Opinion Number 1 ruck in 2019

[King Cold]

Who would you want as our number 1 ruck next year?

You'd think that Ratugolea has rubber stamped the CHF/2nd ruck spot, and with Hawkins, Taylor, Henderson, Kolodjashnij and Blicavs also in our best 22, I can't see two of Stanley, Smith, Abbott and Fort fitting into our team.

Ruck has been a weakness for us ever since the retirement of Ottens, so it feels good to have four genuine number 1 ruck options on our list going into 2019.

 

[Frappe]

Who would you want as our number 1 ruck next year?

You'd think that Ratugolea has rubber stamped the CHF/2nd ruck spot, and with Hawkins, Taylor, Henderson, Kolodjashnij and Blicavs also in our best 22, I can't see two of Stanley, Smith, Abbott and Fort fitting into our team.

Ruck has been a weakness for us ever since the retirement of Ottens, so it feels good to have four genuine number 1 ruck options on our list going into 2019.

Not convinced these 4 are in our best 22...well not together.

 

[King Cold]

Not convinced these 4 are in our best 22...well not together.

Scarlett said today that Taylor and Henderson will both be playing in defence next year.

Despite this, I guarantee that Blicavs and Kolodjashnij will still be in the team, and it's likely that they'll stay in defence.

 

[Cursed Cat]

The big question is whether Rhys Stanley's purple patch in the back half of 2018 was evidence of a player who has finally unlocked the secret to performing consistently, or whether he will revert back to his previous career-long inconsistency.

If he can produce the kind of form we saw during that 2018 block and can stay on the park, then yes we might get a decent season from a ruckman for the first time in a long while.

Abbott would ideally find more of the ball, and may still develop into that type of player given exposure.
A bit of a confidence player imo; has very sticky fingers and plays like an additional mid when he's up and about.

I actually thought that Zac Smith's 2017 season was just as good as Stanley's 2018 season, but Smith has fallen behind in the pecking order, and news of a dodgy back don't inspire confidence in his ability to claw his way back.

Fort, we'll have to wait and see.

So; Stanley's #1 spot to lose; he'll need support at various stages but at his best last year he was taking the bulk of the workload.

 

[Frappe]

Scarlett said today that Taylor and Henderson will both be playing in defence next year.

Despite this, I guarantee that Blicavs and Kolodjashnij will still be in the team, and it's likely that they'll stay in defence.

I don’t expect he’s going to say one of them will miss. Regardless, I’d have Stanley as favourite provided he stays fit otherwise Abbott.

 

[Ray Donovan]

Scarlett said today that Taylor and Henderson will both be playing in defence next year.

Despite this, I guarantee that Blicavs and Kolodjashnij will still be in the team, and it's likely that they'll stay in defence.

VFL or AFL defence is the question very likely one of those guys is in VFL if you want to keep Blicavs at FB, CHB.

Blicavs, Taylor, Henserson, Kolo small forwards wet dream

 

[Ray Donovan]

Stanley
Abbott
Smith
Fort

Probably how I would default them on last seasons form. Honestly I haven't seen enough of fort but you could throw a blanket over Abbott, Smith, Stanley and get similar output.

Get some different looks athletically and mobility wise it's probably the weakest area geelong has and not even bothered to try and improve.

I think only one guy will play with hopefully a lot of development from rata chop out from blic and perhaps a smaller mid like danger doing a bit.

Blicavs and hawk can also chop out boundary throw ins at either end of the ground.

Also mid-season draft will be in 2019 so there will be opportunities for another big man to come on board

 

[RegHickeyStand]

Fingers crossed Stanley can keeping going like he was.

 

[Mr Blicavs]

Not convinced these 4 are in our best 22...well not together.

Blicavs just won his second Carji and is the best utility in the game.
Surely you jest!

For mine, it’s Stanley on Talent.....it’s Abbott on ticker and grit.

 

[Jimmy Willis Jawline]

I really liked what I saw of Abbot last year, and hearing that he has come back in great condition makes me think he really wants this spot. Throw in the addition of Fort, Id really like to see these two push each other to really fight for the position. I dont see Stanley or Smith doing much more than tap outs, and even then they dont do well against many established other ruckmen. Stanley could be a handy back up big man, but I really want to see the newer fellas.

 

[winty]

On exposed form you'd have to give Stanley the nod. Was bemused to see Champion Data ranked Zac Smith as the 10th best ruckman in the league a few weeks ago though when they announced their player rankings.

 

[longtimecat]

Scarlo said both Taylor and Henderson will play back next year but he did not stipulate "in the AFL." I think there is room for only one of these two in the AFL and that should be decided on form. As for the ruck, I hope we play two rucks and leave our forwards to play their roles.

 

[Frappe]

Blicavs just won his second Carji and is the best utility in the game.
Surely you jest!

For mine, it’s Stanley on Talent.....it’s Abbott on ticket and grit.

I’m more focused on them trying fitting them all in the backline. I liked Blicavs down back in 2018 so the other 3 are fighting for 1-2 spots for mine. That’s as it stands today and understand plenty can change.

 

[Max Milburn]

Stanley to step up.
Fort will make an impression.
Abbott is a good fall back.
Smith? This year will test his character.

 

[Hamingja]

Whoever is playing the best come round 1.

 

[Strange Cat]

You’d think it’ll be out of Stanley and Abbot judging by their performance last year.

Fort won’t have the size for AFL just yet in regards to the Rucks, and Smith’s back concerns will put a big question mark over his career this year.

