Player Watch Nathan Kreuger (Delisted 2024)

[Mollythedolly]

Is Kroog a competent ruckman, no. But I don't think McStay is great either. At their best, they are just barely good enough for a true 2nd ruckman.
However, we also don't need 20+ hitouts from wither of them either.
DC has been solid and could carry 70% of the ruck duties and filling defensive holes behind play.
If we got 15% ruck duties out of both of Kroog and D-Mac, it'll be better for our forward structure.
Then we won't have to bring in AJ as a small key position forward who can't ruck at all.

His ruck work can be a bit hit and miss, but he always gives a strong contest, and turns on the Grundyesque beast mode when the footy hits the deck.

 

[IlovethePies]

Abolutely love the fact that NK is now getting game time opportunity to show what he is capable of. it is awesome that we have him as an ace up our sleeve. Would like to see him getting plenty of game time from now on, because he might just be a crucial card in our deck come September.

 

[No SPIN]

Cox hasn’t been at his best for a long time. Forward of the ball at least. That’s why kreuger has entered the conversation. There’s no point playing cox to be only a second ruck. He’s needs to be a ruck/forward. On current form, he isn’t

On current form neither is Krueger.

 

[No SPIN]

I would agree, however Cox coming back from injury might not be great.

But if he is in good form - then clearly that makes him beat 22.

 

[whiskeytown]

Keep playing him until if/when he gets injured

Need to make the most of his form and fitness - if it’s limited before injury

And need to continue to bank the wins to stay in touch with top 4

I doubt it gets to a point where all of mcstay, cox and Krueger are available at once

That would be like a triple rainbow

 

[Pleasedontfail11]

Last year Cox was in his best form right after coming back from his spleen injury, as well as after having a few weeks in the vfl before finals.

Cameron came back from the same knee injury that Cox currently has and was poor for the rest of the season. Its hard to say but usually with knees it takes a while to get that form back. I'm a Cox fan. I like the ruck security he brings if something happens to Cameron and I don't think that Kreuger offers that. I also like what he can do in the forward line and that's not necessarily goals. But I also like that Kreuger has an opportunity, he certainly has his own gifts.

 

[Pleasedontfail11]

But if he is in good form - then clearly that makes him beat 22.

He has been best 22 for alot of his career baring a patch when he really struggled with his eyes. But he is 33 and when he comes back from a knee, who knows?

 

[stormskye]

On current form neither is Krueger.

True spinny. But I don’t value playing a ruck just to play a few minutes cover in the ruck, when it costs us elsewhere. I’d rather have a weaker second ruck and stronger forward, than a stronger ruck and weak forward.

All IMO of course

 

[DopeMaster]

On current form neither is Krueger.

Kreuger kicked 3 goals against Melbourne, and could have had another 3 against North if he'd kicked straight (which he usually does). IMO that's a greater contribution to the team than short periods of advantage in the ruck. If he maintains that, I think he's already bringing more to the table than Cox. That's before getting into closing speed which assists our forward pressure game, crashing packs etc. I guess I just value a forward/ruck pinch hitting more than a ruck/forward. If he maintains his current form, I'd prefer him in the team over Cox.

 

[Apex36]

You can always manufacture goals- as you saw tonight with Geelong-without a genuine ruckman in the team your chances of winning are greatly diminished. In finals I'd suggest you need two genuine rucks as most contenders have more than one option. Those stoppages are so important and if your second ruck is a much smaller forward filling in for five minutes a good ruckman can do untold damage, particularly at forward line stoppages.

We have a genuine ruck, so that one is moot. Geelong not having a genuine number 1 ruck last night is completely irrelevant in a discussion about the merits of a second genuine ruck vs a forward/ruck. In fact, if you want to bring up last nights game as an example, you’d do well to recognise that Carlton have been trying this year to play both Pittonet and TDK in the same team. You’d also do well to look at their record when they both play vs when TDK goes it alone.

I’m curious. Which teams in the current top 6 are actually currently running a genuine 2 ruck setup? I know for a fact that the current top 2 teams aren’t, so which fearsome ruck combo is going to be kicking arse and taking names and doing “untold damage” for 5 minutes a quarter come finals time?

 

[Apex36]

On current form neither is Krueger.

He’s kicked 4 goals in 2 games. Hard to argue that’s not a significantly better forward return than Masons 3 goals in 11 games this year…

 

[domus]

True spinny. But I don’t value playing a ruck just to play a few minutes cover in the ruck, when it costs us elsewhere. I’d rather have a weaker second ruck and stronger forward, than a stronger ruck and weak forward.

All IMO of course

No Cox no flag in 2023. Those last ten minutes he was critical including the tap to Nick which set up the legendary Degoey goal.

We would never have reached the GF except for that contested mark and only goal for us in the last quarter from Big Coxy.

 

[gouki88]

No Cox no flag in 2023. Those last ten minutes he was critical including the tap to Nick which set up the legendary Degoey goal.

We would never have reached the GF except for that contested mark and only goal for us in the last quarter from Big Coxy.

Is it still 2023?

 

[stormskye]

No Cox no flag in 2023. Those last ten minutes he was critical including the tap to Nick which set up the legendary Degoey goal.

We would never have reached the GF except for that contested mark and only goal for us in the last quarter from Big Coxy.

