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81
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 6 2024 Post Game Review Carlton vs GWS
Last post by DJC -
Yep, you are both right.

However i'll take issue with 1 point. TDK is no longer a specialist ruck. He can be a genuine forward option now, which was something that had been lacking previously.
He was always capable of taking the odd mark and kicking the odd goal, but he is doing that more consistently now and showing the small forwards how to crumb the ball as well. He's become a much more all-rounded player.

Pitto as #1 ruck plays to his strengths.
TDK as #2 ruck/forward plays to his strengths.

It might be a bit different when we play on a windy/wet deck in the middle of winter, but in ideal conditions of Marvel, it works.

Yeah, nah; De Koning is a specialist ruck!  He attended 60% of the ruck contests against Adelaide but only took part in around one third of the ruck contests against GWS.  He doesn't go on to the ball at the end of quarters to give Pitto a break or when the opposition big dog has a spell, he rucks at critical times and wins crucial hitouts (44% to advantage while Pitto managed 36%).  How they divide up the ruckwork will depend on conditions, the opposition and the state of the game but we're playing two specialist rucks, one of whom has attributes that make him a potential ruck/forward.  De Koning needs to do a lot of work on his forward craft, running patterns and marking if he is going to realise that potential.  Importantly, oppositions see that potential and can't afford to leave De Koning without a tall defender when he does "rest" forward.  That takes away their ability to double team Harry or Charlie with their third tall defender or ruckman.

The thing is that having De Koning jumping over and/or into the opposition's first ruck makes life easier for Pitto too.  Our two gave Briggs a decent going over and I'm sure that Riccardi wished that he was somewhere else when it was his time to spell Briggs.

That was probably De Koning's best game and it was definitely Pitto's best.  The challenge is to keep working on the dynamics and getting the best value out of both of them.
84
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 6 2024 Post Game Review Carlton vs GWS
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -
I probably want to see a bit more of TDK forward before I'm sold on him as a forward and how many times it works and we win games. I like it as an option though  that the coach can go to depending on the opposition and state of the game to stretch other teams and get an edge .

85
Notice Board (Visitors Enter Here) / Re: Missing Members - 2024
Last post by 31Tommys_barber -
I miss PaulP and I hope he's OK, and then there's a swag of posters like Mav, Raydan, LanceRomance, Tommy'sBarber, bmaurizio, Amers, capcom, c4e, chalkybill, flyboy, Jack Burton, and many others who no longer post or only occasionally post.

I suspect that social media is attracting more people away from discussion groups across the board, and footy groups in general and this place in particular are feeling the squeeze.

Social media is faster with latest news, be it fair dinkum or fake, bit there's really not much scope for the discussions that make this place interesting, informative and, at times, infuriating.

The bright side is that we seem to hardly attract any bots now  ::)
It’s nice to be missed but nothing nefarious about lack of posts from me, can’t speak for the others but haven’t moved on to other sites or different media (too old to understand how to do that). I still read the posts from the older guys as they have the wisdom and have been through the same eras as me from 1958 to now. I now spend about two thirds of my time in WA helping out with grandkids and over here if you don’t follow the locals you are in a vacuum for other footy news. I’m sure WA surfer would agree that you guys are our lifeline to what’s happening and I thankyou for that.
I just haven’t posted much as we are going alright which is fantastic but grumpy old buggers like me need to whinge sometimes! 😀☹️
86
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 6 2024 Post Game Review Carlton vs GWS
Last post by kruddler -
Full agree...the two specialist rucks playing works best with Pitto doing the grunt work early especially vs the opposition meathead type rucks like Briggs and then when they tire TDK can jump all over them later in the game. Harry and Charlie often appear on the wings or even half back to take a mark and drag their opponent up the ground which then leaves the other one alone with his opponent and our two dont lose too many of those contests if we can get the ball down to them quickly.

Yep, you are both right.

However i'll take issue with 1 point. TDK is no longer a specialist ruck. He can be a genuine forward option now, which was something that had been lacking previously.
He was always capable of taking the odd mark and kicking the odd goal, but he is doing that more consistently now and showing the small forwards how to crumb the ball as well. He's become a much more all-rounded player.

Pitto as #1 ruck plays to his strengths.
TDK as #2 ruck/forward plays to his strengths.

It might be a bit different when we play on a windy/wet deck in the middle of winter, but in ideal conditions of Marvel, it works.
89
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 6 2024 Post Game Review Carlton vs GWS
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -
When we play 2 rucks, Pitto needs to spend most of his time on the ball (especially early in the game) to allow TDK to provide relief when the opposition ruckman tires (especially late in games), which allows for Pitto to be subbed out if there are no injuries. 

This means that one of the 3 tall forwards needs to consistently present on the wing (or in the midfield) to provide marking power; create space in the front half; and to run forward without being closely marked.  They all have sufficient mobility to perform this role.
Full agree...the two specialist rucks playing works best with Pitto doing the grunt work early especially vs the opposition meathead type rucks like Briggs and then when they tire TDK can jump all over them later in the game. Harry and Charlie often appear on the wings or even half back to take a mark and drag their opponent up the ground which then leaves the other one alone with his opponent and our two dont lose too many of those contests if we can get the ball down to them quickly.
90
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 7 2024 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong at the MCG
Last post by pinot -
Pinot....not sure they'll risk Cerra....only been a week and a bit since the hamstring strain even though it was a mild one. Love him back but the midfield can do this one without him IMO. Cincotta is the likely one in for Williams if he doesn't come up.

Didn't watch the VFL game but Moir amongst the goals. Having TDK forward probably makes it a bit harder for Moir given he's more of a mid-size/3rd tall.

Yeah Moir had a good game yesterday. Three classy goals from all sorts of angles and 7 tackles.

Bought alot of aggression to his game yesterday. Another 2-3 games like that and will be in the mix.