He’s 31. One year proposition at best.
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Yeah, I wonder why, maybe because Nankervis has missed nearly half the season?
So their strategy is great cos why exactly?
I don’t know, Nankervis is a premiership ruckman. No big deal clearly in your eyes. Our ruck stocks are a joke. Bellchambers is a good ruckman but he’s nearing 30 and just picked up a calf/Achilles injury which could be the start of him becoming cooked. Zac Clarke is nothing more than a back-up, and I can’t see him being on the list next season. Then we have Draper, a guy who we are pinning our hopes on, but he’s yet to play a senior game, will be coming back from an ACL and could well be poached by another club (I hope that doesn’t happen). If Clarke goes, what’s the plan? IMO we can’t be going with a stop-gap option in Ryder or Jacobs, as we will be in a similar or worse position than we are now. If Draper leaves we are ■■■■■■. We need to be looking at the 23-26 year old age group. Guys who are dominating in the 2nd tier comps or someone at an AFL club who is crying out for an opportunity.
Richmond aren’t the only club that have used this strategy to get themselves a ruckman. Gold Coast (Witts), Geelong (Z.Smith, Stanley), Brisbane (Martin), Hawthorn (McEvoy), Sydney (Sinclair) have all looked to other clubs. It will be a real test of our ability to spot a player with potential crying out for a chance to get it right.
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So having 1 guy who’s missed most of the year is a good strategy, but having 1 guy who’s going to miss 6 weeks is a, quote, joke?
Because… the more injured one came from another club?
I think you and I have different concepts of what the word “strategy” means.
beautiful and perfect
FRFC
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I think old stagers are a perfect strategy for number 2 guys, when you have a very very promising number 3 kid.
The carrot (for rucks) is always gametime, and when you have an incumbent like we have, that carrot simply doesn’t exist - it’s a moot point.
Leunie was great at this, ZLarke looks sub optimal, but he’s on a 1 year deal for $13.50, so we go again next year.
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Nankervis is 24. Has plenty of years left. They also have Soldo who is 23 and able to come in when required and do a job. Bellchambers has 1, maybe 2 years at best left and has a lengthy injury record. He’s the only specialist ruckman on our list. Z.Clarke is 30 next year and not someone I see being with us long-term. Draper has not played a senior game at all and he could well be poached from us if he decides to accept the Saints offer, which would be a bitter blow after we have developed him for a good 3 years. Worst case scenario, Draper walks, Clarke leaves and Bellchambers is cooked. We are in dire straits. There is literally nothing left. A ruckman, perhaps 2, one aged 23-26 and another youngster (I like what I’ve seen from Bowman in the VFL) would be on my recruiting wishlist and that’s even if Draper stays.
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If if if.
I agree with you that if all our ruckmen fall over or leave in one off-season, it is not a good thing.
Great point, well done. Very strategical thinking.
Here’s one for you @Henry_s_Angry_Pills, Mark Pittonet at Hawthorn. Can’t get a game ahead of McEvoy or Ceglar. Currently having a very good season in the VFL at Box Hill, averaging 16 disposals and 37 hit outs a game. He’s 23, it’s his 5th season in the AFL system and he’s played 7 AFL games. Stands 203cm 105kgs. He’d be a ready to go player, one you could offer a 3 year deal to come across. He’d be in a far better position at Essendon than staying at the Hawks. Bellchambers has 1-2 left most likely. Draper (if he stays) is still a development/work in progress player. We can’t pin all our hopes on a guy that is yet to play an AFL game. Pittonet would be a far better option than getting Ryder/Jacobs in for 2 years and not looking more long-term. I’d be happy with, for instance, Bellchambers as the veteran guy, Pittonet as a ready to go option, Draper still a young prospect and rookie Bowman from the VFL team.
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wonder if HAP could help himself from being so contrarian?
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R What we need is
- Re sign Draper - better than any draft pick. Young ruckman with his ability are a rare and valuable commodity
- Look for a backup who is better than Clark, but is a backup to Draper - Jacobs, Pittonet, whoever
- Absolutely ignore Ryder
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Makes me feel ill just to have to picture Judas in an Essendon jumper again.
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He thought spreadsheets meant he was working in hospitality
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He’d be a marginal upgrade on ZLarke, and a bit younger.
He’d still be #3, which is where he stands at Hawthorn.
Surely Preuss is the answer
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He would’ve been, but we missed the boat on that one…
He’s playing VFL for a bottom side on a 3yr deal north of $400k
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I’m still absolutely perplexed he went and signed for them when he could’ve walked to about 5-6 clubs in the comp and been their #1.
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AND choose a club with the best ruckman in the competition to compete with.
Clearly he has learning difficulties.
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