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Reviewing the rucks: Freo, Geelong and GC

Roar Guru
16th February, 2012
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Roar Guru
16th February, 2012
1

Before this next lot of reviews, it’s worth pointing out some of my criteria for these gradings. As I’ve already stated, the grades are opinion based, and others are welcome to challenge and disagree with me.

I am not grading ruck divisions against each other, that will be decided come game day.

I base these grades on the following key criteria: flexibility, ability/experience, depth and potential this season.

With that said, lets get into some of the more interesting ruck divisions this season.

Fremantle:

Number one: Aaron Sandilands.
Back ups: Jonathon Griffin, Zac Clarke.

2011: As expected, and has been the case for so long now, Sandilands was not only the main ruckman for Freo, but seemingly the league. At 211cm the man mountain dominates the league for height, and over the last few seasons has become a genuinely great tap ruckman and bullocking hulk either up forward or down back.

Season 2011 was one the big man would love to forget I would imagine, suffering from ligament damage in his toe, an injury commonly referred to, rather unflatteringly, as ‘Turf Toe’.

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During the biggest of big men’s absence we saw perhaps the best of Freo’s ruck division as a whole. Griffin, former much maligned Adelaide benchwarmer and the young Clarke stepped up effortlessly and admirably into the gaping void left by Sandilands, proving depth to what was once a very one dimensional ruck brigade.

Grading: A.

Geelong:

Number one: Pending.
Back ups: Orren Stephenson, Trent West, Nathan Vardy, Dawson Simpson, Ryan Bathie, Joel Hamling (forward)

2011: Last season saw the triumphant Cats lose one of the games best and most loved ruckman in Brad ‘The Pill’ Ottens. The premiership ruckman leaves behind a young (well, mostly) but extremely talented group behind him, who will be mentored by the Pill himself who has returned to the club in a part-time coaching capacity.

Players like Vardy, Simpson and West showed some real promise late last year, and mature ager Stephenson has a lot of really positive mail with his name attached. But the real question on this group is whether they can be great like we would expect from Geelong. No doubt one day, but will it come this season?

Grade: B, with a side note – this team gets points for exciting prospect, and for flexibility with three great youngsters and Stephenson ready to step straight in, but obviously lose points for AFL experience and ability. Will happily be proven wrong.

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Gold Coast:

Number one: Zac Smith.
Back ups: Josh Fraser, Daniel Gorringe, Tom Hickey, Thomas Nicholls.

2011: Season 2011 belonged to Smith. Close behind Essendon’s Dyson Heppell in the NAB Rising Star, former soccer player Smith proved he has everything it takes to be a full-flight lead ruckman (easily overtaking experienced ex-Magpie teammate Fraser) and, importantly, a marketable poster boy for the league’s new boys.

Whether the dreaded ‘second year blues’ will strike Smith down this season is yet to be seen, and Fraser is a more than competent replacement. However, despite this depth is still very much lacking, and really the onus will be on Smith and Fraser all year with Gorringe little more than a part timer.

What will hamper the Suns this season is the same that thing that hampered them last season – inexperience. This ruck group will still struggle against older and bigger bodies at throw ins and ball ups, and still susceptible to experienced midfields at ground level, but then none of us expect anything different really.

Having said that, the ruck brigade is something the Gold Coast should be very proud of, and will only improve on with Smith as the centerpiece. For now, however, it’s still one game at a time. Let’s hope second year blues doesn’t hit Smith!

Grade: B-.

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