weaker opposition in Richmond, and a weakened Clark. Clark v Kreuzer was the intriguing duel of last week.



3) Value Players:

a. Jamar – not expected. Surprise of the year
b. Ottens – can he stay fit? History says maybe, but wouldn’t be getting in
c. Naitanui – looking good at the moment. Maybe can’t keep stratospheric scores, but 80s average appears in reach
d. Seaby – started well. Not much opposition though. Will surely drop off, question is how much
e. Mumford – no2 so I would think he and Seaby will eat each others scores after a while
f. Goldstein – steady option but sharing with McIntosh – will hurt each other
g. Renouf – may die soon from overwork and busted fingers
h. Leuenberger – started well but can’t see him getting as much TOG when Clark returns to fitness.
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Coming in from Chris-
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The rucks appear to be causing some serious grief out there this year, and i am personally in the same boat as many with a Clark/Hille combo that absolutely sucks.

I can see a couple of options available and it obviously depends on your situation. I ALWAYS allow myself 2 trades pre round 3 to try and get the team right. I use them in the following order:

1. Get the best rookies. So if you dont have Barlow, burn a trade NOW!!!
2. Get a full damn team on the park. If you have copped any 0s (me) then fix it!
3. Get the low priced improver you missed...Maguire, Malceski, Waters etc...
4. Fix the keeper mistakes, eg, missing out on Riewoldt, ROK or Brown.

So, for the rucks, i would say, if you dont need to do any trades for the first 3 reasons, then i can see sense in bringing in say Sandi. If you have Cox, then bring in Sandi...Cox will go down in value SOO much, that everyone with Hille should be looking at jumping on Cox (eh eh eh) post Round 6 or 7 i would think. If you have Jolly, i say keep him, this is how Jolly is, horrible 1 week, 150 the next. If you got Clark, i still say stick with him, he has the most potential of all rucks i think, for those with him we just have to wait for him to wake up. A nice 9 day break (i think) should do him the world of good.

And the trading order i would go is, Sandi is clearly the best, then id go with Kreuz, then Seaby.

Hopefully this might help ease some pain....

Buster Gonads
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And finally rounding out the discussion, our resident DreamTeamer has thrown in his thoughts on Hille and Clark.
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OK, So the Rucks are causing you some headaches? We are here to help!

So, let’s all step back, clear our heads and think, we did I pick these guys? Rash trading from only 2 rounds on football is going to chew up your trades and hurt you later down the track.

David Hille

David suffered a tear to ACL in the ANZAC Day clash early in season 2009, this ruined his 2009 campaign and sidelined him for remainder of 2009 and had an effect on his 2010 pre season. If you picked him, you picked him because he is underpriced, majorly underpriced by 32 points on his 2008 average. We all knew his pre season wasn’t as complete as we and the mad himself wouldn’t have liked, but, the signs were still there that he could still make you some money at the very least.

He hasn’t had the best return thus far, but you must take into account numerous things, take a look at his opponents thus far, Geelong and Fremantle, one the current premiers, and the other with arguably the best ruckman in the current game. General fitness, and picking up the pace of the game is also going to take some time, currently he is spending some more time up forward than he normally would and this will affect his scores. Give the lad some time and he will repay the faith, a 75 point average isn’t out of the question.


Mitch Clark

A lot of Dreamteam coaches would have picked this guy in their side as their number one ruckman and selected him on the basis that they would receive a 90 odd ppg average. A ruckman they can select at the start of the season and not have to worry about if you will. 2009 saw Clark ‘break out’, increasing his output by 45 points per game on his 2008 average, becoming the Lions number one ruckman. So far is season 2010 Clark hasn’t delivered to these expectations. The big man looks slow, tiered, disinterested. All though can be put down to the flu, there have been comments of O.P and other such injuries hampering Clark, but the flu is the most likely explanation. If so this is nothing but a slow start for him, and hopefully we will see a return to his 09 form.
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So there you go, four solid takes on the Ruck situation. I hope it helps.