Ruckmen v Port

[Mike_B]

According to White Line Fever, Doyle is an outside chance of being over a back-related hamstring, Barry hasn't pulled up as well as hoped and Ball is likely to miss a week.

Also mentioned that Roos said he would sooner pick Mieklejohn than play Goodes in the ruck.

[BAM_BAM]

MJ has improved in the ruck, and as a second string to Doyle would be handy, depending on who he's up against.

If Ericksons development doesn't stagnate, I'm excited about the future with him playing a starring role. His confidence has grown this year in leaps and bounds and it could be seen last weekend with an undermaned understrength team, but IMO he's not ready for the big boys just yet.

[Dpw]

What the heck will we do if Doyle and Ball are inj.?


Maybe MJ to take centre bounces and Goodes to ruck around the ground ( I just loving him at CHB) and maybe Rogers or Dempster to gover I just don't know

[liz]

Originally posted by BAM_BAM
MJ has improved in the ruck, and as a second string to Doyle would be handy, depending on who he's up against.

If Ericksons development doesn't stagnate, I'm excited about the future with him playing a starring role. His confidence has grown this year in leaps and bounds and it could be seen last weekend with an undermaned understrength team, but IMO he's not ready for the big boys just yet.

Erikson is probably at least two years away from playing senior footy, maybe longer. As Bam Bam notes, he has palpably improved as this year has progressed but he would be absolutely murdered at AFL at the moment. If there is no-one else, I'd rather see someone like James or even Rogers come in to pinch-hit in the ruck that throw Erikson to the wolves.

MJ has looked pretty solid at reserves level and at least has a big, solid body. I'd be pretty comfortable if he were to come in as the second ruckman as back-up for Doyle. Have to confess I hadn't realised there was a question mark over Doyle for next week as well as Ball. Having MJ in the team as the only ruckman would make me pretty nervous.

Hopefully the Ball and Doyle situation will be short term but we're certainly getting hammered in the ruckman injury stakes right now:

Ball
Doyle maybe
Goodes on one knee
Saddo gawn
LRT still a few weeks away

[stellation]

Originally posted by lizz
If there is no-one else, I'd rather see someone like James or even Rogers come in to pinch-hit in the ruck that throw Erikson to the wolves.

Aaron first please, you know what Heath's body is like.

[SWANSBEST]

I agree that Erickson is about 2 years away from a role in the AFL. One thing about MJ is that while he may not be a Polly Farmer he will provide an honest contest for the wlole game. The team has little choice but to play him. He will put in and play hard.

What is the problem with LRT ?. He was sitting near me during the Reserves game with a bloke who seemed like his father while he was signing a few autographs for kids. I noticed that his thumb had no strapping. Has he another injury?

[SWANSBEST]

I have noticed on another thread that LRT is out for the season with a knee injury. Yet it is mentioned elsewhere that he is out for 2 weeks . What is the real situation??

[BAM_BAM]

I noticed last week (when he was with the coaching staff for the Eastlake game) the plaster had come off. It was originally noted that he would be around 6 six weeks out due to the fact he had surgery to repair it. The injury happened on Mothers day IICR, so I guess if that is still true, he is another couple of weeks away.

[Barry Schneider]

Don't tell me he did his knee while rehabilitating his thumb.

[SWANSBEST]

Barry Schneider

I think that I may have accidentally misled you. I am either going cross eyed or i am dreaming badly . Saddo is out for the season with a knee injury as we all know but I some how confused the info on the injury schedule.

[Barry Schneider]

I thought there might been a mix up but LRT does look a bit goofy and it wouldn't have surprised me that much.

[liz]

LRT has the plaster off and is back in limited training. Last Wednesday he was participating with the main group, doing all the running (in fact he was shadowing O'Keefe, running the whole session on Pebble's shoulder - not literally!) but not touching the ball at all. His injury was, reportedly, a pretty nasty dislocation and I suspect it will be another week or two before they let him do ball work, and maybe another week before he's back playing footy - probably in the seconds.

[timthefish]

lrt, apart from probably being unavailable, does not know enough about the game to play in the ruck.

ball is now listed as being available on the injury-update page for round 12 anyway.

[liz]

Originally posted by timthefish
lrt, apart from probably being unavailable, does not know enough about the game to play in the ruck.

Lewis actually won a Rising Star nomination after stepping into the ruck in the Adelaide game (I think) last year. The ruck probably isn't his natural position but he is more than capable of pinch hitting if we need someone to go there.

If he weren't injured he'd probably be a shoe-in for next week's team if Ball and/or Doyle is not available.

[timthefish]

Originally posted by lizz
Lewis actually won a Rising Star nomination after stepping into the ruck in the Adelaide game (I think) last year.

fair point, i had forgotten that but i reckon MJ would get a guernsey in the ruck (and ruck only) over LRT.