Rucking Duties

[Presti35]

Grundy is on the way out.

And it sounds like we wont be swinging some miracle deal to replace him with another quality ruckman.

But wouldnt you love to be able to? Any one of these guys would do me for 2023:

Reilly O'Brien. 202cm, 27yo. https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/R/Reilly_OBrien.html
Had our chance to pull this deal when Grundy was looking at a move back to SA. Before the mega deal.

Sam Draper. 203cm, 24yo. https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/S/Sam_Draper.html
Essendon would be crazy to let him leave. They wont. But geez, wouldnt that be the greatest. Out of contract after 2023.

Sean Darcy 202cm, 24yo. https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/S/Sean_Darcy.html
Signed on until the end of 2024 with Freo. They're not letting him go.

Jarrod Witts. 209cm, 30yo. https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/J/Jarrod_Witts.html
Remember when we had 2 good ruckmen on our list at the same time? That seems to be the in thing now. Would welcome him back with open arms, but now over 30.

The old men:
Todd Goldstein and Nic Nat have both signed 1 year deals to remain at their clubs. But wouldn't have been completely against bringing one here for a year, to buy us time to look for next year and beyond.

Ryder has called it a day, but would have been an ok option for a year if injuries hadn't caught up with him.

The cheap option:
Sam Hayes. 205cm, 23yo. https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/S/Sam_Hayes.html

This is sounding like the most likely scenario. He had a lot of hitouts for so little amount of games played. But I dunno man.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

Grundy has to do the right thing and stay at Collingwood he owes it to the club and supporters

[Pies4shaw]

For God’s sake, 90, the Club is emptying him out. Wright wants his salary off the books, so it’s no good suggesting Thor “owes” us anything.

[RudeBoy]

[Mr Miyagi]

We can’t replace him, he’s a bit unique. We just get another ruck and adjust our game accordingly

[think better]

I wonder if someone out of left field might be worth a shot

Harry Boyd was BOG in the SANFL grand final - 23 year old and a bit of a late developer but still only 24

https://sanfl.com.au/league/news/harry-boyd-wins-2022-jack-oatey-medal/

[Pies2016]

But are we replacing him or choosing to run with the same again in 2023 ?
If we’re prepared to off load a good ruckman, why would we invest in another lesser version when we’ve already got three on the list ( I’m including an undersized Begg ) Frampton comes to us at 201cm, so there maybe some limited scope there …or not.

[RudeBoy]

[magpieazza]

We have Cameron and Cox who got us to a prelim. Add pinch hitting Kreuger, McStay, Frampton and up coming Begg. One more may be ok but I reckon we can get by with this lot.

[stui magpie]

Lets be realistic. Grundy is a very good Ruckman/Follower but he's not the prototype perfect ruck. He was given a large and long contract because he was integral to our game style under Buckley, but Bucks ain't here no more and the new administration clearly thinks his value to the team isn't worth what he's being paid.

Unpack that for a second. Both Leppa and Fly won 3 premierships at Brisbane as players with a ruckman with zero ruck craft, just a large body crash and bash merchant. Then both coached at Richmond who won 3 premierships with a neanderthal grunt and a midget on a pogo stick rucking.

Fly's game style doesn't need Grundy, it's not reliant on what he brings, so clearly the thought is to save some cash. Cox and Cameron have been serviceable in his absence, the Ruck hasn't been what's cost us.

Weagles won in 2018 against us without their best ruck, Nic Nat, but with Lycett and Vardy doing the ruck work against Grundy.

Look at the 2 teams playing in the Grannie this weekend.

Sydney's ruckman is Tom Hickey who could most kindly be called a journeyman. A gun ruckman he is not and never will be as long as his arse points downwards.

Geelong has Stanley and Blicavs. See above description of Hickey.

When Hawthorn won their 4 flags while Wright was there, did they have a gun Ruckman? Nope.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Fly went with Cox and Cameron for next year with Begg as back up while maybe picking up a backup cheap from the state leaagues or as a rookie. Getting a replacement for Grundy won't be a priority IMHO, not because Grundy isn't a very good player but because our game style doesn't require one. And as an ex ruckman, that hurts to say.

[piedys]

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

Like some more inside bull mids and clearance specialists and of course a tall key forward

[piedys]

[Piesnchess]

[watt price tully]