Tom Derickx’s return from a hamstring injury is set to mount pressure on 2012 premiership star Mike Pyke in a bid to claim the Swans’ number one ruck spot.
Derickx played 12 straight matches in 2014, following the opening-round loss to GWS before injury brought his season to an abrupt end.
After starting the pre-season with a personal best in a three-kilometre time-trial, the 204-centimetre ruckman looks destined to challenge for selection come Round 1, 2015.
The problem for Derickx is that slotting back into this Swans team has proven an exceedingly difficult task.
Most of the Swans’ offseason departures came from outside the starting 22, meaning there is no obvious avenue in for the 26-year-old.
The likes of Tim Membrey, Shane Biggs, Lewis Roberts-Thompson and Ryan O’Keefe made cameo appearances throughout the year without cementing a place in the line-up.
While averaging slightly fewer hit-outs and disposals than Pyke in his short time at the Swans, Derickx proved his worth around the ground averaging 3.3 tackles and kicking 5 goals.
Derickx’s injury in Round 14 made way for the returning Kurt Tippett, who played a reduced role in the ruck.
Tippett spent less time helping Pyke than a traditional forward/ruckman due to a history of knee problems, but certainly did enough to rule out the need for a dedicated second-choice.
At no stage did Pyke, Derickx and Tippett all play alongside each other in the same game in 2014, and coach John Longmire has enough reason to be satisfied with Tippett’s ruck output.
Tippett averaged 5.5 hitouts per game, including a game of 16 against Richmond in Round 23 where he shared the duties with debutant Sam Naismith.
It is especially unlikely that the trio would all line up together considering the tall timber already residing in the Sydney forward line.
After signing a deal to remain in red and white beyond 2015, 31-year-old Pyke is rightfully odds-on favourite to contest the opening bounce.
However if Longmire plans to really shake things up following that unspeakable day in September, don’t be surprised to see Derickx get regular game time in 2015.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Chucking Tippett in the ruck is like taking a Bentley to the drags. Yes, it does have the physical capabilities to handle it, but it wasn't what it was designed for. But hey, if Sydney don't mind seeing their $800,000/year product with a duff knee go clattering into a bunch of $20 two metre young turks from rival clubs, anxious to prove themselves, more power to them. I can think of better ways to use him though. I guarantee you the first time he does his knee in a ruck contest they'll stop doing it though. And they should have stopped doing it long before that.
Stewie
Guest
God our rucks are awful...