Probably not a disaster but we are always better balanced with one. I think it helps having Harry as a back-up as he revels in a run around the ground.
You're right - escaped disaster by the skin of our teeth - back in the eight so all is good with the world. But I wonder how long this will last.
Maybe but losing three of four with two rucks is a fairly significant indicator - considering we continuously were running out of gas towards end of games.
Would echo others here - Charlie, frustrating. Awful game to HT but some how kicks 4. Thought Harry played a better role in the fwd line for less reward. - Williams - shows our other forwards how it’s done. - TDK, brilliant. Shows the versatility of our side - Cripps was great as was Walsh again
We really need to be rotating our key players on the final month of the year to freshen them up. We have had as hard a 2 months as I can recall, with 2 weeks to come. McG, Weiters, Hewitt, Harry, Newman, Cripps, Walsh, TDK all need spells.
Would be interested to know how we go with TDK an Pittonet today, with one resting on Mac Andrew in the fwd half. Same result?
Next week - out, Orasio, in Motlop
If we went with two rucks we would have taken a runner out of the game on interchange - we had more run because players had more minutes to rest. Two rucks has been a disaster.
Rucking is more than just messy 50/50 hitouts and low quality clearances - its the tackles and marks - all the best rucks in the game tackle and take marks.
We actually had a ruck that won hit outs, clearances, tackles and took marks and won nicely - this is what TDK was doing before Pitto came in and lost three of four....players just took the game on with more run and scored more on turn over.... no idea what was going through selection committee head past month.
We got beaten in the middle - they had two taggers basically - Rowbottom was on a tackling warpath and Jordan kept holding onto Walsh restricting him from hunting the ball. We didn't reciprocate with our own tagger(s) - Pitto had zero tackles and Grundy had a party on him. I understand we are trying to implement our own style but clubs have figured us out and taggers are now back in vogue.
Yes because he gets most minutes in there doesn't make him the better ruck imo. TDK is a ruck not a forward just like H is a forward not a ruck and Young is a back not a ruck.
TDK is being played out of position. No matter who the ruck is (despite TDK being the superior ruck) todays game does not suit two rucks - we have lost past 80% of games with two rucks. Not sure how much more blatant it can get.
We lost them all in the same stretch last year, many in embarrassing fashion. after round 13 we beat who we lost too.
Wasn't expecting miracles with what was 5 consecutive blockbusters but of the first 4 we won two and pissed 2 others down the drain narrowly with half a side out. Highly competitive against contenders even with the injuries. Tonight, we mentally fell apart and gave up. Tonight was terrible in effort. Injuries are no excuse for a lack of effort.
It has been a tough run for sure but two rucks and three small forwards taking run run away from the middle has been a miserable failure and needs to take ownership. I wont trust the guy with this list if he doesn't.
