Hickey replacement?

[groupie1]

Agreed but he obviously doesn't wanna be a first ruck

[Crossy66]

Longer will be better next year with hopefully a full and injury free preseason under his belt, whether that's good enough remains to be seen. He was very good as a young buck in 2015.

I saw a bit of him early days in Brisbane, looked like he could be anything. Maybe it clouds my judgement but he does have the tools to be a great player if he wants it.

He can't mark, can't kick, doesn't get it but he's strong in the contest I suppose.

He's actually a nice kick but prefers to handball. Can take a mark but prefers to bring it to ground. Think we will see an improvement next season.
Also think Marshall can develop into areally mobile ruckman. Rule changes next year could help both big men

[spert]

I think I would be getting Marshall, Pierce and Longer down to a good running coach over summer, followed by some work with a ballet teacher for a bit of flexibility. These guys move like treacle at best.

[Crossy66]

I think I would be getting Marshall, Pierce and Longer down to a good running coach over summer, followed by some work with a ballet teacher for a bit of flexibility. These guys move like treacle at best.

not a bad idea, i look forward to seeing pics of the boys weary tutu's , or in their case four fours

[kosifantutti]

He's actually a nice kick but prefers to handball. Can take a mark but prefers to bring it to ground. Think we will see an improvement next season.

When are Gawn and Grundy going to cotton on to this successful strategy?

[Crossy66]

He's actually a nice kick but prefers to handball. Can take a mark but prefers to bring it to ground. Think we will see an improvement next season.

When are Gawn and Grundy going to cotton on to this successful strategy?

i see what you did there! I think Billy has to kick more and take more marks, i hope thats where he improves next year. Gawn and Grundy in particular move more like midfielders but there is still a place in the game for the larger less mobile types like Goldstein,nankervis, Sandy. I hope we see Marshall develop into a more mobile ruck type so we have a point of difference to deal with the likely rule changes. THought it was interesting to see Preuss nominate Melbourne, makes me think the Dees will play two rucks next year, bit like WCE did.

[SydneySainter]

Longer will be better next year with hopefully a full and injury free preseason under his belt, whether that's good enough remains to be seen. He was very good as a young buck in 2015.

I saw a bit of him early days in Brisbane, looked like he could be anything. Maybe it clouds my judgement but he does have the tools to be a great player if he wants it.

He can't mark, can't kick, doesn't get it but he's strong in the contest I suppose.

If he's matches against Martin and Gawn are anything to go by, he's not even that strong. Isn't his strength is willingness to TRY to compete? Very St. Kilda mantra at the moment - as long as they're willing to give it a crack.

[Crossy66]

Longer will be better next year with hopefully a full and injury free preseason under his belt, whether that's good enough remains to be seen. He was very good as a young buck in 2015.

I saw a bit of him early days in Brisbane, looked like he could be anything. Maybe it clouds my judgement but he does have the tools to be a great player if he wants it.

He can't mark, can't kick, doesn't get it but he's strong in the contest I suppose.

If he's matches against Martin and Gawn are anything to go by, he's not even that strong. Isn't his strength is willingness to TRY to compete? Very St. Kilda mantra at the moment - as long as they're willing to give it a crack.

He was crippled this year, so need to judge him when he is fit. i think we'll see an improved player

[SydneySainter]

Longer will be better next year with hopefully a full and injury free preseason under his belt, whether that's good enough remains to be seen. He was very good as a young buck in 2015.

I saw a bit of him early days in Brisbane, looked like he could be anything. Maybe it clouds my judgement but he does have the tools to be a great player if he wants it.

He can't mark, can't kick, doesn't get it but he's strong in the contest I suppose.

If he's matches against Martin and Gawn are anything to go by, he's not even that strong. Isn't his strength is willingness to TRY to compete? Very St. Kilda mantra at the moment - as long as they're willing to give it a crack.

He was crippled this year, so need to judge him when he is fit. i think we'll see an improved player

Didn't he have a clean bill of health before he got slaughtered by Martin in round 1? Anyway, I hope you're right and Longer can at least return to his 2017 form and build from there.

