How Will The Game Change?

[Boodnutz]

Hope I'm not drawing too long a bow on this, nor giving Roos credit beyond what he is capable of. But, I'm hoping we see a very different Sydney team next year. In particular, I'm thinking we will regularly see three ruckmen being played. And I mean on the ground at the same time.

I think it is possible to play a ruckman full time in one third of the ground and leave him on for pretty much all of the game - if they're good enough and fit enough. Jolly down back, Everitt in the middle and Doyle down forward.

The game is so finely balanced now that games are won and lost at the stoppages. First use of the ball. The bench would be made up solely of runners with the only other key talls being a Hall, MOL as targets up forward and an LRT down back.

Makes players like O'Keefe, Dempster, Malceski, Barry, Kennelly etc very valuable as they can run and can still contest a mark.

Look at how we beat the dogs at the SCG last season as a guide to how it could go. Their run and dash is useless if their ruckmen can't compete. You can't coach against dominant ruckmen. We've lost a grand final because of it and I think that was the key lesson from the grand final. And I think the other sides (apart from WCE) are still two years behind realising it.

If it does go like that, watch for new and innovative ways to develop a stoppage. It will make the last few years look like like a picnic and will really give the AFL something to think about re rule changes.

Anyway, it's possible isn't it?

[Young Blood]

So, just to clarify, you think we should play 3 ruckmen on the ground so that they have to run less and therefore stay fresher and more competitive?

[Boodnutz]

Originally posted by Young Blood
So, just to clarify, you think we should play 3 ruckmen on the ground so that they have to run less and therefore stay fresher and more competitive?

Yes.

[goswannie14]

One flaw in the argument about dominant ruckmen was that we still won the PF against a dominant ruckmen from Freo. But I think I know where you are coming from.

I would prefer to see Jolly/Doyle intechanging, and Spida rucking in the front half and staying on the ground in the front half to kick a goal or two.

[Lucky Knickers]

I'd like to start with 2 "effective" ruckmen for 2007.

I'd hesitate to replace a fit running player with another ruckman.

[swantastic]

Originally posted by goswannie14
I would prefer to see Jolly/Doyle intechanging, and Spida rucking in the front half and staying on the ground in the front half to kick a goal or two.

I reckon your spot on GS14.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by swantastic
I reckon your spot on GS14.

Spida would have to be one of the "new things" the Swans would be trying in attack, as we were told in that other thread.

[Wil]

Originally posted by goswannie14

I would prefer to see Jolly/Doyle intechanging, and Spida rucking in the front half and staying on the ground in the front half to kick a goal or two.

Can't see them stopping Hall from rucking in the forward 50 - its worth a goal or two a game.

Last time we had three ruckman one of them got injured for the entire season on the first game so I wouldn't get too excited yet.

My guess is they will be changed depending on the opposition with Spida getting more time against Freo and West Coast for example.

So perhaps it will be a three way interchange, but between matches, instead of within matches.

[Bloody Hell]

Can't see more than two on at a time.

Particularlly with the swans attitude to F50 entries. They won't change the style they have developed over the past 5+ years to suddenly bomb long to a tall marking option.

The forward line is a well oiled machine... no rusty cogs!!!

[Boodnutz]

Originally posted by Bloody Hell
Can't see more than two on at a time.

Particularlly with the swans attitude to F50 entries. They won't change the style they have developed over the past 5+ years to suddenly bomb long to a tall marking option.

The forward line is a well oiled machine... no rusty cogs!!!

The point is, it's not changing their game, it's going another couple of levels if they do it. If you take a team that is expert at winning stoppages and all of a sudden get one of the competition's best tap rucken in your team, wouldn't you want to create more stoppages to win more clean ball?

So, effectively you get a stoppage created every time we don't get a clean break. If you did, you would double or treble the number of tap-outs that our ruckmen win.

To create that stoppage you would need 12 to 14 players (runners) within 60 metres of the ball to close down any opposition break. It would mean flooding would be out and "group running" around the ball is in. Much like watching an under 9's game.

[Bloody Hell]

Originally posted by Boodnutz
The point is, it's not changing their game, it's going another couple of levels if they do it. If you take a team that is expert at winning stoppages and all of a sudden get one of the competition's best tap rucken in your team, wouldn't you want to create more stoppages to win more clean ball?

So, effectively you get a stoppage created every time we don't get a clean break. If you did, you would double or treble the number of tap-outs that our ruckmen win.

To create that stoppage you would need 12 to 14 players (runners) within 60 metres of the ball to close down any opposition break. It would mean flooding would be out and "group running" around the ball is in. Much like watching an under 9's game.

This point refers to around the ground...the point I'm making refers to the forward structure.

Undoubtedly the addition of Everitt will change the play around the ruck...I'm just saying don't stick him in the goal square.

[hammo]

Originally posted by Wil
Can't see them stopping Hall from rucking in the forward 50 - its worth a goal or two a game.

Not to mention 2 or 3 free kicks against per game! When Baz starts rucking its a sure bet the umpires will pick out a petty free kick to the opposition.

I would expect a lot of ruck rotation in 2007 to the point that Spida may be rested for certain matches to preserve him for the finals. He could become an SCG specialist.

[Wil]

Originally posted by Boodnutz
To create that stoppage you would need 12 to 14 players (runners) within 60 metres of the ball to close down any opposition break. It would mean flooding would be out and "group running" around the ball is in. Much like watching an under 9's game.

...or watching a swans game.

The swans don't actually have to change their game plan at all. In fact the game plan really requires great tap ruckman to work best. This is very simplistic but If the swans lose the stoppages then they lose the game, pretty much no matter who they are playing.

[TheMase]

Originally posted by Wil
Can't see them stopping Hall from rucking in the forward 50 - its worth a goal or two a game.

True, however I am on the line of thinking that they wish to have forwards that can kick goals that can spend a lot of time down forward.

I believe that Hall will not do anywhere near as much ruckwork in the forward 50 next year due to his back injury. The Swans probably would like to extend his career so they are taking some strain off him.

Everitt is perfect for this role because he is older, cannot cover as much distance as in previous times, however is still a very good ruckman and a proven goal kicker.

Interesting times next season...

[Nico]

I would like to see a bit quicker movement into the forward line. We have the players to severely test any backline with quick fire forward play.

Also Barry Hall should be banned from short passing from the 50-60 metre zone. Has he ever hit a target?