I'll never understand why we didn't draft a ruckman with picks #9 (Cam Wood)and/or #25 (Maric/Fabian Deluca) in the 2004 draft.

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There is no footy god

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Agree with many of the posts in this thread. Make do with McLaren and Archie for the moment. Even throw in Lance and Kouta for stints as around the groud followers (they might not win the hit outs, but they should win more possessions than their opponents - at least it would give them a 'valuable' role within the team).

Groom Aisake for the future.

If we can 'pinch' a genuine young ruckman (like Laycock) for free in the PSD, then do so, unless there's something else special on offer.

And continue to draft one young ruckman in the draft every year until we find some decent combinations. However don't 'reach' for a ruckman, by picking above their trade value (as great as our immediate need, they're pretty unlikely to make an immediate impact anyway). Consider some of those 'young' ruckmen who've gone to the Draft Camp in recent years but didn't get drafted.

Appoint Dempsey as a full-time assistant coach (if we can afford it).

Stefchook wrote



This idea has some merit....."at least it would give them a 'valuable' role within the team"...being more 'mobile' rucks than most of their opponents would be.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Any reason why we couldn't groom Kennedy who is now 198cm (and supposedly played ruck as a junior) as a ruckman/key forward? Remember Jeff White is only 195cm and Troy Simmonds 196cm.

Setanta is 199cm, athletic and now looks at home at AFL level. Could he be developed into a ruckman along with his brother Aisake?

In the meantime draft Hansen who can be our versatile tall defender/key forward. (I love the sound of Hansen )

Any thoughts?

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There is no footy god

I didn't see the WAFL GF, but Subiaco ruckman Luke Newick at 196 cm and 105 kg, was one of the BOG. It was his athleticism and midfield game that won him the accolades.

The moral of the story is that if you do not win at the bounces, you can expose/ beat your opponent around the ground; that's what White and Simmonds do (White does have a mean spring on him though).

Cox is the perfect ruckman; wins the hitouts and gains 20 odd possessions per game as a midfielder/ link man. Great all round game.

StKilda tried the same with small but mobile ruckmen, but Thomas chose that path.

We have McLaren and Bryan at 196 and 197cm, but they really don't impose themselves around the ground; useless as ruckmen in my books. French was the same, although has genuine height on his side; didn't hurt them at the bounce, and was ineffective around the ground, rarely picking up 10 or more possessions.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

How far off is Aisake?

And before you answer...

How far off was Setanta earlier in the year? Or probably better question 'How far off did it look like Setanta was earlier this year?'

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Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

I would probably expect Aisakie to perhaps get promoted next season if we have an inujury..........just to give him an opportunity. Maybe play 2 or 3 games in the seniors, i'd be wrapped with that! But he's not ready yet. Doing well thou!

I always knew Setanta would play this season. I had alot of faith in him. But i didn't know he would make this much of an impact!
I had a few drinks with some Hawthorn supporters the other night who all commented on how good he looks. Said he was a monster.
I figured he would have maybe played half a dozen games and would do ok but still need another year. But now? Well shit, he looks the goods to be in the starting line-up for most on next season?

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

Given we are in development mode for the next few years - I am happy to muddle on with Bryan/McLaren/Deluca - whilst Aisake is getting ready to explode.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Unless something falls in our lap in the ND or PSD then I'd be happy to go with McLaren/Deluca.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Does anyone at the Club know we are in development mode?

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Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

Agro,

I reckon Aisake looks more natural then Setanta.
Hoping he makes it!! Looks a likely type from what I've seen

Yep so do I. When I wrote "explode" I meant that he would become a great player.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

MY PLAN WOULD BE:

Draft Everitt (still the best tap ruckman going around).

Bryan/Dukes/McLaren - dump 2 out of the 3 (need to keep at least one in case Everitt falls over)

Draft a youngster in the draft or entice another youngster from another club. He can then learn off Everitt for 2, possibly 3 years.

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Confucius say "Virginity like bubble, one prick all gone"

The following link gives an idea statiscally of the ruck prospects in the U18's. Not too many others either eligble or really classed as ruckman in height. Also not sure if any of these three may have grown over the season.


Jonathon Lee - Bendigo - 3/10/1988 - 195cms - 86kgs
Matthew "Ear" Lobe - Eastern Ranges - 12/02/1988 - 195cms - 79kgs
Justin Hardy - Smellarat - 14/1/1988 - 195cms - 93kgs

Sullivan and Kreuzer are not eligible this year.

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

Daniel Currie form the knights is aroung the 200cm mark, needs a bit of work, but could be OK for our last pick.

Would still prefer one of Renouf, Hampson, Tippet or Jacobs though. With Leuenberger looking out of reach.