So what’s the verdict on the ruck?

[Ghost Like]

Don’t be surprised to see Abbott at some stage with 4-5 day breaks.

Abbott should play for Ryder when Ryder needs a rest.

With this stint of matches coming up I think we're going to really benefit from the recruitment of both ryder and Abbott.

Marshall one out every week would have been a massive slog.

This makes a lot of sense. Allow Marshall to rest in position during games, he strikes me as a player who thrives on work so let him play provided he is not sore or carrying an injury. Ryder & Abbott can alternate weeks if required to take the bulk of the centre bounces.

[skeptic]

Well...
I think we can put this to bed

[stkfc1]

Well...
I think we can put this to bed

And turn the light off on the way out...

Best ruck duo we've had since King and Gardiner.

[skeptic]

Well...
I think we can put this to bed

And turn the light off on the way out...

Best ruck duo we've had since King and Gardiner.

If they have time because I know Paddy is getting on... they’ll outshine those two

[the dome]

I focused on Paddy Ryder a fair bit throughout the game & he didn't disappoint.
All the best Paddy, really enjoyed your game tonight.
At the other end of the age spectrum Marshall generates plenty of class & enthusiasm keeping the whole show moving forward. And he kicks goals, a great young man for sure.

[bigred]

Ryder dominated Ladhams tonight. Absolutely torched him. 29 hitouts to 14.

When Marshall rucked, Ladhams just couldnt play him and gave away four free kicks. Roma had 11 hitouts, FOURTEEN contested touches and kicked two goals.

Our rucks dominated. Just absolutely smashed it.

[johnearljames]

Worked very well tonight. You can see why Ryder was an AA in the past.

[silverhalo]

Let's never forget just how awesome Paddy Ryder was last night; if there were any doubts about his playing ability, surely they were shattered after last night's effort.
The Ryder / Marshall combination worked an absolute treat last night - smashed them in the ruck and they combined for 4 goals, couldn't ask for more than that,

[Ghost Like]

Yep, if your two rucks are half decent a side is infinitely better placed. The years of pondering Hickey or Longer, Longer or Hickey was a recurring dream I imagine a patient in an induced coma to have.

[damienc]

Top shelf.

[stkfc1]

If Paddy played against Freo IMO we would have won. Marshall should have dominated but he struggled, and we had no plan B and got killed out of the middle after Q time. Ryder would have made a huge difference.

[saintsRrising]

Top shelf.

Mainly good. But Grundy gave us a bath. Goldstein was good too. Against Freo our ruck was not good.
So our losses have all been when our rucks were not good.

Marshall ha been a little slow to get going, but looks to have better adjusted to the shared role now.


The next 4 games is hopefully a stretch where we can almost lock in a finals appearance and fortunately the rucks of most of these teams is not flask. Wtts is a HO beast though, but not so good around the game.

We needs our rucks to be at the top of their game when we play the Cats to help give us the edge.

[damienc]

Top shelf.

Mainly good. But Grundy gave us a bath. Goldstein was good too. Against Freo our ruck was not good.
So our losses have all been when our rucks were not good.

Marshall ha been a little slow to get going, but looks to have better adjusted to the shared role now.


The next 4 games is hopefully a stretch where we can almost lock in a finals appearance and fortunately the rucks of most of these teams is not flask. Wtts is a HO beast though, but not so good around the game.

We needs our rucks to be at the top of their game when we play the Cats to help give us the edge.

Yeah. You’re right but I meant last night. Let’s hope we can keep on keeping on.

[saints66]

It’s working out for us to play both at the moment.

[shanegrambeau]

Cornes put both Holla and Paddy in his top 5 for the game.

So the question begs, who would we have played instead - say if we had just one ruckman?

Was it partly due to injuries to Hanners and Dunstan that Paddy played? I suppose Hanners would have squeezed Parker out and Dunstan maybe Kent?

It's all hindsight now, but looking ahead, with no injuries I wonder what the selection honchos think about it.

[bigcarl]

Cornes put both Holla and Paddy in his top 5 for the game etc

Contributed four goals between them and we dominated the clearances. They compliment each other. Ryder, an elite tap ruckman, and Marshall, versatile enough to play as a forward or even a tall ruck rover.

Ryder seems hugely respected by his teammates. Did you see them get around him when he snapped his second goal?

Playing both doesn’t guarantee a win every week, but neither does playing only one of them (eg the Fremantle debacle).

It may not be fashionable or footy’s current paradigm, but I say play both.

[bigcarl]

What is the story on Ryder? I read he copped an injury of some sort.

I think we need both him and Marshall fit and firing to go deep this season. A very strong ruck division is one of our key points of difference.

[remboy]

What is the story on Ryder? I read he copped an injury of some sort.

I think we need both him and Marshall fit and firing to go deep this season. A very strong ruck division is our point of difference.

He had an ice pack on his hand as he was leaving the ground. Most likely just a precaution. Given the short turnarounds clubs will be starting recovery as soon as possible, so I don’t think an ice pack means much.

[Goose is king]

I like playing the two of them a lot. When there is a center bounce I feel far more confident when Ryder is in their