If Smack stays in when all three ruck men are fit, then Belly is a better partner because he can be dangerous as a resting ruckman forward. Leuy is probably our best traditional ruckman but he isnāt as good around the ground as Smack. Nice problem to have in a couple of weeks when are all fit. May even get an insight this week if they decide to pick Belly.
Itād certainly be ironic if the no third man up rule along with the interchange caps spelled the death of the bean pole ruckmen given that appears to be half the reason the AFL introduced them
Pure tap ruckman have been out of the game since Cox and it all started with Maddern.
Offer nothing around the ground and you wonāt go far. Itās my biggest concern about the Burger, whilst he is a better tap than Belly and smack he is not as good around the ground.
At least with the three we have a varying type to choose from.
Hopefully each can impart some knowledge and Draper becomes a combo of all three. The burgers tap work, bellys marking and smacks ground game.
I reckon all 3 would get slapped around in the ruck by Sandi/Goldstein/Gawn. Pretty sure Gawn did just as convincing a job on Leuey last year as Sandi did on Smack in 2015.
Smack just does stuff around the middle when heās not contesting the ruck.
As much as Leueyās by far our best tap, he makes us a lot slower. And weāre pretty well covered for slow.
He was pretty good, but playing him in the ruck for much longer isnāt sustainable. He got a favorable matchup, but conceded two goals and six free kicks. As soon as Looney or TBC gain full fitness, Iād be bringing one of them in.
He didnāt concede 6 free kicks in the ruck. Most of them were around the ground and some of them were pretty dubious. Not that I think heās a permanent full time ruck either, but still.
Technically he suits playing next few rucks in Stefan Martin and Kreuzer as similar types and he can provide impact around ground like them.
But then if we had Leuey heād be pretty much getting a clear win at tap outs and so our dominance at stoppages/centre bounces would be beneficial for side.
Smack canāt be our main ruck against any of the Gawn / Sandi / Goldstein types however. Will get pantsed