Carlton Supporters Club

Looks like we retired Rowe a year too early IMHO.

Could be right there Thry.

But every other team is going to play two ruckmen.  The rule changes, and particularly the one about taking possession in a ruck contest not being prior opportunity, mean that teams simply can't afford not to have a genuine ruckman at every ruck contest.  I wouldn't like to see Kreuzer trying to take on Gawn and Preuss with only Harry as back up.  If Melbourne rest Gawn or Preuss in their forward line, why not get Lobbe to play as a defensive resting ruckman.

It will be very interesting to see how we fit two rucks into the 22 ... and we will have to find a way.

Good to see Polson named at CHB, he'll more than match it with the CHFs, speed wise, getting to the aggott... then he'll gnaw on their knees and put them off.

Fortunately for us, if he stays on the park, Kreuz plays as a tall RR whereas Flip and Lobbe are more your traditional ruckman. Maybe today's hitout is to see who partners up with Kreuz (out of Flip and Lobbe).

Good to see Polson named at CHB, he'll more than match it with the CHFs, speed wise, getting to the aggott... then he'll gnaw on their knees and put them off.

“Matthew Kreuzer is probably the one that I rate the highest.

“His work rate, he keeps you very honest and he’s added this part to his game where he can mark and kick goals, which as a ruckman, seems to be one that you’re most scared of when they go and impact the scoreboard.”

Might be horses for courses with ruckman....dont see us playing two genuine rucks every game, same with other teams...dont see Gawn and Pruess playing every game together either unless its to gang up on a player like Sandilands or combat another another team playing two genuine ruckman.

IMO we will go with Kreuzer and Harry only more often than not.......maybe the first few games we might get Kruezer with another ruckman like Philips or Lobbe but I think getting caught with a ruckman only stiff who cant play anywhere else will limit teams flexibility.
I'd rather play DeKoning with Kreuzer if we have to play two rucks...the former can play down forward and would benefit playing with MK.....

What;s Rowe got to do with anything?

Rowe was a Ruckman fashioned into a gorilla minder Defender who has shown reasonable ability to play forward if/when required.

Our defense is looking very light on for options with the question marks over Marchbank and Macreadie (Goddard is not a convincing option at AFL level yet) so using Jones in the ruck is a problem because we are robbing Peter to pay Paul without the options to back fill Paul (perhaps shifting McGovern back for periods might work, but thats the only consideration that works.

Besides that, given the durability of Phillips and Kreuzer, Lobbe's lack of exposed form, Tom De Koning's youth, and Harry's requirement to be used in the forwardline, a defender who can actually relief ruck against competent ruckmen (unlike Levi) allows us better flexibility than cheating with one of Charlie Curnow, Liam Jones, or Harry McKay in the case that we start Phillips or Kreuzer and have a break down.

Rowe was aggressive, and would genuinely halve a ruck contest at worst.  Levi is a battler at best, and at worst non competitive and gets smashed in the ruck because he isnt physical enough, and relies on having "the perfect sit".

The one key attribute that you need all your footballers to have, is tenacity.  It makes ordinary look extraordinary.

So we needed to keep Rowe to ruck?
In addition to the 2 backup rucks plus Harry and Cas?
Not for me.

At least he would've got his name on a locker

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