Rucking Duties

[What'sinaname]

I've got a way out idea, and it's a really wild idea.....play the ruckman on our list!

[1eyedpie]

Frampton is the answer with Rusco covering for him. Mcstay/ Johnson to relieve ruck. This will maintain our early season structures up forward down back and midfield. Frampton May not win the ruck duels but he may nullify them more and be more useful around the ground with his marking presence.

[MatthewBoydFanClub]

They've tried Mihocek in defence before and it hasn't worked. Also, Frampton was tried in the ruck after half time. That didn't work. We're left with two alternatives - Moore or Steene.

[stui magpie]

If we played Moore in the ruck, he would be the best ruckman on our list since his father, but we can't do it. You don't send a Ferrari to plow a field, we need him at CHB.

[Big T]

Although it wasn’t the whole deciding factor, last night showed we need a competent first ruck. Frampton is an AFL ruckman. Unfortunately with Howe down, Will Kelly also injured and Charlie Dean out for the season, we don’t have a lot of flexibility down back to be able to take Frampton out of defence.

Unfortunately I think that means we’re going to have to use Checkers for what we originally drafted him for. As a key defender to release Frampton into the ruck. Or we send McStay back for a few weeks.

It’s less than ideal, but it’s better than being uncompetitive in the ruck all game. A fwd line of Johnson, one of Checkers/McStay, plus all the smalls is still functional a comparative to what we played with all last season.

At the end of the day, last night showed enough that we need to playing with Frampton as first ruck for the next few weeks.

Like this plan

[Take_a_Screamer]

Yes, Frampton is the real deal at 201cm!
Replace Frampton at full back with Wilson (194cm). This move has the least disruption.
Or, rather than Wilson, someone a bit bigger and taller from the seconds? Don't know who.

McStay to remain in the fwd line as intended.

[RudeBoy]

I'm not sure that shifting Frampton to the ruck is our best option, but no doubt he could spend some time there. However, it would be disastrous to move Checkers to defence. He is far and away our best forward, and is in good form.

I think we should bring in Wilson, to add a bit of height, and to help spread the ruck load around several players. I'd also bring in Ed Allan, to give us some more height, as were badly beaten in the air last night. Anything we do for the next month or so will just be a bandaid solution. It's not ideal, but if we can manage to win 3 of our next 5 games, we should be right to go on a massive winning streak once we get our rucks back.

[ANNODAM]

No, not Moore in the ruck, huge risk, we need him at CHB.

[inxs88]

McStay's resolve, effort and oomph was an abomination last night!

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

When’s Cox back until we get him back we will not solve this ruck issue

[Jezza]

When’s Cox back until we get him back we will not solve this ruck issue

Won't be back for a few more weeks.

Fly confirmed that he'll need to have another scan soon to see how he's progressing.

[watt price tully]

When’s Cox back until we get him back we will not solve this ruck issue

Won't be back for a few more weeks.

Fly confirmed that he'll need to have another scan soon to see how he's progressing.

Much as I would prefer is to win I can’t see how Collingwood can win without a Ruckman. It’s not just the centre clearances but around the ground and assisting the defence. That’s why I think we might need to go with OS. StKilda’s Marshall is an excellent mobile and strong ruckman. OS might be thrown to the wolves but the other options risk major structural changes and the consequences that might be associated with them.

[MatthewBoydFanClub]

I’d prefer playing an actual ruckman like Steene against another ruckman, like Marshall, and watch Marshall dismantle him, than play McStay, who isn’t suited to playing in the ruck, or Frampton, who is just finding his feet as a back man. Reason? Steene has to learn sooner or later. Why not against a quality ruckman like Marshall? Steene could end up being our main ruckman for the next 10 years. Hardening him up against quality ruckmen could accelerate his training at AFL level if it doesn’t destroy him. This will not only be a challenge for Steene, but a challenge for McRae as a coach as well. Interesting next few weeks to watch the team. Just don’t expect the wins to come as easily as the first three.

[Magpietothemax]

When’s Cox back until we get him back we will not solve this ruck issue

Won't be back for a few more weeks.

Fly confirmed that he'll need to have another scan soon to see how he's progressing.

Much as I would prefer is to win I can’t see how Collingwood can win without a Ruckman. It’s not just the centre clearances but around the ground and assisting the defence. That’s why I think we might need to go with OS. StKilda’s Marshall is an excellent mobile and strong ruckman. OS might be thrown to the wolves but the other options risk major structural changes and the consequences that might be associated with them.

We need to accept that we won't win the ruck contest, and plan accordingly. I like the idea of a short ""mongrel ' ruck, who just tackles Marshall as soon as he grabs it, and our mids set up ready for Marshall to punch the ball afield. The question is whether the coaches think OS is capable of taking marks and providing a tall option around the field? If he cannot consistently do that at VFL level, then it would seem selecting him in the seniors would just be a waste of one player in the game.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

How about this Johnson as key ruck with Frampton.

Reef covers Frampton down back when he goes into the ruck.

Problem solved.

Or have Moore at FB and Reef can go to CHB lets say.

Along we have Murphy who can ruck also.

Keep the forward line set up the way it is.