Revealed the ruck tactic Corey McKernan says could lose the Tigers this week's Grand FinalJON RALPH
Herald Sun
28 September 2017PREMIERSHIP ruckman Corey McKernan says no other coach in the competition would have the bravery to try Richmond’s radical ruck set-up.
Damien Hardwick will continue its high-risk ruck strategy on Saturday that has seen it concede nearly a fifth of all hit-outs in the past two finals.
Shaun Grigg has this year been the club’s back-up ruckman, giving Toby Nankervis a few precious minutes of rest each game.
But it has dramatically escalated that policy in the finals, with Grigg involved in 18.5 per cent of all ruck stoppages — up from 5.8 per cent.
Of the 29 stoppages he has been involved in over two finals, he hasn’t won a single hitout and mostly actually concedes the stoppage.
Then he turns into another midfielder as he and the onball unit try to shark the opposition tap, sometimes with Nankervis loose in defence.
Dual North Melbourne premiership player McKernan, who had 31 possessions playing loose in the 1996 Grand Final, says it is either a masterstroke or a recipe for disaster.
“Imagine if they have an injury early in the game. I don’t know of any other coach who would be prepared to take that risk,” he said.
“They would have literally no one who can take centre bounces. If it is very ballsy. If Nankervis goes down they are screwed.
“Alastair Clarkson wouldn’t do it, Roosy (Paul Roos) wouldn’t do it. If it doesn’t work he is cannon fodder for the media but if it works he is a genius.
“It’s fine as long as your ruckman doesn’t get injured because ruckmen always perform better when they have the responsibility of rucking for all four quarters.”
In Round 6 Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs dominated Nankervis but his centre-square dominance resulted in only a single point from that score source.
‘If Nankervis goes down they are screwed.’ Says McKernan
Grigg’s opponent in the two finals has won 25 of the 29 hit-outs on offer but won only four hit-outs to advantage as Richmond neutralised the hit-outs.
In all of his ruck duties this year Grigg has won just six hit-outs, only one of them being directed to advantage.
But Richmond has tried and dispensed with Todd Elton and Ivan Soldo, hitting on a formula that has seen them soar into a preliminary final.
McKernan says Adelaide will have scouted the tactic during the week and will be determined to maximise their advantage.
“Against other teams who aren’t as dominant you can roll the dice and put token pressure on and it may help but against Sam Jacobs they have to go head-to-head,’’ he said.
“You can’t afford a dominant ruckman to flick it where he wants because the ball comes down at such rapid speed it doesn’t matter if you are sitting a kick behind play.”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/revealed-the-ruck-tactic-one-premiership-star-says-could-lose-the-tigers-this-weeks-grand-final/news-story/7081864163f05e9014d38f715fc1e8b8
