Opinion First Choice Ruck - Pitto vs TDK

[Blue Reaper]

I don't really follow other teams' stats...but English has some pretty impressive disposal numbers for a ruckman. TDK needs to find a way to get involved in the play post-hitout. Eyeball stat, but TDK likes to go for big grabs but doesn't contribute much at all apart from that.

View attachment 1429141
vs TDK:
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But if you compare TDK’s current year with English in 2020 (given English is 2 yrs older and played an extra 30-odd games), there’s plenty of similarities and a similar trajectory.

For example, 10.5 disposals per game for TDK this year vs 13.4 for English in 2020 (vs 22.2 disposals this season). And TDK has been building this year.

 

[Blue Reaper]

So, reckon there’s a role for both Pitt & TDK. And an exciting future.

 

[Justnetime]

Well today TDK threw us a curve ball. He was great today and that type of TDK puts him in the top 15 of rucks IMO which is the type of ranking that’s makes us very hard to beat. It’s one performance but soo much to like. The aggressiveness. The taps to advantage.

Funny how our midfield killed it today. We dont need TDK to beat Darcy, we just needed a competitive ruckman to give our mids a chance and play a role.

if we go back to our losses, TDK was poor.

More of todays TDK please. Basically just about aggressive mindset.

 

[DangerousD]

Toms progress this year has been great, the negativity around his game is really uncalled for, TDK is shouldering a load and playing a role his body and experience dont fully allow and he has shown fantastic endeavour.

I don’t see a Pitt vs TDK competition, we will play two rucks if fit, which will free up SOS whos game has also been co promised by Pitts absence.

In Pittos absence TDK and SOS have been great and with his return, let’s hope they can take their games to an even higher level.

 

[Mikevk123]

Pittonet. But I’d say De Koning has a huge upside. He’s more of ruck/forward which is very hard to find at a good level.

 

[I bleed Blue]

Toms progress this year has been great, the negativity around his game is really uncalled for, TDK is shouldering a load and playing a role his body and experience dont fully allow and he has shown fantastic endeavour.

I don’t see a Pitt vs TDK competition, we will play two rucks if fit, which will free up SOS whos game has also been co promised by Pitts absence.

In Pittos absence TDK and SOS have been great and with his return, let’s hope they can take their games to an even higher level.

It's had a huge flow on effect.

Jsos too much ruck time. Cripps having to ruck in the forward line.

If we had Cripps roving to some of those forward 50 stoppages I'm sure we would manufacture more goals.

TDK being able to go forward and be another option or go back to help out.

The flow on effect of Pitto coming back will be huge.

 

[forever blue 1]

It's had a huge flow on effect.

Jsos too much ruck time. Cripps having to ruck in the forward line.

If we had Cripps roving to some of those forward 50 stoppages I'm sure we would manufacture more goals.

TDK being able to go forward and be another option or go back to help out.

The flow on effect of Pitto coming back will be huge.

TDK had a great game yesterday but 1 game doesn’t put him number one over pitto imo
Putto has been missed a lot since going down.

 

[agro]

Couple of light globe moments yesterday - TDK was one where he realised that it was on him and his particular skill set that would worry Darcy rather than for him to worry about Darcy - his leap in the second half completely destroyed Darcy.

 

[Robbo's my hero]

TDK is

 

[forever blue 1]

TDK is

Pretty sure TDK is more than just a body less legoman

 

[Blue train 28]

Pittont comes back and takes the main role again soon, TdK chops out
Should make a damaging duo

 

[AlecDuncan]

I'd be interested to know how much weight TDK has put on over the year because he looks much more physically imposing now than at the start of the year. Especially through the legs.

 

[BlueSuede]

Will be very interesting to see these two both in the same team. As others have said, there’s a lot to gain. Our midfield can set up more aggressively at the stoppage with the hope to win the tap. JSOS and Cripps are released to play singular roles rather than switching in and out of the ruck. With Pitto/TDK/JSOS/Harry/Charlie able to roam the ground we’ll consistently have a series of marking options down to line, as well as our short kicking and run-and-handball game, to stretch defensive zones. I can also imagine that a more experienced TDK could prove a handful for a third-tall defender.

But… I also have some question marks. If Pitto and TDK are in, does that mean we have one fewer smalls in the team? What does that do to our balance, particularly up forward where we rely on that forward pressure? Or do we always have a tall on the bench? What does that do to our rotations? These aren’t insurmountable, but would be problems the coaching group have to solve.

Lots of benefits to them both playing, but we do have to balance the trade-offs.

 

[Arr0w]

I don't really follow other teams' stats...but English has some pretty impressive disposal numbers for a ruckman. TDK needs to find a way to get involved in the play post-hitout. Eyeball stat, but TDK likes to go for big grabs but doesn't contribute much at all apart from that.

View attachment 1429141
vs TDK:
View attachment 1429142

English is very much an exception to the rule for ruckmen and until the last 12-18 months before he was drafted he was a tallish midfielder. Outside of English and Gawn, most ruckmen average around 15 have touches a game, but that generally becomes consistent as they are in or around their prime years

 

[swuzzlebubble]

But… I also have some question marks. If Pitto and TDK are in, does that mean we have one fewer smalls in the team? What does that do to our balance, particularly up forward where we rely on that forward pressure? Or do we always have a tall on the bench? What does that do to our rotations? These aren’t insurmountable, but would be problems the coaching group have to solve.

