Ruckmen.

[Go Swannies]

Interesting that Horse intimated tgat Tom D might come straight back in after a rest

Playing both ruckmen on a long ground in wet conditions might not work out well. I'm sure they'll be playing together soon but it may not be this week.

[barry]

We will have to manage pyke, so tom will get a few more games before seasons end

[Ludwig]

We will have to manage pyke, so tom will get a few more games before seasons end

Why do we have to manage Pyke when Adelaide don't have to manage Jacobs, North don't have to manage Goldstein, Port don't have to manage Lobbe, etc.?

Why is Pyke different?

[Matt80]

Why do we have to manage Pyke when Adelaide don't have to manage Jacobs, North don't have to manage Goldstein, Port don't have to manage Lobbe, etc.?

Why is Pyke different?

Jacobs gets some help from Jenkins. Lobbe and Goldstene do it mainly themselves. They a get worn out and go through flat spells where they lack impact.

Mumford had been in great touch going solo and suddenly he lacked impact against the Swans.

Ruckman in my opinion can't keep having great games week after week if they are going solo. They tire and lack impact.

I think ruckman can go solo for three straight games before going flat.

That's why I propose that Pyke goes two games on and one game off. Opposition ruckman don't want Tom D flying into them when he is fresh and can give his all. You then bring back Pyke who is fresh and ready after a break.

[mcs]

Jacobs gets some help from Jenkins. Lobbe and Goldstene do it mainly themselves. They a get worn out and go through flat spells where they lack impact.

Mumford had been in great touch going solo and suddenly he lacked impact against the Swans.

Ruckman in my opinion can't keep having great games week after week if they are going solo. They tire and lack impact.

I think ruckman can go solo for three straight games before going flat.

That's why I propose that Pyke goes two games on and one game off. Opposition ruckman don't want Tom D flying into them when he is fresh and can give his all. You then bring back Pyke who is fresh and ready after a break.

Surely that wouldn't be good for continuity - both on pyke's side and for the team. A key part of the art of ruckwork is having a good relationship with your midfield, so that they know where you will tap it and you know where you will be. This is a relationship that consistently needs to be forged and reforged. Surely leaving Pyke out every 3 weeks would do much more damage than good.

[MomentByMoment]

I totally agree.
Play one ruck at a time and rotate them if needed.

[Ludwig]

Pyke has had plenty of rest this season recovering from injury. He needs to work his way back into form. His marking which was so good last year is way off. There's a break in a couple of weeks and he can get a bit of rest then. We can also rest him for the St. Kilda game if he needs it, which would be a good time to give Nanka a game.

[Faunac8]

So many down on TD who IMO has performed admirably in the exact role he was recruited for. No matter how poorly those sages have rated his performance it is worth remembering the thinking behind his recruitment.
A very wise man once said something along the lines of ( my apologies to the whoever it was maybe Bob Dyer? )
Quick little fellers get slower as the game goes on but slow big fellers don't get any shorter.
TD mature body and physical impact had quite a few opposition midfielders second guessing his movements during his run of games. He created a number of blocks for our guys and generally provided a presence at contests.
Any higher expectations need to coincide with higher paypackets i.e you get what you pay for.

[Go Swannies]

So many down on TD who IMO has performed admirably in the exact role he was recruited for. No matter how poorly those sages have rated his performance it is worth remembering the thinking behind his recruitment.
A very wise man once said something along the lines of ( my apologies to the whoever it was maybe Bob Dyer? )
Quick little fellers get slower as the game goes on but slow big fellers don't get any shorter.
TD mature body and physical impact had quite a few opposition midfielders second guessing his movements during his run of games. He created a number of blocks for our guys and generally provided a presence at contests.
Any higher expectations need to coincide with higher paypackets i.e you get what you pay for.

I'm finding the TD downers quite bizarre. He didn't cost much, he has never played in a Swans' loss, he has proved invaluable when Mike was long term injured, he's improved greatly and I think, from some early postings, that he may cover his entire salary in female bookings for Swans events. It's good that JL not RWO is the coach. I'm looking forward to TD being around for years to come - and Ludwig and Brian Taylor jointly eating their words about our ruck combo.

[Ludwig]

TD mature body and physical impact had quite a few opposition midfielders second guessing his movements during his run of games.
Any higher expectations need to coincide with higher paypackets i.e you get what you pay for.

He had a few of our midfielders wondering as well. As for the paypacket, I agree, and you get what you pay for. I wouldn't deny that Tom has lived up to expectations.

I'm looking forward to TD being around for years to come - and Ludwig and Brian Taylor jointly eating their words about our ruck combo.

If TD is around a long time we'll be accused of tanking.

Please don't lump me in with Brian Taylor. I've always been a fan of Pyke. Most commentators have praised Tom Derickx, so I've not been in the same camp as the so called experts on this one.

I will say it again: I am not criticising Tom's effort nor the fact that he filled in admirably when we had no other options. I just think that when the heat is on during the finals we will need every advantage possible. If Pyke is not close to his best we will be up against it.

[goswannies]

So many down on TD who IMO has performed admirably in the exact role he was recruited for. No matter how poorly those sages have rated his performance it is worth remembering the thinking behind his recruitment.
A very wise man once said something along the lines of ( my apologies to the whoever it was maybe Bob Dyer? )
Quick little fellers get slower as the game goes on but slow big fellers don't get any shorter.

Bob might've said it first but Jack Dyer made it famous

& based on that logic we should've gone after 211.4cm US guy ... his shortness is taller than TD's shortness

[Meg]

I'm finding the TD downers quite bizarre. I think, from some early postings, that he may cover his entire salary in female bookings for Swans events.

You are right there!

[Faunac8]

Bob might've said it first but Jack Dyer made it famous
Aaah yep excuse my error I was taking lunch was short of time and for some reason unforgivably got Captain Blood mixed up with an American expat quiz show host. The sentiment remains however

& based on that logic we should've gone after 211.4cm US guy ... his shortness is taller than TD's shortness

It's not exactly logic it's more an observation. Logic really has no place in footy and the minds of true footy fans.

[Nico]

Bob might've said it first but Jack Dyer made it famous

& based on that logic we should've gone after 211.4cm US guy ... his shortness is taller than TD's shortness

Or was it Bob Davis that said that. Sounds too intelligent for Jack Dyer

[Melb Blood Bro]

Surely that wouldn't be good for continuity - both on pyke's side and for the team. A key part of the art of ruckwork is having a good relationship with your midfield, so that they know where you will tap it and you know where you will be. This is a relationship that consistently needs to be forged and reforged. Surely leaving Pyke out every 3 weeks would do much more damage than good.

I agree 100%. The mids need to know where the ruck is going to tap it without having to think too much about it. This sixth sense comes from familiarisation after playing numerous games together.

Most teams don't just play one ruck each week on a rotational basis. They have a no.1 ruck and a support ruck. That way the no.1 ruck can rest during games. Taking a whole week off will just unsettle the team.