Resting ruck / backmen?

[wyatt]

With the new interchange rule everyone is talking about rotating the 2nd ruckman through the forward line. That means there are going to be a lot of tall blokes standing in the goal square week in week out. Do the Swans have any counter measures in place for this? Their current backline is not tall by any stretch of the imagination, especially with LRT on the sidelines. Should the Swans be looking to develop Seaby/Pyke/White into backmen/rucks so that they can cover opposition strategies?

[stellation]

That's a very good question, wyatt. I do think it's going to lead to clubs putting more focus on having an extra tall forward be capable of swinging into the backline to cover a resting ruckman for any teams that go down that path. I think White and Reid would be up to it, though I think it bodywork Reid could get a bit of a touch up- he certainly looks strong, but probably doesn't have the weight to bump with a resting ruckman. I expect that Round 1 Teddy will possibly be switched onto any resting ruckman?

[wolftone57]

Lewis Johnston could always play on a resting ruck & if a team is picking 3 ruck types then Pyke or White would be options.

[giant]

Pyke has certainly spent time back this pre-season (and did so again today for short spurts). But I think it will mainly be the job of the tall defenders to go head to head, as indeed they've managed to do in past seasons.

[bondy]

LRT is ideal to play on the resting ruckman, but we saw last year that Grundy can play tall when required. Teddy would to play off less mobile ruckman and plug the gaps.

I think overall we'll do well against more ruckmen in the opposition forwards.

[SCGonasunnyday]

No worries for me - it doesn't seem to happen too often that a resting ruckman does that much damage.

[stellation]

That may be because they frequently rest on the bench, if they reach a point where they are constantly camped in the goal square I think it could reach a point where they could cause some problems. A lot of teams don't bother doing that because they just don't have to, but I think Seaby (for one) will cause one or two problems if he spends a chunk more time in the forward line.