It’s not the most exciting topic but I’m interested to see what our list management decisions are at the end of the year in regards to ruck coverage.
Draper is clearly the long term number 1.
But after that there are question marks about what to put around him.
You always need to have someone on your list that you can confidently call on if your number 1 is injured and you know that they can physically stand up, not get bullied by the opposite number and can at least play a nullifying role.
For me the questions that immediately come to mind are:
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Is Andrew Phillips going around again next year? And as a follow-up question, should he? (turns 32 in a couple of weeks).
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Is Nick Bryan ready to compete at AFL level as a number 1 ruck yet? And as a follow-up, how confident are the coaching group that he will indeed make it. He certainly shows some promise. I wonder how he is viewed internally.
We will get more data over the next 10 or so weeks that will help us answer all of this come the end of the year which is great. Especially with Draper out for at least a little bit.
Hypothetically, if Andrew Phillips doesn’t go around next year, either through his own determination or the clubs, or I guess equally, if Nick Bryan was targetted by another club and asked to leave, what options are out there for us.
Ignoring state league players for now (i.e. Sam Naismith types) and just looking at currently listed AFL players…
I’ll divide this into 2 categories:
UNDER 27 YEARS OF AGE
Matt Flynn (GWS) - Out of contract, 25 years of age, 33 games of AFL experience already, GWS are nearly always under cap pressure and would be fairly easy to prize out even factoring in the whole McCartney thing given he’s not a core player.
Sam Hayes (Port) - Out of contract, 24 years of age, years of development already put into him (mainly through the SANFL), I believe he is ok up forward which helps in a pairing with Draper.
Jordan Sweet (Dogs) Out of contract, 25 years of age, very big boy at 106kgs, dominates VFL but behind Tim English, 11 AFL games
These are guys who are just sh¡t enough to be at peace with moving clubs knowing that they won’t be the number 1 ruck. Which is weirdly what you kind of want and then you just hope to be surprised that they are solid footballers.
Others:
Bailey Williams (23 y.o) would be great but he is clearly the number 1 ruckman so doesn’t make sense and would cost too much.
Tom De Koning (24 y.o. Carlton) would obviously be nice as he has a bit of forward ruck adaptability and he’s clearly very talented but would cost too much IMO.
Ned Moyle (21 GC ruck) looks a great prospect and absolutely dominates at VFL level. He’d be a wonderful addition to the list but I think he’s rated too highly whereby he would probably either wait for Wittsy to retire or move clubs in a year or two on the guarantee of being the number 1 ruck. Could be an outside option only if Bryan left but even then unlikely IMO.
Max Heath (St Kilda) looks a good competitor but only 20 years old, don’t think would leave unless number 1 ruck.
OVER 27 YEARS OF AGE - ‘TIDE YOU OVER FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS’ OPTIONS
Scott Lycett In and out of the side so would be gettable. 30 years of age. Premiership player. Out of contract. Sometimes looks a bit slow but recently has seemed a little sharper.
Ivan Soldo - 27 years old, Premiership player, big body, not the most sexy option obviously but proven that he can do a job in a good system.
Darcy Fort - 29 years old. Again, nothing to get excited about and ideally you’d prefer not to play him much. But has experience and can occasionally bob up in the forward line and contribute.
Braydon Preuss - 28 years of ago. He is an absolute dumb ■■■■ and has had plenty of issues with his body but all I could say is you’d get him cheap as GWS will have had enough of persisting and at least you know you’d get a big body who enjoys the physical side of the game (on the rare occasion he’s not suspended or injured).
Adelaide’s second ruck Kieran Strachan (ex Essendon VFL) would I guess be a depth option who has played some AFL footy.
There are a few others but most are either too good or just not likely to move.
Then there are a heap of guys who are predominantly forwards who you could elect to target who could play undersized as a solo ruck to cover for injury for a period of time if need be or chop out as 2nd ruck to Draper but I haven’t really chosen to focus on this type (i.e. Hayden McLean).