Carlton Supporters Club

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.

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.

I think it is totally dependant on the game plan Vossy wants to implement.
A run and gun game and punish the opposition from turnover
Or a contested tough game and punish the opposition in the inside and dominate clearances

Vossys and list make up DNA is gameplan number 2 so need two rucks that assist with clearances and stoppages. Energy spent in contest and winning celaranes

Gameplan one score from turnover - energy spent on run so two rucks won't cut it need more runners.

Trying to mix the two could end in disaster.

Coaches votes will be interesting this week.

We'll see how we against the cats.
I'd only play one ruckman this week.  The cats have historically surrendered clearance dominance to win field position.

We'll see how we against the cats.
I'd only play one ruckman this week.  The cats have historically surrendered clearance dominance to win field position.

Pittonet's 2024 season was somewhat delayed by an ankle injury, but the Blues have opted to play two rucks (Tom De Koning his partner) for the past two weeks, against the strong-bodied Reilly O'Brien and Kieren Briggs.

"It's a great challenge. I feel like teams who want to be competing when it matters need to have big squads," Pittonet said.

"The way we view it is we want to make everything work, I think we get the best out of each other and we work together with the other big boys out there.

"It's more a matter of if we can do what we did (against the Giants) and really maximise it, it becomes a no-brainer from a structural point of view. It's a nice bit of extra pressure to keep it up and make sure we're on the whole way through."

De Koning kicked three goals, a career-high tally, with Pittonet's presence in the ruck allowing him to be a third option in attack alongside Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.

"Geez he was good, wasn't he? I love it when he plays like that," Pittonet said.

"We've got such good connection, just trying to work together, whether it's who's having a better game against which rucks – there were passages where he was having a good day against Briggs, so he went in, and I went forward for a bit. Same with the second rucks as well.

"Even with those marking contests, being able to release him so he can get a launch at those balls, took some great marks, I think we just make each other better, and the team benefits from first use and getting aerial pressure as well."

It'll be an interesting watch to see if Carlton continues with the dual ruck combination regardless of opponent or uses a horses for courses approach depending on the opposition. Coach Michael Voss said he wasn't locked in on running with two rucks for the rest of the season.

"Their form says a lot as well," Voss said.

"There's a lot of discussion about two rucks – we've got a style of play we want to play, clearly we had the dominance around the ball, certainly from centre square bounce we did. Their games were certainly impactful."