I'll say it again. Roo is not a mid. He thinks too slowly for a mid. Last week he bent down to receive a kick in our backline. He then went to handpass the ball but by the time he's executed the handball it was too late and the receiver was under immense pressure. The Result? Tackle. Goal to the opposition. He's a good field kick when he has time to execute. Granted when he pushes fwd off his opponent he becomes dangerous as he isn't given the sort of attention as when he plays permanent fwd. I don't like him drifting into our backline though, If he doesn't mark it he becomes a liability with the pressure that is applied in that part of the ground. He's never been a great tackler, something no-one cares about greatly when he's kicking 2-3 goals a week and taking 10-12 marks. If you are drifting into the backline as a mid you HVE to be able to apply pressure and receive pressure.bigcarl wrote:ToT, that would be the best solution, but do you think he can play wing on the evidence of the past month? Maybe he can. As BM says, you never write off a champ.The OtherThommo wrote:This 'Paddy for Bruce', or 'rest Roo', conversation seems to stuck in 2015.
Wasn't the 'plan' for Roo to play more up the ground, to help take the physical pressure off him (and he has continued to lighten off to do just that), while Bruce, McCartin and Membrey get 1st crack as a forward trio?
I reckon one of the reasons Roo looks to be struggling with his pins is the more frequent aerial collisions, particularly now he has less weight to hold his position. As Brereton said, about his early 'finish', it was getting hit side on in aerial duels that wrecked his knees. Knees have less capability to rotate, compared to hips and ankles (they basically go back and forward, not left and right).
And, the pressure on Roo's pins is not being helped by blokes who 'miss' him by foot, when he has separation, or by fellow forwards continually bringing opponents to contests, because they are not working well enough to separate themselves from their forward comrades.
So, why not go back to the 'plan'?
I would prefer Roo to start on the wing and we only play 2 key fwds. Roo starts high and moves fwd when appropriate. One of our half fwds starts deep and then pushes up the ground almost as a mid to take Roo's role in the backline.