Poll – Ruck Problem?

Written by Schwarzwalder on March 25 2019

This is one set of polls I was hoping to hold off on till next week (at the earliest) but Macca has requested it in the Polling Station so………

With only four Ruckmen hitting the ton in Rd1, are they being hit by the new rules in play by the AFL?  Or was it just a various set of circumstances that slowed down the big fellas on the weekend.  For the record, I’m stressing to hold off for now but some are already getting itchy fingers……..

 

Do you think the new rules are having an effect on Ruckmen?

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Will you be trading out any Rucks as a result?

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If YES, then......?

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34 thoughts on “Poll – Ruck Problem?”

  1. I watched goldy score 50 in the first quarter . The rules haven’t seemed to have changed the game enough to dramatically affect their scoring .
    I’m hoping it was just a strange week and I’m sure the big two will bounce back .

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    1. yes mate, I’m hoping so too … but there was quite a few asking the questions last night and during the weekend … and some nasty little posts as well …

      So, we aim to please the masses and hopefully throwing this poll up will satisfy many! I can’t find the gent who specifically asked for it, but it was in the Two up thread last night ….

      Also, Goldy just stopped for the rest of the game … sadly I didn’t get to watch it to see what was happening …

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      1. It was me. I don’t condone trading yet. But still think it’s relevant to plan ahead. And try to find out what’s going on. A bad week or a shift in the game.

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    2. That first quarter was also when Goldstein kicked his only goal of the game. Interestingly all the ruckmen who tonned up all kicked goals, with Stanley being the only exception. It seemed like the only way for the rucks to do well on the weekend was to hit the scoreboard.

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  2. Adam’s stats from last night on the ruck performances from this year to last …

    March 24, 2019 at 10:26 pm
    B Grundy:
    Had 7 Hitouts to Advantage from 34 Hitouts for a HTA of 20.59% against Geelong.
    Last season averaged 12.27 HTA and a HTA rate of 31.84%.

    Before Rd1 11 of his past 46 games (inc finals) in the past 2 seasons he has had less than 10 HTA.
    Only 7/46 with 7 or less HTA and from RD9 2017 he has recorded 7 or less HTA only 3 times from 38 matches.

    M Gawn:
    21 hitouts and 8 Hitouts to Advantage.
    14th time in his past 71 matches (inc finals) he has recorded less than 10 HTA.
    Recorded less than 10 HTA twice last season with only 6 matches below 15 HTA.

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    1. With Grundy I think its also important to note he still had his 18 possessions (14 contested). As pointed out above he only had 7HTA, add 6 clangers and it hurt him.

      Change those numbers to 10 HTA and 3 Clangers you gain almost 30 points.

      The Preuss / Gawn situation worries me more. I had Goldy all preseason and changed to Gawn last minute. Still convinced both will be fine though.

      I also think most of the outrage this week has been from people who had either Gawn or Grundy captain. An 80 is easier to cop from your top ruckman when he isnt wearing the armband…

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  3. but….what if, hypothetically speaking, Preuss is selected this week?

    Would that change your mind?

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    1. I think preuss will be named so trying to stay positive chillo!
      A) gawn can rest fwd and kick a couple goals/take marks. 80/20 split would be nice
      B) When he does go in the ruck give 110% efforts being more fresh

      saturday he was hands on knees on the 1st quarter and looked exhausted.

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      1. Mav , earller this year i almost mocked why melb would play pruess along side max , but if that big unit can take some heat off the best technical ruck in the afl it might be worth while.

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  4. I have both and will hang on to them, not wasting trades.
    Just as an aside the must have super premo 5th most expensive player ,danger, didn’t crack the ton either, who is getting rid of him?
    Yes of course i have him and no of course i wouldn’t think of trading him.

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    1. I think there are a lot of us SC coaches writing emails to Scott about just WTF is he STILL doing playing probably the games best contested midfielder so much time up forward!!!

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      1. To keep him fresh?! The game’s getting quicker every year.
        Normally such a good kick, he should have kicked 4 goals last Friday and scored 120+. We wouldn’t be complaining then!?

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  5. Rage trade Ruckmen or hold, I am holding for Rd2 if Grundy does not perform then Westhoff might get a jumper. With a 224 BE and possible drop of $100K before he gets on top of thing again I cannot afford. Oliver is going the same direction.

