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I think this article points out that we really need to get guys like Hyphen and JM up and running now to become good ruck men over the next couple of years. They don't have to be great, just not get given a bath. Ball, not to take anything away from him, is not one of the premier ruckman but he is good and the swans have won a lot of matches with only a good ruckman and a great ruck rover.
Posted: Monday, August 11, 2003
The Ruck's The Thing
The theory about a ruckman being the most important player in a team has been given some starch in recent weeks.
It is a view shared by many, with former Carlton, Brisbane and Richmond coach, Robert Walls, leading the public voice of this group.
It was plain to see at the SCG in round 19, where changing fortunes in Sydney and Hawthorn?s ruck divisions, were a big influence on the result.
The Hawks won by 17 points in somewhat of an upset, with Peter Everitt one of the best men on the ground for Hawthorn in his return from a hamstring injury.
Sydney lost its second game in a row since losing Jason Ball to a season ending shoulder injury and his absence was a telling factor.
The subtleties of football are sometimes hard to pick out in the bustle of the contest but Everitt?s effect on the game at the SCG was clear for anyone to see.
It was most notable in the second and third quarters when the game changed fortunes a couple of times as Everitt switched from being on the ground to resting on the bench.
When ?Spider? was on the ground early in the second quarter the Hawks kicked five unanswered goals and in contrast, while he was having a rest in the third quarter, Sydney surged back into contention with a run of five goals.
Hawthorn coach Peter Schwab brought Everitt back on before three-quartertime and he helped set up a steadying goal to Nick Holland before the final change.
Saturday night was not only another example of how important Everitt is to Hawthorn but also showed the football world what Sydney fans already knew ? the Swans have not consistently won big games when Ball has been injured.
Without being unkind to Lewis Roberts-Thompson, a 19-year-old with 11 senior games experience is always going to take his time to mix it with the best big men in the AFL.
Similarly, Adam Goodes is best used as a pinch-hitting ruckmen with a license to roam around the ground.
There are big question marks over whether Sydney can beat the best sides in the competition and win finals when Ball is not playing.
While a number of Swans players have undoubtedly improved this year, it is no coincidence that Sydney?s best season for some time has coincided with the injury-prone Ball staying fit until a fortnight ago.
The same could be said about West Coast, which has struggled the last couple of weeks without Michael Gardiner due to a knee injury.
Just as the Hawks looked better with Everitt back in, reigning champions Brisbane?s form surge has coincided with Clark Keating?s return from foot problems.
Dylan McLaren is a youngster who is a steady fourth ruck option for Leigh Matthews, but the Lions are at their awesome best when they have two of their three key ruckman in top form.
Keating and Jamie Charman will most likely be the Lions? ruck combination for the rest of the season as Beau McDonald is not expected the be fit to play in the next three weeks, and hence, will not be able to displace the current duo unless there is an injury.
We can even look at Collingwood, which gets solid service from Steven McKee and Josh Fraser, but this pair has been found out in hit outs against bigger and more skilled ?tap? artists.
Port Adelaide has done wonderfully well to cope without captain Matthew Primus and, like Brisbane, the Power have been able to find more than on top-liner.
Dean Brogan had played only one senior game before this year, but the 24-year-old has shown his is more than capable while taking the number one role during the sporadic injuries that have afflicted the Power captain.
Adelaide gets solid service from Matthew Clarke and Rhett Biglands and the Crows? form speaks for itself.
Looking at the ladder after round 19, there is a distinct correlation between the teams who have had consistent top-line service and depth in the ruck and those who haven?t.
Posted: Monday, August 11, 2003
The Ruck's The Thing
The theory about a ruckman being the most important player in a team has been given some starch in recent weeks.
It is a view shared by many, with former Carlton, Brisbane and Richmond coach, Robert Walls, leading the public voice of this group.
It was plain to see at the SCG in round 19, where changing fortunes in Sydney and Hawthorn?s ruck divisions, were a big influence on the result.
The Hawks won by 17 points in somewhat of an upset, with Peter Everitt one of the best men on the ground for Hawthorn in his return from a hamstring injury.
Sydney lost its second game in a row since losing Jason Ball to a season ending shoulder injury and his absence was a telling factor.
The subtleties of football are sometimes hard to pick out in the bustle of the contest but Everitt?s effect on the game at the SCG was clear for anyone to see.
It was most notable in the second and third quarters when the game changed fortunes a couple of times as Everitt switched from being on the ground to resting on the bench.
When ?Spider? was on the ground early in the second quarter the Hawks kicked five unanswered goals and in contrast, while he was having a rest in the third quarter, Sydney surged back into contention with a run of five goals.
Hawthorn coach Peter Schwab brought Everitt back on before three-quartertime and he helped set up a steadying goal to Nick Holland before the final change.
Saturday night was not only another example of how important Everitt is to Hawthorn but also showed the football world what Sydney fans already knew ? the Swans have not consistently won big games when Ball has been injured.
Without being unkind to Lewis Roberts-Thompson, a 19-year-old with 11 senior games experience is always going to take his time to mix it with the best big men in the AFL.
Similarly, Adam Goodes is best used as a pinch-hitting ruckmen with a license to roam around the ground.
There are big question marks over whether Sydney can beat the best sides in the competition and win finals when Ball is not playing.
While a number of Swans players have undoubtedly improved this year, it is no coincidence that Sydney?s best season for some time has coincided with the injury-prone Ball staying fit until a fortnight ago.
The same could be said about West Coast, which has struggled the last couple of weeks without Michael Gardiner due to a knee injury.
Just as the Hawks looked better with Everitt back in, reigning champions Brisbane?s form surge has coincided with Clark Keating?s return from foot problems.
Dylan McLaren is a youngster who is a steady fourth ruck option for Leigh Matthews, but the Lions are at their awesome best when they have two of their three key ruckman in top form.
Keating and Jamie Charman will most likely be the Lions? ruck combination for the rest of the season as Beau McDonald is not expected the be fit to play in the next three weeks, and hence, will not be able to displace the current duo unless there is an injury.
We can even look at Collingwood, which gets solid service from Steven McKee and Josh Fraser, but this pair has been found out in hit outs against bigger and more skilled ?tap? artists.
Port Adelaide has done wonderfully well to cope without captain Matthew Primus and, like Brisbane, the Power have been able to find more than on top-liner.
Dean Brogan had played only one senior game before this year, but the 24-year-old has shown his is more than capable while taking the number one role during the sporadic injuries that have afflicted the Power captain.
Adelaide gets solid service from Matthew Clarke and Rhett Biglands and the Crows? form speaks for itself.
Looking at the ladder after round 19, there is a distinct correlation between the teams who have had consistent top-line service and depth in the ruck and those who haven?t.
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