I’m not dropping cox in 2023. He’s been poor this season outside of the ruck. Nobody is talking last season domus. On current form cox is a ruck, not a ruck/forward. I don’t want us playing two rucks

 

[sr36]

Cameron came back from the same knee injury that Cox currently has and was poor for the rest of the season. Its hard to say but usually with knees it takes a while to get that form back. I'm a Cox fan. I like the ruck security he brings if something happens to Cameron and I don't think that Kreuger offers that. I also like what he can do in the forward line and that's not necessarily goals. But I also like that Kreuger has an opportunity, he certainly has his own gifts.

It really is a discussion for about 6 weeks time when Krueger has hopefully put out a block of work. If he goes well and McStay is back and playing well, it'll come down to which of Cox or Krueger's strengths you'd prefer, as they do both potentially have strengths which are quite different.

 

[TheVillageIdiot7]

It really is a discussion for about 6 weeks time when Krueger has hopefully put out a block of work. If he goes well and McStay is back and playing well, it'll come down to which of Cox or Krueger's strengths you'd prefer, as they do both potentially have strengths which are quite different.

agree.
If we’re having this convo in 6-8 weeks…then things are going well.

Up until then, I’m looking fwd to seeing what Freddy continues to bring and how he works with checkers.

 

[manicpie]

It really is a discussion for about 6 weeks time when Krueger has hopefully put out a block of work. If he goes well and McStay is back and playing well, it'll come down to which of Cox or Krueger's strengths you'd prefer, as they do both potentially have strengths which are quite different.

You sound a bit ambivalent

 

[sr36]

You sound a bit ambivalent

I am at the moment. A lot of ifs have to occur first - all of McStay, Cox and Freddy have to be fit and have to have shown enough to justify selection.

Then even if the ifs line up I don't think there's a definitive answer. I think Freddy will go OK, but like Cox will throw up some good and some bad and one week you'd get more from Freddy and the other more from Cox.

 

[manicpie]

I am at the moment. A lot of ifs have to occur first - all of McStay, Cox and Freddy have to be fit and have to have shown enough to justify selection.

Then even if the ifs line up I don't think there's a definitive answer. I think Freddy will go OK, but like Cox will throw up some good and some bad and one week you'd get more from Freddy and the other more from Cox.

Yeah, I have the same conundrums. It'll come down to who's performing the best at the time I suppose.

 

[No SPIN]

He’s kicked 4 goals in 2 games. Hard to argue that’s not a significantly better forward return than Masons 3 goals in 11 games this year…

It’s not his fwd contribution that I’m questioning- just his Ruck work.

 

[Apex36]

It’s not his fwd contribution that I’m questioning- just his Ruck work.

Perhaps you should be questioning both. As it stands, Cox this year has been useful as a tap ruckman and not much else. Cameron has been coping fine without him, shouldering a heavier load without much issue, and our forward line has been straightened up with the addition of Kreuger. We aren’t in 2023 anymore and Cox hasn’t been contributing to the level he was.

I’m sorry but it’s extremely difficult to justify playing a second pure ruckman who’s not also a forward threat in the 22, and this year Cox is most definitely not the forward threat he was in 2023.

 

[3rdMan]

Not sure I agree. If Kreuger can manage say 2 goals per game to coxs say one, then what we lose in ruck might be worth it. Especially if that opens up opportunities for Mihocek

Also depends how much ruck time Kreuger might actually need. He could job share with frampton for example and Cameron spend more time on ball.

And you're being generous to Cox here. He has 3 goals for the year. Kreuger matched him in one game.

There is some value to Cox's ruck work, but if the rest of his game is giving us next to nothing, he'll be under pressure if Kreuger is healthy and performing. Even in the ruck, there are aspects where Kreuger would be preferred - body on body work and follow up.

There's no clear preference right now. Strong form from Kreuger could secure him the spot, because Cox's form has not been good. If Kreuger plays well he won't be dropped just because Cox is available. They may both play together until McStay is available.

 

[3rdMan]

His ruck work can be a bit hit and miss, but he always gives a strong contest, and turns on the Grundyesque beast mode when the footy hits the deck.

Good point. His strength in the ruck contest is an advantage over Cox. Heard Gawn talking today about a new trend of rucks staying down and using their strength rather than leap in the ruck. He's been working on adapting to it. This type of rucking would suit Kreuger more than Cox.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

And you're being generous to Cox here. He has 3 goals for the year. Kreuger matched him in one game.

There is some value to Cox's ruck work, but if the rest of his game is giving us next to nothing, he'll be under pressure if Kreuger is healthy and performing. Even in the ruck, there are aspects where Kreuger would be preferred - body on body work and follow up.

There's no clear preference right now. Strong form from Kreuger could secure him the spot, because Cox's form has not been good. If Kreuger plays well he won't be dropped just because Cox is available. They may both play together until McStay is available.

I might arguably have been generous to cox based on his historical body of work…. However at the end of the day you’re agreeing with me so I’m not sure what your point was.

 

[No SPIN]

Perhaps you should be questioning both. As it stands, Cox this year has been useful as a tap ruckman and not much else. Cameron has been coping fine without him, shouldering a heavier load without much issue, and our forward line has been straightened up with the addition of Kreuger. We aren’t in 2023 anymore and Cox hasn’t been contributing to the level he was.

I’m sorry but it’s extremely difficult to justify playing a second pure ruckman who’s not also a forward threat in the 22, and this year Cox is most definitely not the forward threat he was in 2023.

I’m not convinced that Cox can’t recapture his 2023 form, and actually excited about Kreuger’s potential.
But at this point he needs to show a lot more to go past Cox at his best.