Mumford - if everyone is fit.

[goswannie14]

Gerard Whately on the Inquisition on ABC radio today posed the question, "If all the Swans are fit, where does Mumford fit in?"

The consensus was that Pyke is ahead of him, so it was doubtful that he would get a game in the Firsts if all Swans (big men) were fit.

Thoughts?

[annew]

Don't see why Mumford is the out when LRT hasn't played for so long and is stil listed as indefinite. Mumford and Pyke Reid and Tippett with Tippett as LRT 's replacement. I believe we need to keep Mumford as LRT is only on a one year contract.

[ernie koala]

Every team, ideally, has 2 top line ruckmen and a full forward. And depth players to cover injuries.

I'm sure the Swans will be as keen as mustard to resign Mummy.

The problem will be if GWS, Gold Coast, or even a tall deprived team like Carlton, offer him a big, long contract, that the Swans can't match.

[stellation]

I don't really see why we can't have Tippet and a resting ruckman in the forward 50 with Sam playing further up the ground? Sam doesn't really play as a leading forward from the goal square, he generally does his best work outside the 50 or at least starting outside the 50 and leading back into it.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Carlton have three big ruck options, no way they'd want to sign Mummy. GWS would be the main worry, and perhaps Collingwood. Ben Hudson isn't a long term solution and Jolly is nearing the end. I doubt they could offer something we couldn't match though, there cap would have to be close to bursting point. They may have room if they lose Daisy though.

[Ludwig]

Very few teams have 2 top line Ruckmen. Aside from us, there's the WCE and Freo (although most of their's are injured at the moment). The Eagles are a special case, because both of their ruckmen are exceptional.

It's not that Mummy is not a very good ruckman, it's that with Pyke and Tippett we have the ruck covered and can use the spot in a more productive way. Neither Pyke nor Mummy are good defenders and Rampe is too short to cover a ruck/forward, so we really are better served with having someone like Dre or LRT for extra defensive cover (and AJ next year of course). Against Hawthorn, we really struggle to cover Buddy, Roughy, Gunston and Hale with only 2 tall defenders.

We may not be able to keep both Pyke and Mummy in the same side if most of our injured players come back. Next year it will really be difficult with both AJ and Rohan taking an additional 2 slots in the side with perhaps only Jude retiring. Plus, there will be increasing pressure from players like Lamb, BJ, Cunningham, Lloyd, Membry and perhaps even Towers for senior positions.

Mummy is too good a player to languish in the reserves just in case Pyke gets an injury. On the other hand, White is the perfect player. He's good enough as a backup, but doesn't demand a senior spot on merit and is not injury prone.

I would prefer trading Mummy for a good key position player. GWS are reportedly very interested in Mummy and they have an excess of quality KPP prospects. They also look like they will be getting Buddy, so that creates another KPP without a spot. Another interesting one is a swap with Collingwood for Ben Reid, who is a free agent at the end of next year.

There are always journeyman ruckmen floating about that can be rookie listed for additional backup. Carlton have 3 legit ruckmen, but only play Kreuzer.

I have nothing against Mummy. I think he's a great ruckman. I'm just worried that we will sign him to a big contract and then won't be able to play him in the seniors.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Mummy for Reid would be a great result. We'd probably have to throw in our first or second pick to sweeten the deal I'd imagine.

[rojo]

Mummy is a great ruckman at his best - we have short memories. Surely his bad luck with injury has got to finish soon! He is only 26 and arguably his best footy is ahead of him. He and Mike are a great combination. Stellation's suggestion of using Reid in a different way could work. Apart from LRT, Goodesy also has to be accommodated but as we know both are succumbing to injury and as much as we would like them to power on, next year will most likely see them finish up. I think it would be short-sighted to let Mummy go. Using your key forward as a back-up ruckman hasn't worked well for other teams. But I am sure Horse and his team have a plan!!!

[Doctor]

We didn't buy Tippett to be back up ruckman, we bought him to be a key forward. He went into the ruck in the 4th quarter on Friday after Pyke was spent and did a really good job mind you but that's not where we want him playing. Why would you want to break up the ruck combination that just won us the Premiership? I really find the Mummy conjecture on this forum to be bewildering. He's also 3 years younger than Pyke IIRC.

[barry]

Ummm, hawks have three big talls. Hale , buddy, roughy. Add lake, etc. They r as tall as us.

Weve played 3 ruckmen in the two wetest games of the year. Longmire might play 4 if its dry!

[Ludwig]

Here's a projected starting 21 for next year that probably won't get too many arguments. (Assume Jude retires)

Johnson Grundy Rampe
Malceski Richards Smith
McVeigh Jack Hannebery
Parker Mitchell Bird
Kennedy Pyke ROK
Rohan Reid Goodes
Jetta Tippett McGlynn

Those not in the team include: Mummy, Dre, Lamb, Morton, Shaw and LRT. All have received a fair amount of support on RWO. And then there are the promising newbies like Brandon, Cunningham, Membrey, Jake Lloyd and Towers that we would like to see more of. Apologies to JW and Tony Armstrong supporters.

A case can be made for any of these belonging in the best 21. But I found it very hard to find someone to drop out.

This is the problem I see with carrying 2 specialised ruckmen in the team. It doesn't seem to work structurally.

[barry]

There is an argument that lrt was moved out of defence to cover a forward line deficiency. So now that tippet, morton , etc are there can LRT go back to defense. Does that put grundy's position at risk.

Who is the better key defender?

[Doctor]

Here's a projected starting 21 for next year that probably won't get too many arguments. (Assume Jude retires)

Johnson Grundy Rampe
Malceski Richards Smith
McVeigh Jack Hannebery
Parker Mitchell Bird
Kennedy Pyke ROK
Rohan Reid Goodes
Jetta Tippett McGlynn

Those not in the team include: Mummy, Dre, Lamb, Morton, Shaw and LRT. All have received a fair amount of support on RWO. And then there are the promising newbies like Brandon, Cunningham, Membrey, Jake Lloyd and Towers that we would like to see more of. Apologies to JW and Tony Armstrong supporters.

A case can be made for any of these belonging in the best 21. But I found it very hard to find someone to drop out.

This is the problem I see with carrying 2 specialised ruckmen in the team. It doesn't seem to work structurally.

You've left out White & LRT along with Mumford. That makes us very small. Additionally I know there are lots of those who have blinkers on when it comes to this romantic perception that Rohan will be back to his best with a flick of the fingers, and I love him as a player too, but he's gonna have to earn his way back into our bext XXII like everyone else. That's going to be hardest psychologically. I hope to God he makes it but we can't just go handing him a spot after he'll have missed almost 2 years of senior footy by then.

I do agree on Mitchell though. Unless we choose to rest him for a week at some stage, which might be a good idea, he looks like he'll be an automatic pick for a long long time.