First huge test for new coach! 2nd ruckman or no?

[Bas]

So why is the ruckman position the one that cops the bullet?

What happens if a player gets injured and has to come off, does that mean it's the replacement player that comes out?

I imagine that there will still be high rotations but the 4th interchange from the past just goes into a pocket.

The biggest challenge I see is at what stage of the game do you use the replacement 4th player?

There will be a bit of time over Christmas when coaching staff are nutting this out. Perhaps it comes at a good time psychologically for the Swans, as we have a new coach and with a new coach come new tactics.

You wouldn't just automatically dump the 2nd ruckman.

[Auntie.Gerald]

hhhmmm maybe two ruckmen still for us ........and they get half a game each a little like Mummy and Seaby probably would have anyway thru 2010

[707]

The new rule is dumb dumb dumb and I haven't heard anyone outside of AFL House say its a good rule.

It may mean the end of playing two genuine ruckmen just at the time that we have three for the first time ever - sheesh!

Mobile pinch hitter ruckmen may become the ploy from now but we'll need to see I suppose

[jono2707]

I'm not averse to the concept of rotating players in and out of Reserves on a more regular basis - eg forming twosomes or threesomes, each of which play in the Reserves every second week, or every third week. Two or three players roughly equal in skill and fitness and role - like job sharing, buddy systems, training partners and co-teaching... This alternative could have several advantages, but would require the players involved to let go of the Firsts versus Reserves split.

Sorry Jesse but I don't see this idea as having much merit, especially as we're playing in a sub-standard Reserves comp. If our Ressies were playing in the VFL where they'd come up against a better standard of player then this idea might be worth considering further. Something similar worked for some Collingwood players this year, although they had pretty good depth to begin with anyway. However sending some guys back to Canberra for rotation's sake just wont work.

Speaking of which, are there any developments on the mooted new east coast reserves comp that was being thrown around some time ago?

[aardvark]

I wouldn't expect to win too many games with White or LRT as the back up ruckman. They are both next to useless in that role. It doesn't matter what the game plan is, first use of the ball has to be a priority. Teams will still find a way to play two good ruckmen if they have them, as we certainly do.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Two fairly reasonable rebuttals of the whole "we'll be roooned" here I think . . .

Nongs, grumps and toads sending game into gutter | The Australian

Interchange doomsday prediction | The Australian

[Bloody Hell]

With Seaby fit - Pyke is depth. Nothing more.

[Go Swannies]

With Seaby fit - Pyke is depth. Nothing more.

Soi you think Pyke will be starting in Canberra next season?

[AnnieH]

Thanks for your response, Trickster. My strength lies in coming up with odd, new or different suggestions, rather than in the practicalities, realities and depth of knowledge that so many people on RWO are so good at. They would be better at answering the question of 'how could we make it work?'

Having said that... here's some more innovation. I'm not averse to the concept of rotating players in and out of Reserves on a more regular basis - eg forming twosomes or threesomes, each of which play in the Reserves every second week, or every third week. Two or three players roughly equal in skill and fitness and role - like job sharing, buddy systems, training partners and co-teaching... This alternative could have several advantages, but would require the players involved to let go of the Firsts versus Reserves split. It would be more like Firsts and Reserves, we're all in this together, for each other etc. for the good of the whole team. It's about keeping the team fresher, skills current and ensuring that non-playing travelling emergencies are a part of the rotations, not as a back handed reward, but as part of the job. With the Blood's culture already entrenched we'd have more chance at making this work than any other team at present. It's about shifting from the priority of the best on the field each week to a more all encompassing longer range strategy to maximise the contribution of each member of the team over the whole season and ultimately to win more games, especially the big one at the end.

Brilliant idea

[sWAns63]

With Seaby fit - Pyke is depth. Nothing more.

I never will be totally sold on Seaby a WCE discard from a wooden spoon team to me Pyke has caught and passed him.

[Bas]

I'd like to see Mike at fullback. He has the pace and height and then relieve in the ruck.

[jono2707]

I'd like to see Mike at fullback. He has the pace and height and then relieve in the ruck.

He has a lot of experience at fullback - albeit in rugby....

[caj23]

I never will be totally sold on Seaby a WCE discard from a wooden spoon team to me Pyke has caught and passed him.

You obviously didnt watch the first 5 rounds of 2010, Seaby is well in front at this stage

[Go Swannies]

You obviously didnt watch the first 5 rounds of 2010, Seaby is well in front at this stage

At this stage?? Is that when Nic Nat was a shoe-in for the Brownlow, AA, etc? I wonder if anything changed in the following 22 rounds of footy?

[caj23]

At this stage?? Is that when Nic Nat was a shoe-in for the Brownlow, AA, etc? I wonder if anything changed in the following 22 rounds of footy?

It's pretty clear that you don't like Seaby and nothing will change that. Pyke improved remakably in 2010, but he needs to improve by the same margin again before he is on par with Seaby.

I will be interested to see how we use the 3 ruckmen next season