Anyone who has not rated the value of good Ruckman.....

[floppinab]

care to have a rethink!!!!!!!!!!!

You could argue that Ball and Jolly pretty much got us through the whole damn final series.

Particularly against Geelong and the Saints whose ruck stocks were non-existent the value of these blokes was enourmous.

Cox probably won the day in the GF but we scored 7.4 to 0.4 when he was sitting on the bench!!!!!

Although I'd love to have Everitt (and I think what he saw during the final series might have him licking his chops about the prospect of rucking to our midfield) I doubt he'll want ot move away from his kids in Melb.

What are the chances of our other talls stepping up next year. Erickson????

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Re: Anyone who has not rated the value of good Ruckman.....

Originally posted by floppinab
Anyone who has not rated the value of good Ruckman.....
care to have a rethink!!!!!!!!!!!

Why thankyou Flop' ~ I didn't realise you cared!

Originally posted by floppinab
What are the chances of our other talls stepping up next year. Erickson????

I'm not sure I like the idea of Everitt coming to the Swans, granted he may have reformed and become a true team player (anything's possible even a Swans flag) but I think Darren Jolly may be a little disappointed to find Spider in a Swans jumper (even if the intention was to play him up forward).
And while Doyle is no certainty to be injury free next year (haha), I have great hopes about Earl Shaw who I have watched very closely this year.
Also I think we need a big fullback or a tall marking forward much more than we need a aging ruckman who has never done that well as a permanent forward.

[Schneiderman]

Re: Re: Anyone who has not rated the value of good Ruckman.....

Originally posted by Ruckman
but I think Darren Jolly may be a little disappointed to find Spider in a Swans jumper (even if the intention was to play him up forward).[/I]

Firstly, there are no egos in this team remember? Jolly wont be upset because its not about him, its about the team.

Secondly, Jolly is still very young. He needs a mentor and supporter out on the ground. He would have been told he is set to play his best footy between 27 and 30, and thats still at least three years away. In the meantime he needs to learn and develop. If you want to be really critical, he was still soundly beaten by a number of opoosing ruckmen this year, and especially Cox on Sat. And it was Ball who gave us those critical two tap-downs against Geelong and WC that helped win us the flag.

I say bring him on. He would fit right in with his energy and love of team work. And we could use his height and skill all around the ground. Suddenly other teams would think twice about just how much "worse" we would be in 2006 compared to this year.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Re: Re: Re: Anyone who has not rated the value of good Ruckman.....

Originally posted by Schneiderman
Firstly, there are no egos in this team remember? Jolly wont be upset because its not about him, its about the team.

Yes indeed, that's why he was content to stay second fiddle at the Demons in 2005 rather than accepting the Swans offer.
PS
Jolly played the last few weeks of the season with a broken hand.
PPS
And yes I agree he is young in terms of ruckmen, however by then comparing him to Cox you lose some strength from your argument because Jolly is only 3 months younger than Cox.

[SXP]

Re: Re: Re: Anyone who has not rated the value of good Ruckman.....

Originally posted by Schneiderman
If you want to be really critical, he was still soundly beaten by a number of opoosing ruckmen this year, and especially Cox on Sat. And it was Ball who gave us those critical two tap-downs against Geelong and WC that helped win us the flag.

As much as I like Jolly I must agree with you. Cox overmarked him in dying seconds of the GF. If it wasn't for Barry's great mark, who knows what would have happend. I wonder if Cox could outmarked Ball.
I have noopinion on whether Spider is suitable or not, but I think we need an experienced ruckman to give chance Jolly to develop even further.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

broken hand.

[BayesysLeftBoot]

As far as I'm concerned Spider would be perfect for the swans.

1. He was almost the best ruckamn in the comp this year.

2. He still looks to have another couple of seasons in him at least as he is in career best form.

3. By the time he retires Jolly will be ready to be our no1 ruckman with either Doyle or once of our young rucks ready to back him up.

4. He can play well up forward when needed.

5. He is a media favourite and would help further boost the swans popularity.

6. He's a good bloke!

[Ruck'n'Roll]

As Jolly and Cox are only 3 months apart in age, perhaps the Eagles will also be looking at Spider to help thier ruck division?

[originalswan]

I think the Eagles have a few more options in the Ruck in Seaby and a guy by the name of Gardiner who was injured for most of this year.

[Newbie]

Originally posted by originalswan
I think the Eagles have a few more options in the Ruck in Seaby and a guy by the name of Gardiner who was injured for most of this year.

Gardiner is their version of Doyle so we just need to find our own Seaby to have a comparable ruck group.

[Jeffers1984]

Originally posted by Newbie
Gardiner is their version of Doyle

Except Doyle has a heart.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by Newbie
Gardiner is their version of Doyle so we just need to find our own Seaby to have a comparable ruck group.

His name is Earl Shaw, he's from the Blue Mountains, he's stronger built than Ericksen, his tap work this year in the 2's was really excellent. At 22, he's 2 years youger than Darren Jolley. He needs to work on his marking but I believe that he is ready for (and should be getting) little 10 minutes bursts per quarter in the firsts next year.

[timthefish]

Originally posted by Ruckman
His name is Earl Shaw, he's from the Blue Mountains, he's stronger built than Ericksen, his tap work this year in the 2's was really excellent. At 22, he's 2 years youger than Darren Jolley. He needs to work on his marking but I believe that he is ready for (and should be getting) little 10 minutes bursts per quarter in the firsts next year.

it's almost essential for all our juniors to play firsts a little earlier than they would at other clubs because our reserves are playing bush footy in canberra.

i should probably find or make another thread for this but there has got to be a way we can set up a decent eastern NSW afl comp with something like three sydney teams (eg swans ressies, cambelltown and north sydney bombers), a newcastle team, a wollongong team and two from canberra. ground availability and travel would be the usual problems but i think it's something the afl are going to have to bite the bullet and get funding for if afl is ever to actually grow in this city and region.

[Sean]

Originally posted by Ruckman
His name is Earl Shaw, he's from the Blue Mountains, he's stronger built than Ericksen, his tap work this year in the 2's was really excellent. At 22, he's 2 years youger than Darren Jolley. He needs to work on his marking but I believe that he is ready for (and should be getting) little 10 minutes bursts per quarter in the firsts next year.

He's actually only 18 I think - the Swans site is wrong. Even more "upside"!

[penga]

http://www.pro-stats.com.au/psw/web/team_players?tid=114&sby=9

For starters, Shaw is the youngest player on our list, rookie list included.

http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/news/afl/crawford-tells-hawks-he-wants-to-stay/2005/09/21/1126982125175.html

"Like Shane, Peter Everitt is also contracted and will not be discussed for trade," said Pelchen, who said that the Hawks had no intention of pursuing Fevola.

There goes that option.

Opposition ruckmen that should be in our radar, according to Roosy: (in order of hitouts per game)

West Coast
Dean Cox
Michael Gardiner
Mark Seaby

Sydney

Oh wait, that's us...

Hawthorn
Simon Taylor

Adelaide
Matthew Clarke
Rhett Biglands
Ben Hudson

Port Adelaide
Matthew Primus
Brendon Lade
Dean Brogan

Richmond
Trent Knobel
Troy Simmonds
Greg Stafford

Melbourne
Jeff White
Mark Jamar
Paul Johnson

Fremantle
Aaron Sandilands
Justin Longmuir

That is the top 8 ranked teams for hitouts per game. Options are pretty limited. Personally, I would like Biglands, but that's not going to happen.

A bloke who I didn't include in that list is Robert Campbell, knee injury against us in round 1 ended his season. A pretty handy one.