Let’s look into the preseason shape of the AFL ruck divisions. This is not an exercise in predicting the form of teams, players or divisions, but the current shape and value of each division.
Grades should not to be used to compare against other teams, but as a form of evaluating the current situation at the club in question.
Carlton Blues
Number one ruckman: Matthew Kruezer
Backups: Robert Warnock, Sam Rowe, Shaun Hampson
What I said last year: Kruezer fit, Warnock excellent deputy. Grade A+
2013: Carlton is going to be my ‘team to watch’ in 2013.
There are just so many possibilities across every line, and so much expectation placed on Mick Malthouse’s shoulders. Will he return them to finals contention? Or will his coaching and game plan prove too much to grasp and the Blues suffer a Melbourne-esque slide?
One thing Mick doesn’t need to concern his moustachioed head about is his new ruck division.
Last year, a group of men I gave an A+ probably only put in a B+ to an A- level performance. I know, I’m a harsh marker.
It’s hard for a ruck brigade to look good when the rest of the team is so up and down and have their colours lowered by lesser teams (like the Gold Coast). Injuries did not help across the board and the loss of their prime target Judd to suspension made life very hard for the big men.
Carlton’s great white hope Kruezer limped through most of 2012. Back up Hampson (13 games) suffered from inconsistency.
Warnock (5 games) suffered from ‘VFLitus,’ despite being re-signed on for another three years.
This year, however, Kruezer is training the house down, and is gifted with confidence in his body might finally start rag-dolling opponents and revealing his true physical presence.
We all know Mick likes a big full forward, so I would expect Hampson to primarily fill this role, and a change in coaching could well be the opportunity Warnock needs to fully realise his potential.
Last years performance reminds us that potential isn’t always enough. But all signs are positive, and Blues fans have the right to feel optimistic about their ruck stocks at least.
Grade: A
Collingwood Magpies
Number one ruckman: Darren Jolly
Back Ups: Ben Hudson, Jarrod Witts, Brodie Grundy, Quinton Lynch and Corey Gault.
What I said last year: Jolly soldiers on, but stocks not as a deep as they appear.
Collingwood pulled of the most audacious move of draft night in 2012, drafting the number one bigman in last year’s pool, Heath Grundy.
Watching this kid at the under 18s carnival you can see why he got such high praise- he’s a beast.
He still has a boy’s body, and will take along time to get to the ideal weight for his style of play. However, against men his own age he played like the biggest man on earth with an attitude to match.
How he was left for the Pies is anyone’s guess but the point is now moot.
Grundy has been added to a new-look ruck brigade, joining newly acquired recent retiree Ben Hudson and champion Darren Jolly.
Under the tutelage of Hudson, expect Grundy to grow into Jolly’s heir. He’ll be smashing packs and crippling lesser mortals in a few years.
Hudson will probably fill a role not unlike Dean Brogan at the Giants as an on-field coach and off field mentor, and former Eagle forward Quinten Lynch will probably be better suited as a key forward and will fill in some ruck duties at times.
In the meantime Jolly, Hudson and Lynch make up one of the most experienced ruck divisions in the game. Many will argue that Hudson is past it, and an injury to the former Crow turned Bulldog turned Lion turned Magpie may expose Collingwood.
But the example of Dean Brogan proves that a mature aged ruckman (properly managed and with the right support) can play the fill in role required, while proving invaluable as un official coach.
Grade: A
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