Ruck stocks now

[bergsone]

With McEnvoy now gone,where does that leave us .Hickey then ? maybe a Sandy watcher can give a rundown on younger rucks Pierce etc coming on


BTW happy with the trade and the pick we received

[saintsrus]

Lee looked at home in the goals in the last game, gather Stanley and Hickey will share

[ROLS-LEE]

Maybe we can look at jamar or Jolly for ruck insurance or now go for longer ourselves. Great move saints.

[kp83]

Hickey & Stanley (when fit) seems a good combo to me. Benny Mac was starting to look really slow towards the end of the year. Whether he was carrying an injury or not, he didn't look mobile enough for the modern game.
From what I've heard SW say in the media, they are all pretty happy with the way Lewis Pierce is going with his development so we have some depth there and perhaps we do a Collingwood and rookie list a veteran like Jolly or Jamar (if they are willing to do that like Hudson did for the Pies).

Go Saints

[savatage]

Hickey, Stanley, Pierce, Holmes - in that order.

Lewis Pierce is going to be a good one.

[ROLS-LEE]

Hickey & Stanley (when fit) seems a good combo to me. Benny Mac was starting to look really slow towards the end of the year. Whether he was carrying an injury or not, he didn't look mobile enough for the modern game.
From what I've heard SW say in the media, they are all pretty happy with the way Lewis Pierce is going with his development so we have some depth there and perhaps we do a Collingwood and rookie list a veteran like Jolly or Jamar (if they are willing to do that like Hudson did for the Pies).

Go Saints

Exactly what I was thinking.

[SemperFidelis]

Maybe we can look at jamar or Jolly for ruck insurance or now go for longer ourselves. Great move saints.

I wonder what Watters thinks of Jolly? They would have overlapped 1 season, I think. Premiership player. How much?

[bergholt]

Our big guys now:

Holmes 203cm
Pierce 202cm
Hickey 201cm
Stanley 200cm
White 196cm

No-one else over 195cm. Hickey first-choice changing at FF with Stanley makes sense to start with, but they're not going to each play 22 games so we need some backup options.

Holmes won't know how to play yet in 2014, so he's not going to give us much. Pierce looked very skinny in 2013 so I'd think he was still a fair way away from AFL footy. White is a forward and I can't imagine he'd play much in the ruck given his injuries. Surely not more than about five games in the ruck between them.

So I think we definitely need a backup option. Jamar or Jolly might make some sense. Was Daniel Currie delisted? Beau Dowler or Hamish Shepheard as a gap-filler? Bit of a waste of a spot on a list if they don't have the potential to develop.

[ShanghaiSaint]

time to build up and back in our two young boys... Stan and Hickley will be fine. hope the injury gods leave them both alone in 2014...

[saintspremiers]

But why did the Hawks take Ben if he can't ruck?

Maybe the Hawks had been speaking to Ben for a while during the season and he had lost his passion for the Saints

[Dr Spaceman]

But why did the Hawks take Ben if he can't ruck?

Maybe they think he can Rox Rux

[saintspremiers]

But why did the Hawks take Ben if he can't ruck?

Maybe they think he can Rox Rux

barks is in intensive care following the Macca trade.

[spert]

I suspect the Hawks got Macca to do a second rung forward line/ ruck job, not so much carry the ruck. Hickey is a better player below his knees than Macca for a ruck, and will keep improving for us. Good luck and thanks to Ben.

[FQF]

Lot of talk about us pursuing Billy Longer. Also possibly trade a late pick for Jamar

[Munga]

I reckon Pierce will come on quicker than we thought.

[mad saint guy]

Hickey and Stanley will be our preferred ruckmen for 2014. We now need to recruit a readymade, durable, cheap backup ruckman and probably a KPP who can ruck if needed.

We don't want to end up relying on a ruck combo of Pierce/Lee if Hickey and Stanley are injured. I'm concerned that list-cloggers TDL, Milera, Saad, Jones and Maister will prevent us from recruiting adequate backup in areas where we need it though.

[Hurricane]

It does suddenly become clear why we went and put the eggs in the Hickey basket. Sadly Rhys didnt work out as a key defender but we have a young, athletic, ruck duo that are tailor made for the modern game. With a years extra experience and a guy like Pierce waiting in the wings we look pretty good in the ruck stocks

I reckon, as has been stated, if we can use a late pick on a bash and crash guy for pure back up we'll be laughing. Jolly or Jamar would suit beautifully

BANG BANG

[PADDLEPOP1001]

Rookie list a ruck man a ala Tiges with Stephenson!

[savatage]

Well we'll get defenders in this year - Stanley won't have to play out of position. He can actually play as a ruckman where he is suited.

I'd do as Paddlepop just suggested. Rookie a mature ruck as backup.

[Middo]

Ben McEvoy won just 36.8 per cent of his ruck contests this season - the second-worst percentage of the top 22 players to be involved in a ruck contest.


Love the bloke but this did not read well...

[kosifantutti]

Ben McEvoy won just 36.8 per cent of his ruck contests this season - the second-worst percentage of the top 22 players to be involved in a ruck contest.


Love the bloke but this did not read well...

Who was worst? Is he available? Or do we have him already?

[FQF]

I don't think our ruck stocks are in bad shape at all. Unless people were happy with having one of Mac or Hickey as back up in the seconds, we're better off with one of then. And personally, I think Hickey has more upside.

[Con Gorozidis]

im on board with the majority.
stanley and hickey as the premier ruck duo.
time to back these two guys to the hilt.

we have pierce developing and holmes as a hail mary.

i like the idea of a cheap late pick on a mature back up to help out next year if possible.

[saintbob]

Righto, lets get serious if Dal really wants out lets ask for Delaney, Currie and a 2nd round pick.

[gringo]

Pierce is a very natural tap ruck man he might have to be Benny Macced and played before he is ready. I'm thinking Hickster and rhys are probably going to do the bulk of the ruck though.