That would be a very big call.
Although the mid season draft does give an added level of insurance
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McKernan gets demolished by the taller rucks of the league, heās a fwd/part time ruck.
Draper nowhere near ready to go up against them either IMO
And shifting JD to play a permanent ruck role would be madness.
We are fkd if Belly goes down so need someone else, preferably someone whose got significant AFL experience.
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I actually think a Mckernan/Daniher partnership would be ok, you would add another tall to the forward line either Brown or Stewart.
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Rumours going around that theyll still take him
Personally I wouldnāt waste a spot for a back up ruck we are more than likely not to need. Iād just use McKernan, with Joe giving him a chop out when he needed it. Yes heāll get touched up by the biggest/best, but so will any second stringer you bring in from a state league.
10 Likes
Donāt see why they wouldnāt.
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Is there a mid season draft this year? We could roll the dice and get a ruckman then.
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When Twomey talks state league ruckmen, he always goes to Darcy Fortā¦Iāve never seen him play.
Agree. Iām not sure why people are so blase about ājust bring in a state league ruckmanā. Presumably if getting an AFL quality ruckman was as easy as grabbing the best state leaguer there wouldnāt be so many truly diabolical players with AFL contracts just because theyāre tall.
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Iād stick with Draper and McKernan.
Draperās form in the VFL late this year was fantastic. Although Iām not saying heād do well against the top rucks (especially around the ground), the question is would he do as well as anyone else weād get from the state leagues? Iād say no, and getting AFL games might very well improve his development.
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Bringing over here. (I have no clue on the guy)
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From what Iāve seen of Draper heād be more than capable of playing 3 or 4 games a year when Bellchambers needs a rest.
Itās the easiest position on the ground. Big guy at the ruck contests - donāt get humiliated by the other ruckman, tackle hard and handball to a running player if you get possession.
Billy Longer is the Saints number 1 ruck and thatās literally all he does. Anything a ruckman does more than this is a bonus. It will be Draperās third season, he is easily strong enough and we have to start trusting him at some point. Back him in and take another 18 year old with a rookie pick.
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Wow.
He has always had a bit of white line fever
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The sleeper is young Lavender.
He has the size and potential to be a ruckman and he is already on our list.
Having said that, he didnāt play any ruck at all last year that I am aware of, and so maybe the club doesnāt see that potential in him.
He would be in the same boat as Draper was, and a year or two behind him in development, if we were to go down this path with him.
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Lavender wonāt be ready for at least two years in my opinion.
He is a great size and mobile but has a lot to learn about the game.
He does look to enjoy the physical side of the game and has some nice skills but very much a work in progress.
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Lavenderās biggest issue has been getting on the park, followed closely by having Leuenberger and Draper ahead of him and therefore getting limited time in the ruck and being forced to play in an awkward position, especially for a guy who doesnāt have much AFL experience.
Luke is going to need a bit of luck both in regards to his own injuries and then heāll likely need a few injuries to those ahead of him to get quality gametime in a position which suits him.
Whatās Nathan Lovett-Murray doing these days?
Ideal ruckman!!!
4 Likes
A quick look for Leuenberger replacements has brought up
Cam Pedersen ā DFA
Lochie Filipovic ā DFA
Max King ā DFA
Zac Clarke ā WAFL ā Late/Rookie
Darcy Fort ā SANFL ā Late/Rookie
Oliver Eastland ā WAFL ā Late/Rookie
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Stringer in the ruck goes alright!
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