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    1. You pick these players to keep them. Value drops aren’t all that concerning unless you believe they will properly tank (e.g Billings, Hibberd). Otherwise, you’re in for the long haul. Gawn’s worst game in his career and its almost 90? Seems like a keep to me.

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      1. How quickly we forget. Round 1 was a looooong way from Gawns worst game of his career
        He started in 2011 four games 2×50, 1×80 1×39
        2012- didn’t get a game
        2013 -14, 18, 39, 53, 55 among his 13 games
        2014 – 28, 36, 41, 45 among his 9 games
        2015 – getting better but 67, 69, 74 among his 13 games that also included a career high 150
        2016 – 49, 56, 63, in his 22 games that included a new career high of 172
        2017 – 27, 56, 57, 67, 78, 79 among 13 games
        2018 – 76, 82, 79inPF 22 games

        Games p/season whole career
        2011 – 4
        2012 – none
        2013 – 13
        2014 – 9
        2015 – 13
        2016 – 22
        2017 – 13
        2018 – 22
        2019 – Pattern suggests 13

        In Summary
        He has only ever played 22 games in a season twice
        2015 and 2018 were the ONLY years that he hasn’t two or more sub-60 games

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    2. SC rule 101 out the window already after one round ??NEVER sideways trade. Instead, ask why that player was chosen originally and has that changed enough to cost a trade.

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  6. I think it’s the HTB change with Grundy and Gawn trying to take pocession rather than HTA to their respective gun midfields. With the wake up call for both clubs hopefully normal programming will resume.

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  7. A (crap) limerick:

    They all had an interrupted pre-season
    Yet you picked them all for a reason
    Now they drop a shit score
    You raise your arms in uproar
    But to trade them out now would be treason

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    1. Beautifully written word…
      Some would say absurd…
      So keep those trades tight….
      You will sleep well at night…..
      And not have traded for a t….

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  8. I’m holding Grundy. He will respond. Zac Merrett, however, I’m not so sure about. Couldn’t get near it on the weekend. I’ll be watching him with great interest this weekend.

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    1. Zerrett as opposed to grawndy and oliver is that there are so many options around his price and he’s a serious BAD pod if this continues, which is the main concern(if he were at 15% or more ownership i wouldn’t care). I’m not going through a hibberd billings thing, 1 more week for him. He’s to unique to leave in.

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      1. I wasn’t too worried about about Merrett… until I watched Footy Classified earlier tonight. They showed footage of an appalling lack of effort from him (as well as many other Essendon players). And not just late in the game – some of it was as early as the first quarter. Matthew Lloyd then went on to say he was concerned that there might be some internal issues at Essendon (although he didn’t say exactly what).

        I’m now officially worried.

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  9. I’m not sure who … but someone here or maybe on another SC site identified that during the JLT the RUCs were getting less SC points (for the same output) as last year. Does anyone have a view of that?

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  10. Thought one of the most interesting things I heard in the preseason was Duckwood’s interview with Hamish McLoughledick on his drive to the ‘g.

    What I took out of that, was that the ubers can take a few games to ‘get into’ the season. Young kids haring around from minute one. The pace always a little quicker than the year before etc.
    The premos start hitting their straps from Rds3-4 and rule over all-comers from 10-18, before injuries and persistent knocks effect them detrimentally.

    What that says to me is that we may get the odd crap score from premos early, but they are only going to get better and you’re going to want as many of them as you can get BEFORE the byes, to maximise you’re scoring through the main body of the season.

    It also suggests you might need trades to cover injuries, rested players and capitalising on breakouts later for the run home.

    I know they all had interrupted pre-seasons so it makes even more sense that their SC output would be down on last year and in some cases markedly. But personally, I haven’t seen anything to suggest they won’t/can’t turn it around, and quickly, given the respective stages their careers are at. They’ll all be better for a run. Game plans’ll be tweaked to combat oppo strategies, to accommodate new rules and to maximise the impact of their match-winners (our ubers).

    We’re going to need all the trades we’ve got to have a successful season, so why waste them after ONE shit game? At least give them one more week to see if there’s any change. Even then, I’d be sceptical. In the majority of cases, we are likely to want them back in a few weeks. Does that feeling sound at all familiar? Do we not have the same conversations every year?

