Ruckmen.

[Melb Blood Bro]

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.

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.

I agree. TD's not an A grade ruckman but he certainly has been an excellent B grade ruckman for us.

What's this about the females bookings? Do the ladies like him? I clearly don't know much about women's tastes then. I would have thought that Pike was one of the better looking guys in the team.

[bodgie]

DerX did great. I don't reckon Nanker et al as a complete newbies could have done that over as many weeks. Come finals time we will need D's toughness and limited experience.

[Ludwig]

DerX did great. I don't reckon Nanker et al as a complete newbies could have done that over as many weeks. Come finals time we will need D's toughness and limited experience.

[Hartijon]

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.

Totally agree that the rotation idea is a good way to lose a Grand Final.Team cohesion is paramont and playing the same player in the same spot week after week makes this cohesion develop. The team begins to play as one.Winning the centre breaks usually wins you the game.The degree of understanding that develops between your Ruckmen and Midfielders is crucial to winning that clearance.Mess with this and we will experience losses.

[Jewels]

I agree. TD's not an A grade ruckman but he certainly has been an excellent B grade ruckman for us.

What's this about the females bookings? Do the ladies like him? I clearly don't know much about women's tastes then. I would have thought that Pike was one of the better looking guys in the team.

From a mature females point of view at least, TD is a very fine example of the human male, and whilst Pykie didn't exactly fall out of the ugly tree, he isn't a patch on Tom.

Totally agree that the rotation idea is a good way to lose a Grand Final.Team cohesion is paramont and playing the same player in the same spot week after week makes this cohesion develop. The team begins to play as one.Winning the centre breaks usually wins you the game.The degree of understanding that develops between your Ruckmen and Midfielders is crucial to winning that clearance.Mess with this and we will experience losses.

This. I have heard Josh Kennedy many times over the years (sadly not anymore) put his ability to clear the ball down to knowing exactly where Mummy was going to tap it.

[Derryn23]

I'm with the current ruck threads here. I don't feel as though we need to trade any of our picks for another ruck. We are 17th-18th for hitouts this season, so would like to try Naismith or Toby next season with another pre-sason under their belts. Let's face reality, Derickx is not on the list to be our starting ruck, he is 3rd in line and was really only brought over as insurance. He's been fair considering what it cost us to get him.

I'm fairly certain Kinnear knows what he's doing so unless Goldstein says he wants to come to Sydney then we should just hold out for Naismith/Toby combo....

[Bloody Hell]

This thread is either a year too late, or three years early...I can't decide which.

[Melb Blood Bro]

From a mature females point of view at least, TD is a very fine example of the human male, and whilst Pykie didn't exactly fall out of the ugly tree, he isn't a patch on Tom.



This. I have heard Josh Kennedy many times over the years (sadly not anymore) put his ability to clear the ball down to knowing exactly where Mummy was going to tap it.

I'm sure he'll get used reading Pyke again when they get some games together. I might add the Goodes has had no issue reading TD in their games together.

[Hartijon]

I'm sure he'll get used reading Pyke again when they get some games together. I might add the Goodes has had no issue reading TD in their games together.

Kennedy reads the tap but is an inside wrestler who uses his strength to force the ball out. We need this type of player but we also need the player who can hit the ball at PACE once it is tapped. Watch Nick Davis in 2005 for the most classic demonstration of this skill! Goodes is very good(sorry!) at this and KJ does this effectively too.The rest prefer to wait for the first handball out which we also need. You know the teamwork is working when a sideways tap goes straight to one of our players running at pace who breaks through the centre players . Freo is good at this and it is good ruckwork which contary to JD,s comment, shows how a good ruckman can be an attacking weapon.

[Meg]

Today's reserves report includes the following which should please Ludwig.

"In the absence of Toby Nankervis, who missed the match with a fractured finger, rookie ruckman Sam Naismith was superb for the Swans reserves and produced his best match for the season.

While Naismith was dominant in the ruck contests, his follow up around the ground and defensive pressure was equally impressive, with the 21-year-old showcasing his athleticism throughout the match."

[Ludwig]

Today's reserves report includes the following which should please Ludwig.

"In the absence of Toby Nankervis, who missed the match with a fractured finger, rookie ruckman Sam Naismith was superb for the Swans reserves and produced his best match for the season.

While Naismith was dominant in the ruck contests, his follow up around the ground and defensive pressure was equally impressive, with the 21-year-old showcasing his athleticism throughout the match."