We managed ok earlier in the season

 

[Coona Blues]

Will be very interesting to see these two both in the same team. As others have said, there’s a lot to gain. Our midfield can set up more aggressively at the stoppage with the hope to win the tap. JSOS and Cripps are released to play singular roles rather than switching in and out of the ruck. With Pitto/TDK/JSOS/Harry/Charlie able to roam the ground we’ll consistently have a series of marking options down to line, as well as our short kicking and run-and-handball game, to stretch defensive zones. I can also imagine that a more experienced TDK could prove a handful for a third-tall defender.

But… I also have some question marks. If Pitto and TDK are in, does that mean we have one fewer smalls in the team? What does that do to our balance, particularly up forward where we rely on that forward pressure? Or do we always have a tall on the bench? What does that do to our rotations? These aren’t insurmountable, but would be problems the coaching group have to solve.

Lots of benefits to them both playing, but we do have to balance the trade-offs.

This is a much more pertinent question than most think. We assume a two ruck model is coming. JSOS means we have a viable pinch hitter, making the one prime ruck a possibility. Pittonet brings much more to the stoppages and around the ground than many appreciate. TDK is just touching the surface of his potential. Capable of contributing much more forward, but that model pushes both he and Jack in to a forward mix that runs with a minimum three pressure “agents”. The fact that JSOS is as potent as many smalls with forward pressure certainly expands options.

Playing five core mids also demands a spot in the forward line for rotations. We are evolving to play LOB, Cotts and Newnes sharing most of the wing game time, again limiting midfield rotation opportunity. Cerra will be back next week, adding to the squeeze.

We have been pummeled by injury. The upside is that it has afforded opportunity to more players and only a couple have made little of their opportunities. When we get past this injury drama, there is going to be an unpleasant reckoning for some very deserving players.

 

[Aphrodite]

A real focus: De Koning on selflessness, standing up and 'SOS'

Tom De Koning is seeing real growth in himself and the playing group in 2022.

www.carltonfc.com.au

 

[Faz 2000]

The opportunity injury has presented this year is to get game time, development and experience into some players who wouldn't otherwise have got it. It's been tough on TDK, but good for him too.

TDK has been manhandled a number of times this year in a way that Pittonet wouldn't have been. This is not a criticism, it's just where TDK is up to in his development. The weekend's performance against Darcy shows he can use his athleticism to worry some of the bigger rucks already, though, and he projects to get better and better with more experience and preseasons.

I think we will go with both when they're both fit, and I agree it is an exciting prospect - but one that will present challenges, too. TDK in the forward definitely clogged up things for Harry and Charlie, who have both gone better since TDK played full time ruck. I think also if we wind up with Harry, Charlie, TDK and JSOS up forward, we're a bit taller and slower than we want to be.

Definitely a better position to be in having multiple players capable of doing well at the top level to squeeze in/find the winning combo, than only one option. Good players squeezed out of the 22 is a new concept for most of us Blues fans. It gives the opportunity to experiment with different combinations, pick a team based on the specific opponent match-up and give guys a rest so they're ready to go come September. :O

Fascinating reading back over this threads. Some SERIOUSLY wrong predictions and statements.

 

[tarczonandjane]

Couple of light globe moments yesterday - TDK was one where he realised that it was on him and his particular skill set that would worry Darcy rather than for him to worry about Darcy - his leap in the second half completely destroyed Darcy.

Agro, I’m just wondering if you’re still in touch with the Gold Coast recruiters who s******ed when we took TDK? What’s their view now?

 

[Banga19]

Will be very interesting to see these two both in the same team. As others have said, there’s a lot to gain. Our midfield can set up more aggressively at the stoppage with the hope to win the tap. JSOS and Cripps are released to play singular roles rather than switching in and out of the ruck. With Pitto/TDK/JSOS/Harry/Charlie able to roam the ground we’ll consistently have a series of marking options down to line, as well as our short kicking and run-and-handball game, to stretch defensive zones. I can also imagine that a more experienced TDK could prove a handful for a third-tall defender.

But… I also have some question marks. If Pitto and TDK are in, does that mean we have one fewer smalls in the team? What does that do to our balance, particularly up forward where we rely on that forward pressure? Or do we always have a tall on the bench? What does that do to our rotations? These aren’t insurmountable, but would be problems the coaching group have to solve.

Lots of benefits to them both playing, but we do have to balance the trade-offs.

With SOS as a permanent forward, hopefully he can cover some of the forward pressure we would lose with dropping a small to bring in another tall. And then we have ever more marking power with him and TDK spending time up forward. Certainly a balance to getting it right, but I think the net result will be us having a more potent attack when Pitto is back.

 

[Justnetime]

Pitto seems a while off yet so we will see what TDK can do over multiple hard games.

If he can play that well vs Darcy, he can do it again despite his young age. He probably can’t back it up every week which is fair enough based on age. 2 more good games like that this season will say a lot.

 

[BigFrizz36]

It's going to be a nice problem to have. I'm sure that we'll try a few different set ups to see what works best and it may even be a horses for courses scenario.

The best part is that we will have injury cover. It would be nice going into the finals knowing that we have cover.

 

[BigBreakfast]

 

[Justnetime]

Season start and ruck was our biggest weakness. Season has had a few twists and turns and now I don’t know any more about who is first choice going forward. Maybe it’s Pitto but he has to show something these last two games.

Ive changed my mind on who a few times. Now I just think it is a weak spot we are stuck with. Mirkov another year off.

 

[gab213]

Still Pitto for me, not convinced that TDK will ever be a number 1, a huge upgrade on Casboult in his role, but that's it.