Im a little confused here (I know nothing new there), Havent people been saying for months we need an over 200cm ruckman. Deluca meets that requirement and has AFL experience with not bad stats averaging just 2.5 less hit outs less than Simmonds for limitted game time, from what i hear from friends in Adelaide he is a good ruckman but that is one of Ports strong areas and he had trouble breaking into the team full time. Cartledge was handy in the few games he played but is under 200 and (I could be wrong here) not mobile enough around the ground. So taking all that into consideration IMHO Deluca will be a better option also allowing Simmonds to rest more up forward during the game.
I think people have been saying we need to be more competitive in the second string ruck. Regardless of 4cm extra height, DeLuca's stats are no more effective in real terms - yep, averages a few more hitouts, averages less kicks, marks, handballs and tackles than an older player (who has less senior experience). Remember our Knobel days - hitouts for hitout's sake are useless unless they go your way at least near 50/50. Nothing in DeLuca's stats suggest to me he will be any improvement on Cartledge and you have to question how 'mobile' he is when he averages very few possessions. Cartledge has already bonded with the players and appeared very comfortable in their presence in his couple of games at the end of last season. Upgrading to a different version of the same model carries some risk with little apparent likelihood of significant improvement. I just don't see the point in taking DeLuca when we already have Cartledge. Justin Westhoff started with Port 12 months later and has gone past him easily, he can't push Troy Chaplin (196cm) and Toby Thurstans (195cm) out as the 3rd string ruckman so I just can't see much upside to him frankly.
