Sweet Jesus: Should Jordan Sweet be our first ruck?

[comrade]

English to wing preferred for mine. He is on paper a good option for CHB but his lack of competitive appetite could be exposed aerially close to opposition goal.

Blicavs is basically a spare parts player used more often than not as link-up/wingman for Geelong - English would be a real handful for any opposition to counter wide in space, both attacking and running back to help out defence.

I just hope we experiment with something different. Banging our head against a wall and hoping he turns into something he isn?t is just going to cause us misery.

[GVGjr]

Doesn't ex Ruckman, Lade coach him?

Are you asking a question you already know the answer to?
In my opinion it doesn't hurt to get specialists in and Tim needs a bit of assistance.

[mighty_west]

That's a fair and very reasonable response and the counter to that is, as Sedat points out, we have now seen a sample size in finals footy that should raise the question on how effective English actually is in finals. I'm not looking at stats here because they're often interpreted they way people want to but the eye-test on his finals isn't impressive.
We need to find a way that Darcy and even Lobb can better support him in big games and we probably need to bring in a ruck coach to help him improve.
English often provides our midfield with a point of difference but he also lets us down in the big games. We have made a long term commitment so now need to find a way of getting some more improvement from him.

It's a tough one because he just isn't a consistent viable ruck option especially in finals and against stronger opponents, i really liked what was happening a few years back before his concussion v Adelaide in Ballarat playing forward, the problem now is that we have too many tall forwards (imagine thinking that 20 years ago) if you include Tim, and i think the two tall forward structure is probably the way to go as the three headed monster looks good in some games over the season but probably one too many in finals from what we've seen over time.

I still prefer Darcy in the forward line giving a chop out in the ruck, but would also prefer that ruckman being someone else and Tim playing in a different position, backline?, wing? as i just see Tim as an extra tall utility player and as we've seen what's happened with Lobb and Richards, both changed positions as a win/win, both filling needs for the team.

[GVGjr]

It's a tough one because he just isn't a consistent viable ruck option especially in finals and against stronger opponents, i really liked what was happening a few years back before his concussion v Adelaide in Ballarat playing forward, the problem now is that we have too many tall forwards (imagine thinking that 20 years ago) if you include Tim, and i think the two tall forward structure is probably the way to go as the three headed monster looks good in some games over the season but probably one too many in finals from what we've seen over time.

I still prefer Darcy in the forward line giving a chop out in the ruck, but would also prefer that ruckman being someone else and Tim playing in a different position, backline?, wing? as i just see Tim as an extra tall utility player and as we've seen what's happened with Lobb and Richards, both changed positions as a win/win, both filling needs for the team.

I really hope we don't try and make Darcy ruck more than he should in the next year or two because he could be a very special talent up forward. In time, who knows? but I'd rather see him play 70%+ up forward.
Tim's fine, I certainly didn't want us to throw the big dollars at him as some were suggesting but we now have to find a way of either giving him some more support or getting some gradual improvement in his game. Perhaps with an uninterrupted praseason we can see some improvement.

[Mantis]

Sweet got 5 coaches votes (equal 2nd most) for his performance against Haw with votes coming from both coaches.

So at least in their eyes he was very influential in Port getting the win.

[comrade]

Sweet got 5 coaches votes (equal 2nd most) for his performance against Haw with votes coming from both coaches.

So at least in their eyes he was very influential in Port getting the win.

Sweet getting coaches votes in a winning final the week after English stunk it up in a losing one is a bit of a kick in the guts.

[Grantysghost]

Sweet getting coaches votes in a winning final the week after English stunk it up in a losing one is a bit of a kick in the guts.

He was a big factor in their victory. Played a great game. Bevo doesn't like that sort of ruckman, I remember how often he referenced the "turnover game" when Martin was coming back from injury.
Said he wouldn't play him as he couldn't get back on transition etc... Explained a lot about his thoughts on how he wants his ruckman to be.

[Hotdog60]

English is the ideal forward/relieving ruck but that ship has sailed as it should have been put in place when Martin was out long term.
I think winning the hitouts to our mids has a lot of value because they aren't overly defensive so it would make their game a lot better with the ball banged down their throats.

[bornadog]

I think winning the hitouts to our mids has a lot of value because they aren't overly defensive so it would make their game a lot better with the ball banged down their throats.

Last year Tim was top 2 in HTA, this year he was 10th, so he needs to get that form back.

[Hotdog60]

Last year Tim was top 2 in HTA, this year he was 10th, so he needs to get that form back.

I actually think he's positioning in the ruck was better this season so maybe he is going through a change of style and it's taking time to get across it.

[Rocket Science]

I am but the messenger ...

[bornadog]

I am but the messenger ...

In three finals, Sweet took 1 mark and had 33 disposals and 132 hit outs for 31 HTA

Not sure he was the best ruckman

[JanLorMill]

In three finals, Sweet took 1 mark and had 33 disposals and 132 hit outs for 31 HTA

Not sure he was the best ruckman

Which ruck was better? He beat Day and Grundy.

[Rocket Science]

Not sure he was the best ruckman

Well I'm afraid this year's finals coaches would like a word!

[jazzadogs]

In three finals, Sweet took 1 mark and had 33 disposals and 132 hit outs for 31 HTA

Not sure he was the best ruckman

Surely we can concede:
- Sweet had a strong finals series and was a key part of Port making the prelim
- we would have/should have kept Sweet, but he chose to leave for greater opportunities at his childhood club in his home state
- English failed to perform in his final.

You don't have to be saying that Sweet is better than English, or should have played ahead of English, to acknowledge that he had a good finals series.