Noidnadroj
Norm Smith Medallist
- Dec 8, 2020
- 7,206
- 27,433
- AFL Club
- Richmond
As others have said, neither have proven they can even compete as AFL first rucks. Both showing great signs for the future, but v Gawn, Naitanui, Darcy, Marshall, Hickey, how confident are you that you could rely on these players to not get taken apart as first ruck in 2023? If it goes wrong, it could straight out cost you games. Soldo at least we know can stand up to these guys physically here and now.
Colina is not even in the picture for senior footy in 2023, so forget him. I can accept Soldo may not be in the best 22 as there are better second ruck/forward options, but we have no better back up first ruck option at this point.
You still need to insurance of at least one viable first ruck in reserve. Ruckmen get injured, suspended, and they can tire if forced to carry the first ruck load one out for the entire season.
There is no problem with carrying 3 x first rucks on the list, most clubs do. When they are all available, ok one is a spare playing forward in the VFL. That is a much better problem than suddenly having two unavailable and having to scratch around for undersized solutions, which of course entails losing a player from elsewhere.
We still don’t know for sure if Ryan has any chance of being an AFL first ruck and that he might not be better suited to playing forward, though I accept he is showing good signs as a ruckman in the VFL. Soldo seems a lot stronger than him at this point though.
First, your Finlayson comment. Finalayson is a 26yo experienced AFL footballer. We don’t have a Finlayson. He has adapted well in the ruck as far as his own performance. Does he hurt opponents? Does he make his team-mates walk taller with his physical presence? Will he stand in the hole and take an overhead mark while a pack of key position players is bearing down on him? How are Port fairing with him as first ruck, are they winning? How is their clearance count for eg
Bombers 37 v Port 28
Tigers 45 v Port 39
Collingwood 36 v Port 44
Cats 38 v Port 36
Demons 27 v Port 40(was in Alice Springs with Gawn first up from injury and Oliver missing)
GWS 26 v Port 37(22yo Flynn the opposing ruck)
Freo 47 v Port 30
Suns 42 v Port 43
So their clearances, while up and down a bit, are roughly level overall in that sample. But Port are 4 wins 6 losses since Finlayson has been doing most of the rucking. Losses v Richmond twice, Melbourne, Dockers Cats Pies. Wins v Swans(Ladhams) GWS(Flynn) Bombers(Draper) Suns(Witts). You would have to say v finals teams with a 1 win 6 loss record it isn’t a confirmed resounding success.
Actually in our recent game v Port Teakle did most of the rucking. To get an idea of what can happen to an outmatched young ruck….have a look at Nank’s game in that match.
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First ruck types not in best 22 at other AFL clubs 23yo or older:
Crows have Strachan.
Lions have Fort.
Blues have DeKoning.
Collingwood have at least one of Grundy/Cameron/Cox.
Essendon have Phillips.
Fremantle have Meek.
Giants have Flynn.
Geelong have Ceglar.
Suns have nobody.
Hawks have Lynch or Reeves.
Melbourne went into the season with Majak Daw, since retired.
North have at least one of Goldstein/Xerri/Coleman-Jones
Port have at least one of Hayes/Lycett and soon Teakle turns 23
Saints have Campbell.
Swans have Ladhams + Sinclair.
Eagles have Strnedica.
Bulldogs have Sweet.
So it is more correct to say almost every club has at least one spare first ruck 23yo or older. Gold Coast are the only exception I can see, they have a couple of younger rucks. Soldo actually represents a good advantage for us over most of that field as well.
Check the above list and then re-read your comment I have highlighted. I don’t think your comment is correct. Assuming your only genuine first ruckman on the list is going to be fit for the whole season while others develop….does that really appeal as sound planning?
For mine you keep Soldo. You only trade him out - presuming all parties are agreed - in the event you replace him with a mature back-up ruckman. You just do not want to be going into crucial AFL matches without knowing you have a ruckman who can at least compete with his opponent, it is about the most efficent way there is to lose a footy match.
Some good points. We probably should re-frame it. Soldo should be looking for somewhere else to play. If Nank is fit it’s hard to see when Soldo plays as Miller and soon enough Ryan will both be preferred second ruck options in the 22 due to flexibility. Soldo will only ever play if Nank is out.
He should go to Saints, as when Ryder goes he can share #1 ruck duties with Marshall. Or Cats as Stanley, Blicavs can play other roles.