Either way I just hope we can sustain a full list to gel together without constant injuries forcing multiple changes .

 

[cats_09]

Stanley
Abbott
Smith
Fort

Probably how I would default them on last seasons form. Honestly I haven't seen enough of fort but you could throw a blanket over Abbott, Smith, Stanley and get similar output.

Get some different looks athletically and mobility wise it's probably the weakest area geelong has and not even bothered to try and improve.

I think only one guy will play with hopefully a lot of development from rata chop out from blic and perhaps a smaller mid like danger doing a bit.

Blicavs and hawk can also chop out boundary throw ins at either end of the ground.

Also mid-season draft will be in 2019 so there will be opportunities for another big man to come on board

Not sure we'll necessarily partakes in the mid-season draft next year though.

We have our full quota on the list - 40 senior & 4 rookies, plus 2 cat b rookies, so to have a pick in the mid-season draft we would require a player retirement/s or season ending injury and fingers crossed to neither of those.

At this stage the only teams with available list spots are (excluding any season ending injury news): Carlton, Collingwood, GWS, Melbourne, Richmond & WB.
Hawthorn & Sydney are probably also likely to have an available pick if both Langford & Tippett retire or make something official with not playing next year.

 

[you pick one]

You’d think it’ll be out of Stanley and Abbot judging by their performance last year.

Fort won’t have the size for AFL just yet in regards to the Rucks, and Smith’s back concerns will put a big question mark over his career this year.

Either way I just hope we can sustain a full list to gel together without constant injuries forcing multiple changes .

What! he has the size,experience no, tank no idea at this stage.

 

[Stocks_go_Up]

Our ruck situation is a nightmare that keeps getting relived ever since Ottens left.

 

[you pick one]

We need someone other than Stanley to take over the no1 ruck job his body won't stand up to a full season,or play two rucks but last time we tried that it wasn't a great success either,Smith and Stanley didn't work,opportunity there for all four candidates,intriguing pre season

 

[you pick one]

Our ruck situation is a nightmare that keeps getting relived ever since Ottens left.

In before Grundy gets a mention.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Fort.

 

[Man0gwaR74]

Probably how I would default them on last seasons form. Honestly I haven't seen enough of fort but you could throw a blanket over Abbott, Smith, Stanley and get similar output.
Get some different looks athletically and mobility wise it's probably the weakest area geelong has and not even bothered to try and improve.

Fort is an improvement in depth. Abbot hasn't had much of an opportunity to show his worth at AFL level due to injury. Stanley when fit can play as evident when he had Gawn's measure in his last game against him late in the season and the Cats recognize that when fit, they have some decent ruck quality on their list so I'm gonna maintain faith in that call and not question that just yet!

I think only one guy will play with hopefully a lot of development from rata chop out from blic and perhaps a smaller mid like danger doing a bit.

Look at how many of the Cats' 'rucks' got injured last season <enuf said.

Stanley to step up.
Fort will make an impression.
Abbott is a good fall back.
Smith? This year will test his character.

^The most accurate summary here in 25words or less imo.

 

[Ray Donovan]

Fort is an improvement in depth. Abbot hasn't had much of an opportunity to show his worth at AFL level due to injury. Stanley when fit can play as evident when he had Gawn's measure in his last game against him late in the season and the Cats recognize that when fit, they have some decent ruck quality on their list so I'm gonna maintain faith in that call and not question that just yet!

Look at how many of the Cats' 'rucks' got injured last season <enuf said.

^The most accurate summary here in 25words or less imo.

The most accurate one eyed statement thats about all you did. Because outside of fort who is not exposed Stanley, smith are injury prone I'm not even sure Abbott is injury prone but you have suggested he has been lol. You didn't even mention Smith so one game of Stanley from 2018 after 4 years on the list and 28 years of age he can play and that's decent ruck quality? News flash it's not

And when I said only one would play yes I obviously meant most likely only one of these guys would play in the senior side at a time.

Not oh only one could play because we never get injuries lol

The best was how you wrapped yourself up with "oh this is the most accurate description in 25 words imo" taking a warning here

 

[Ray Donovan]

Not sure we'll necessarily partakes in the mid-season draft next year though.

We have our full quota on the list - 40 senior & 4 rookies, plus 2 cat b rookies, so to have a pick in the mid-season draft we would require a player retirement/s or season ending injury and fingers crossed to neither of those.

At this stage the only teams with available list spots are (excluding any season ending injury news): Carlton, Collingwood, GWS, Melbourne, Richmond & WB.
Hawthorn & Sydney are probably also likely to have an available pick if both Langford & Tippett retire or make something official with not playing next year.

I would actually wonder if in the last 10 years between December 1 & March 15

If Geelong has ever not had a player either on a season ending injury list or long term injury list

Retirement is left field I will give you that one. I would be pretty confident that rookie pick will find a way to get used by basically every club just by the law of averages every single year you wish for a clean bill of health.

Menzel, Gregson, Stanley, Parfitt, Cockatoo, Mcarthy, Taylor, Henderson, S.Selwood, Sav, Narkle, Smith

That's recently in the last 2 years some I could be wrong with although you can replace rookies with rookies and I'm sure a lot of those guys in the twos had some long term issues, Black, Crameri

Just off the top of my head those guys would of all either qualified for it if required just the rules if it was close didnt benefit putting a player away for 6 weeks. Now with an open list it does