It can work.In fact, some teams are going "ruckless", eg PA. This is interesting:
How going without a ruck is helping Port move the ball, and why it might impact the rest of the league
As Port Adelaide takes a no-ruck approach to their footy, Cody Atkinson and Sean Lawson ask whether the move is sustainable - and will other clubs follow suit?www.abc.net.au
If the loss in not having a Ruck are gained elsewhere.
For Port they weren't, as they lost against Richmond. They robbed their forward line to cover Ruck.
Worked for Sydney with Goodes as he was a tall mid anyway. Yes he could play forward, but they didn't need him there. And his talent wasted up forward anyway.
The equivalent would be SPP playing lead Ruck and keep the forward structure.
And then they played Treakle as soon as they could. Be interesting to see if Hayes is back.
I do like the concept though. And think Thilthorpe's Ruckwork will be more as an elite mid who Rucks (and can kick goals) rather than pure Ruckman.
If Tilthorpe was 191 odd cm we would all be excited about him as an elite mid with his skillset. I think he can do that at 200cm plus.
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