    With all due respect, Hibberd and Billings are NOT Grundy, Gawn or Oliver (sorry Zach), nor are they ever likely to be. Comparing them in the same way, I believe, is asking for trouble.

    Scenario:
    You trade Grawndy out for Goldy (next best ruck) and the Hoff (looks fit, dpp and different bye).
    Over the next four weeks, Goldy has a few hard match-ups coming up and averages 99 and the Hoff doesn’t kick 5 every week and averages 97.
    Meanwhile, Grawndy slowly improve to both ton up in Rd3 before producing consecutive 120s in Rds 4 and 5. You want them back, but can’t quite afford the straight trades. You’ve already used two trades ($260-300k) and are likely going to need three more to get them back. More, the longer you leave it.

    I’m not saying this is going to happen, but it is far more likely than the opposite holding true.

    I must stress that this is just my own personal thoughts on the issue. If I’m wrong, then I’m likely fu3ked. They’re your individual teams and you should do what YOU think is right, for your team. I’m sharing my view and what I plan on doing. Nothing. I learnt my lessons on early trades last year and the pain is still very fresh.

    Have fun!

    PS I can’t sleep for some bloody reason 😉

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    1. I tend to look broader than just the player in round 1 and 2. If the team is playing crap football, expect crap scores.

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      1. I agree mate, but COL and MEL are not suddenly gonna be crap teams.
        Again, it’s just one game. I know I wouldn’t want to be playing them this week!

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        1. Was thinking mode ESS, SWAN and NORTH as examples. Not the result but how they played. For example, I have Smith as a Fwd POD in F2 and he may come good, but the way the Hawks played, I would maybe consider trading in Worpel now as he may be a the break out Hawks need to fill the Mitchell space.
          Haven’t pulled the trigger yet but I’m not afraid to use a trade now if it gains me 25+ points and extra cash to spend elsewhere.
          Just an example 🙂

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    2. Right on. Barring anything dramatic, I have no intentions of trading Gawn or Grundy. Gawn will figure out a way to overcome the targeting campaign teams like Port and the Eagles have effectively used, Grundy will get back to full fitness and they’ll both be pumping out excellent scores.

      Stickin’ to my guns.

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  11. Even if you were to trade Grawndy out (not currently, I think, a wise choice), the emergence of Westhoff as a pick concerns me slightly. Not every week you kick 5… – and it just proves he’s no longer in the center but has been moved forward.

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  12. Go to Footywire and check the 2019 season stats for metres gained in particular reference to the midfielders. A much larger percentage of midfielders at the top and a huge increase in the numbers per game when compared to season 2018.

    Only one game of data, however, this would suggest that the ruck men may have to move to the next contest further. Only watched a couple of games but in the Freo game Goldstein tired badly after half time and Darcy worked himself into the game getting on top of Goldie. Would suggest that maybe teams will be looking at 2nd ruck who can play forward. Goldstein rucked 96%, Darcy 88%

    No runners on the field during play may be affecting the ruck men as they are not the sharpest tools in the shed going around.

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  13. Trade Gawn or Grundy – Yes.
    Get the HOFF – NO NO NO
    Hoff has a history of big games early in the season then having a sleep on gameday for a few weeks and running out the season like a yo-yo.
    He’s very resilient in that he never goes off with an injury but absorb the following before you consider putting him in your team

    2013 -started with- 100, 163, 150, 140 and then knocked out 53, 48, 70, 81 the remaining 13 games included 5 tons (2×130+) 43, 64, 2×80+ and 4×90+

    2014 – 119, 73, 77, 123, 99, 42, 40, 83, 66, 116, 88,98,155 + 3-sub 70’s, 4x 100+ (2×120+)

    2015 – didn’t go 100+ til round 9 4 sub-80 scores before that and 3xsub 90 after inc 61

    2016 -109, 24(no injury), 85, 99, 28(no injury), 88, 121, 80, 73, + 3 more tons (2×120+) 49, 4x sub80

    2017 – 5×100+ for the year (2×130+), 2xsub50 (no injury) 3xsub60, 5xsub80,

    2018 (His best year) 140, 111, 82, 88, 106, 147, 85, 116, 89, 75, 92, 114, 106, 120, 96, 88, 82, 85, 73, 86, 126, 120

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