Re: The Ruck Division .... Is It Really Competent Enough ??
Reply #215 –
Agree.
Ruckman are not just there for hitouts to advantage they need to provide something valuable once the tap work has finished. Pit is ok as a block or big body in the contest but that’s where it ends. He takes little to no marks around the ground is a clumsy forward that gets in the way of our big marking forwards and then even if the ball luckily lands in his hands he can’t kick for goal with any accuracy. Also as the dump long kick out target again he is below par.
Agree he’s tap work is good but that’s when it ends sadly. His bloody clumsy in contests and I’m not sure how he ranks against others but seems to give away too many frees with dumb holds or pushes.
Needs to improve dramatically around the ground for me to rate him against the better ruckman in the comp.
That’s a different can of fish Shawny. My point is that a good ruckman should win more hitouts than their opponent, regardless of whether they’re hitouts to advantage.
I’m not too fussed about Pitto giving away frees in the ruck; ruck frees are as random as chooklotto.
I’m actually quite impressed with Pitto’s work in the forward line. He has been very good at giving Charlie or Harry an advantage by blocking the defender’s run. It would nice if he could clunk a mark when resting forward, or around the ground, but he’s not Max Gawn.
I think that the plan is for Pitto to do the bulk of the ruckwork and the more mobile De Koning to have a presence around the ground. Pitto gets a pass for his contribution but De Koning isn’t there yet. The calls to play Tom as a key defender probably reflect his lack of success both as a tap ruckman and an around the ground marking target.