[beebarry]

We should go to North and ask for Braydon Preuss.
He wants to be a 1st ruck. No better team in the league for someone who wants to be 1st ruck.
He's 206 tall. He'd just need to stand there to be our first ruck.

agree with this. It would mean we don't have to recontract Longer, we can use Marshall as a forward and ruck can be Pruess (number 1) and Pierce (2). Preuss and Pierce. got a good ring to it.

Has Preuss actually nominated Melbourne or is that just the word in the media?

Hannebury - experienced mid general
Kent - quick half forward
Finlayson - elite kicking defender
Pruess - beast ruck with skills

Hopefully, add in our injured players from 2018 - Long, Bruce, Roberton as well as another pre-season in Coff/Clarke and a number 4 draft pick.

We really can make something out of this trade and draft if we dare to be bold.

[stonecold]

Preuss is going to Melb!!!!!

[beebarry]

Preuss is going to Melb!!!!!

fair enough - that's why I asked if it was fait accompli or a chance we could get in there with something interesting. Can't see the attraction of going from #2 ruck at one club to #2 ruck at another.

[Crossy66]

Longer will be better next year with hopefully a full and injury free preseason under his belt, whether that's good enough remains to be seen. He was very good as a young buck in 2015.

I saw a bit of him early days in Brisbane, looked like he could be anything. Maybe it clouds my judgement but he does have the tools to be a great player if he wants it.

He can't mark, can't kick, doesn't get it but he's strong in the contest I suppose.

If he's matches against Martin and Gawn are anything to go by, he's not even that strong. Isn't his strength is willingness to TRY to compete? Very St. Kilda mantra at the moment - as long as they're willing to give it a crack.

He was crippled this year, so need to judge him when he is fit. i think we'll see an improved player

Didn't he have a clean bill of health before he got slaughtered by Martin in round 1? Anyway, I hope you're right and Longer can at least return to his 2017 form and build from there.

Nah, he shouldnt have played round one. 2019 is up to him and how much he wants it. I see Marshall passing him if he's not careful.
Preuss is Melbourne bound, anyway no more talk of rucks - i want fast mids!

[Linton Lodger]

We should go to North and ask for Braydon Preuss.
He wants to be a 1st ruck. No better team in the league for someone who wants to be 1st ruck.
He's 206 tall. He'd just need to stand there to be our first ruck.

And his numbers at VFL level this year suggest that he's no better or worse than Lewis Pierce. Also, he's not treacle slow, he's glacial slow.

[saynta]

We should go to North and ask for Braydon Preuss.
He wants to be a 1st ruck. No better team in the league for someone who wants to be 1st ruck.
He's 206 tall. He'd just need to stand there to be our first ruck.

And his numbers at VFL level this year suggest that he's no better or worse than Lewis Pierce. Also, he's not treacle slow, he's glacial slow.

Preuss has already been traded to the Demons.

[saynta]

Billy will be the no 1 ruckman next year according to Simon.

[skeptic]

Longer will be better next year with hopefully a full and injury free preseason under his belt, whether that's good enough remains to be seen. He was very good as a young buck in 2015.

I saw a bit of him early days in Brisbane, looked like he could be anything. Maybe it clouds my judgement but he does have the tools to be a great player if he wants it.

He can't mark, can't kick, doesn't get it but he's strong in the contest I suppose.

If he's matches against Martin and Gawn are anything to go by, he's not even that strong. Isn't his strength is willingness to TRY to compete? Very St. Kilda mantra at the moment - as long as they're willing to give it a crack.

He was crippled this year, so need to judge him when he is fit. i think we'll see an improved player

Didn't he have a clean bill of health before he got slaughtered by Martin in round 1? Anyway, I hope you're right and Longer can at least return to his 2017 form and build from there.

Nah, he shouldnt have played round one. 2019 is up to him and how much he wants it. I see Marshall passing him if he's not careful.
Preuss is Melbourne bound, anyway no more talk of rucks - i want fast mids!

