Just a thought, but with us getting flogged in the ruck, why don't we just man up in the middle, at ball ups and throw ins. Make it a fifty, fifty. Let our boys learn the defensive side of playing on-ball as well as the offensive side. Our ruck stocks are pretty slim to say the least but unless you have a great ruckman they are useless in todays footy imo. If there ruckmen is taking heaps of grabs around the ground (Sandilands) that's different but to date they haven't. And the league doesn't have to many ruckmen that dominate around the ground in terms of marks and kicks. Most are pretty useless really other than for actual ruck work.
Geelong have average ruckmen (other than Ottens that has missed more than he has played over the last few years) but still dominate in the centre. Same with Hawthorn, Collingwood, even St. Kilda. My point is, there is ways of winning without being blessed with great ruckmen. Just have to think outside the square.... (pardon the pun)....