Rnd 20, vs Essendon at Marvel, on Saturday 29 July, 7:25 PM

[i'm-uninformed2]

Curiously we won 19 of the 22 second halves in the regular season last year

I reckon the difference in our running power this year to last year was obvious from about round 3. That hard, surge running that was a feature of our game was missing. And it's essential to have it as it opens up so many options, both offensively and defensively. There's been a few better signs the last couple of weeks, but nowhere near the level we had last year - think the late season H&A game against the Pies, or the final against Melbourne. We were just relentless.

I suspect something went a bit wrong in our preseason and it was then compounded by injuries. But we're a professional club and I'm sure it'll be reviewed as part of the standard end-of-season review, if it hasn't already been looked at.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

McAndrew is miles off it. Yes he can bring the ball to ground, but the opposition ruckman have been having a birthday running off and having impact on the game. He is a work in progress, and the early signs are encouraging, but it will take time.
Agree with you on McLean, he is a trier but is undersized, and not the long term solution.
Armartey on the other hand is quick and has natural spring, and in my opinion can play the Sam Reid forward/ ruck role, but again is not the answer to the first ruck problem

I'm changing my tune a bit regarding McLean. I think I described him as a liability when he relieves in the ruck.
His development in the ruck this year (not just the last few weeks) has made me reconsider. He is now charging in, in a satisfactorily vigourous manner. So I would now be far more comfortable having him as the go-to guy when our main ruck is having a breather. It would also allow the more dynamic Amarty to be put into the break-in-case-of-emergency ruckman class, so he can focus on becoming a key forward in partnership with Logan.

I still don't see Hayden as a primary ruck, I see the current situation as an aberration.

[Roadrunner]

I'm changing my tune a bit regarding McLean. I think I described him as a liability when he relieves in the ruck.
His development in the ruck this year (not just the last few weeks) has made me reconsider. He is now charging in, in a satisfactorily vigourous manner. So I would now be far more comfortable having him as the go-to guy when our main ruck is having a breather. It would also allow the more dynamic Amarty to be put into the break-in-case-of-emergency ruckman class, so he can focus on becoming a key forward in partnership with Logan.

I still don't see Hayden as a primary ruck, I see the current situation as an aberration.

Agreed R&R. McLean gives his all but he’s not a no.1 ruckman, at least not at this stage. He’s young so you can’t tell how he will develop but I see him more as a forward, though as Ludwig suggested, he could be tried down back as he’s a good mark. If big Tom doesn’t rediscover last year’s form we really will need a top ruck for next few years until Stretch develops more into the role.

[wolftone57]

Not paying for a contract?

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

Stringer signed on for a further 3 years in 2021. End of next year

[Dow]

McAndrew is miles off it. Yes he can bring the ball to ground, but the opposition ruckman have been having a birthday running off and having impact on the game. He is a work in progress, and the early signs are encouraging, but it will take time.
Agree with you on McLean, he is a trier but is undersized, and not the long term solution.
Armartey on the other hand is quick and has natural spring, and in my opinion can play the Sam Reid forward/ ruck role, but again is not the answer to the first ruck problem

Amartey is all hype at the moment needs to sty more involved in games and for the love of god hold a mark lol

[Ruck'n'Roll]

If big Tom doesn’t rediscover last year’s form we really will need a top ruck for next few years until Stretch develops more into the role.

I've been impressed with the development of "Stretch", last year he looked about as likely a prospect as Andrew Ericksen. I'm glad he got a taste but he's certainly not anywhere near ready to play in the firsts at this stage. In the meantime, I see a lot more to like in the "Mensa" in the ruck.
I'd like to see Mensa as first ruck, with McLean relieving him. Mensa can 'rest' up forward if the game situation warrants a bruiser in the forward line. As already mentioned I'd try to keep Amarty focussed on working in with Logan. Leave his ruck visitations to those occasions when we lose a ruck to injury during a game, or perhaps if he's looking ineffective up forward and the coaches think a short spell runing around in the ruck might ginger him up.