See I don’t get this... not a knock on Billy but if he “shouldn’t have played in round 1”, why did he play ahead of Hickey, Marshall and Pierce as a sole ruck without a back up

[stonecold]

Billy will be the no 1 ruckman next year according to Simon.

That's correct, cause 'Stonecold and Simon' said so!!!!!

[PADDLEPOP1001]

Billy is very ordinary & has never shown anything I hoped for a couple of years that he was going to be our premier ruckman but does nothing around the ground & is no good forward not to mention his iffy marking !

[Crossy66]

Longer will be better next year with hopefully a full and injury free preseason under his belt, whether that's good enough remains to be seen. He was very good as a young buck in 2015.

I saw a bit of him early days in Brisbane, looked like he could be anything. Maybe it clouds my judgement but he does have the tools to be a great player if he wants it.

He can't mark, can't kick, doesn't get it but he's strong in the contest I suppose.

If he's matches against Martin and Gawn are anything to go by, he's not even that strong. Isn't his strength is willingness to TRY to compete? Very St. Kilda mantra at the moment - as long as they're willing to give it a crack.

He was crippled this year, so need to judge him when he is fit. i think we'll see an improved player

Didn't he have a clean bill of health before he got slaughtered by Martin in round 1? Anyway, I hope you're right and Longer can at least return to his 2017 form and build from there.

Nah, he shouldnt have played round one. 2019 is up to him and how much he wants it. I see Marshall passing him if he's not careful.
Preuss is Melbourne bound, anyway no more talk of rucks - i want fast mids!

See I don’t get this... not a knock on Billy but if he “shouldn’t have played in round 1”, why did he play ahead of Hickey, Marshall and Pierce as a sole ruck without a back up

I agree, Hickey should have played . Pierce wasnt even on the radar and Marshall was probably too green at the stage.

[Sainternist]

Next time we play the Weagles, Billy will be telling Love Bite to look at the scoreboard!!

[media]

[Crossy66]

Next time we play the Weagles, Billy will be telling Love Bite to look at the scoreboard!!

[media]

looking forward to WCE v saints next year! might create a SS meltdown!

[Sainternist]

looking forward to WCE v saints next year! might create a SS meltdown!

It always does when we play them in Perth and get bent over and rogered by the umpires pandering to the Weagles crowd.

[sunsaint]

See I don’t get this... not a knock on Billy but if he “shouldn’t have played in round 1”, why did he play ahead of Hickey, Marshall and Pierce as a sole ruck without a back up

I agree, Hickey should have played . Pierce wasnt even on the radar and Marshall was probably too green at the stage.

I still dont get it - thought he was up and about in the preseason and Longer played the first two games - got towelled by Martin and then injured in rnd 2
Marshall was selected for rnd 3 - so Hickey didnt get a game until rnd4

Anyway on to 2019 where the modern game requires a constant rotation of on-ballers with a ruck that contributes and that can rest forward and be a goal threat - that is now the MODERN standard nothing less.
And if a ruck can only contribute for 70-80% of game time then your second ruck must also be competitive ( and thats not Bruce or Acres Richo)

[Crossy66]

See I don’t get this... not a knock on Billy but if he “shouldn’t have played in round 1”, why did he play ahead of Hickey, Marshall and Pierce as a sole ruck without a back up

I agree, Hickey should have played . Pierce wasnt even on the radar and Marshall was probably too green at the stage.

I still dont get it - thought he was up and about in the preseason and Longer played the first two games - got towelled by Martin and then injured in rnd 2
Marshall was selected for rnd 3 - so Hickey didnt get a game until rnd4

Anyway on to 2019 where the modern game requires a constant rotation of on-ballers with a ruck that contributes and that can rest forward and be a goal threat - that is now the MODERN standard nothing less.
And if a ruck can only contribute for 70-80% of game time then your second ruck must also be competitive ( and thats not Bruce or Acres Richo)

I think marshall will be important next year.
I think the game is about to change again with the new rules and big guys might be back in vogue. Just not sure how coaches will approach the 6, 6,6