Ok Claw Ill have a go. IMHO our ruck stocks are weak but in the list managers defense you only absolutely need a good ruck when your in premiership contention and when u are you can draft one in. Classic examples of going and finding a decent ruck. Maric, Jolly, Mumford nearly every year a decent ruck gets picked up.
What the first 13 rounds of last year told us was our midfield really isnt up to scratch yet, we need to build it more. I suppose thats why they picked 4 mids before a kpf this year.
Now after saying that Im gonna weaken my argument by poiting out hamspuds recruitment. Why do it and for that price if we really thought ruckmen were cream on the cake not cake.
so we agree the ruck stocks are weak.but we disagree on how to go about this area when it comes to list management.
1/ you always need a very good ruckman. whats this nonsense you only need em when in premiership mode. i suppose you only ever need good mids or a gun kpf kpd when in premiership mode.
2/ most clubs actually take young ruckmen in the nd and then develop them. its only when development has failed that clubs will then target mature ruckmen or any sort of player for that matter.
our trouble atm is we refuse to acknowledge development has failed.
3/ the first 13 rounds told us last yr we were not up to scratch in all areas especially the fwd line.it most definately showed us we cant cope without rance or ivan maric. and we have just one effective fwd in riewoldt.theres just not the quality or depth in any of these areas.
it showed as clear as the nose on your face that hampson is not an adequate replacement for maric and wont be taking over from him when he retires.it showed vickery and griffiths are not capable of playing as permanent ruckmen and mcbean is so far away its just ludicrous. so what should we have done.
i know ignore the problem because we actually have the required numbers never mind they cant perform the role.
are you arguing point 2 seems so. ive actually shown that most clubs first attempt to develop ruckmen and when that fails they will go after a mature ruckman. clearly this is exactly what has happened. isnt that exactly what i said in point 2.so what the hell are you prattling on about.
i know, one particular person didnt like what was being said and decided to move the goal posts.lets make it all about premiership ruckman and the usual herd of sheep duly followed.
even hawthorn went down the development route the retirements of campbell and taylor in 08 and the injuries and subsequent retirement of bailey and the failure of renouf to kick on saw the need for them them to trade for ruckmen.
if any one actually disagrees with the above great you only look sillier than you already are.
i havent argued anywhere that clubs dont trade for mature ruckmen ive just pointed the very obvious fact that most clubs try development first and if you look at all clubs this very fact is borne out.
are you seriously suggesting clubs just ignore development altogether and just go and get a player as they need one. it certainly seems like it.and if not what the hell are you arguing about. it has never happened except for sydney who with their extra million in salary cap space have just gone out and bought what they need.
geelong had blake, ottens, and king, and still proceeded to draft west simpson and mumford.mumford and west were traded out to get opportunity and stephenson was not good enough. blicavs stephenson and mcintosh came in recent seasons. are you people seriously suggesting geelong have not put a lot into development because that certainly seems the case. they have tried to develop and when that has failed or circumstance has reduced their stocks they have then traded.
as i said there are unthinking people on here who follow like sheep.
finally trading for ruckmen has really worked well for us hasnt it. we are forever chasing ruckmen because we have forever failed to develop our own.
stephenson, hampson, simmons, marsh, knobel even ivan at age 26 taken at a time when we werent and still arent anywhere near a premiership should we have taken him. unless we are in premiership mode we dont need a good ruckman it seems. i cant think of one good ruckman we have developed in god knows how long but hey lets just do what we always do to solve the problem trade for a hack at an exhorbitant price only to need to do it again in the short term.
yep im spot on in my points its so simple and so freakin obvious yet some are just too thick to see it.
anyway ive said my piece abuse away like you usually do its fun to watch.