Our rucks are overrated.

[RudeBoy]

While both Grundy and Witts are young developing ruckmen, todays game, where they got thrashed by one bloke their own age, on one leg, in Gawn, demonstrates that this is our major weakness. History has shown us that unless you have a good ruckman, capable of winning hitouts as well as impacting around the ground, it's hard to win games of footy. Given that neither Grundy or Witts rarely win in the ruck, it only inflates this weakness by playing them both. Basically each time we play both ruckmen we are playing with one man less than our opponents. Witts must be dropped next week.

[Deja Vu]

I think for 2 years running our form slump has coincided with Bucks insisting on playing 2 rucks.

Pick one and trade the other out. Grundy stays and see what you can get for Witts. Jessica White to play back up ruck (sacrifice his body) until either Mason Cox or Moore can be relied on to pinch hit

[Pies4shaw]

Witts was the less hopeless of the 2 today. That said, the game was lost in the forward line where, apart from Fasolo, no-one much could get a kick.

[woodys_world69]

you need to be able to kick a footy half decently to go a small forward line

[AN_Inkling]

Gawn is two years older than Grundy.

I don't think our rucks are overrated at all, they are both excellent prospects and Grundy has had a pretty good season. They are young though and won't be playing well every week at this stage.

I've been against playing them both in the same team from the beginning. It doesn't work at this stage and won't until either of them is capable as a forward. For where we're at though, I think it's the right move. They need to play and we need to decide whether we want to keep two first rucks or whether we can move Witts on and look for a more mobile second ruck option.

[Pies4shaw]

[HAL]

What does "it" refer to?

[MightyMagpie]

Each of Grundy and Witts has looked best this season rucking solo.

I notice the Club was recently talking up big Cox's ability to play AFL if needed.

I still think trading away Witts would be a mistake as history shows you need some ruck depth.

[RudeBoy]

[Pies4shaw]

I suppose it depends what the aim is - Collingwood can't win the flag (it couldn't six weeks ago, either), so I guess they're trying to fast-track the development of the rucks.

Is this a good thing? I don't know but I agree it's just miserable to watch the team at the moment.

[Tannin]

[Pies4shaw]

What about Guy Richards aka the man who let the 2007 preliminary final break his tackle?

[AN_Inkling]

Hit outs were 36-38. Clearances 40-33, centre clearances 15-6.

Gawn was better around the ground than Witts or Grundy, but I don't think we were smashed in the ruck.

The main area of concern is marking. Grundy and Witts combined for 3, Gawn took 6.

[swoop42]

Neither had great days. Both are still young.

The worry is both are better suited to the mantle of No.1 ruck and playing them together you get about 2/3 of the player should would otherwise.

I'm on the record as being a bigger Grundy fan, younger of the two and has more in the way of natural aggression and generally finds more of the footy.

My worry is that Wits could end up another Warnock if he doesn't lift his physicality.

Wouldn't surprise if Cox was a better tap ruck option in 12 months and I remain open to trading Witts for something excellent in return.

[inxs88]

Rucks give me the shits!