DHF Dream Team Picks 09 – The Rucks

Let’s start with the toughest group to manage, The Ruck. Sure they only make up 4 spots on your team, but it can be the spots you spend the most time considering – there are several strategies you can take, there aren’t many big scorers, even less middle rangers and it is always tough going finding rookie Rucks to play on your bench (especially with Nick Naitanui snapping his knee!!).

In the end there are usually two choices: To Ruck? Or not to Ruck?

Keepers:

Dean Cox ($473k): The master of the big men, both on the ground and in the DT scoring box. Cox has enforced his DT mastery across Australia over the last few years, and really emerged as the only ruckman who can consistently notch over the 100 mark (and beyond). Not only is he by far the best ruckman, but he gives you a legitimate captain option each week.

News of him carrying cheek bone fracture sent the DT forums into disarray and probably nearly collapsed DTT’s server, as anyone who is anyone has the big man in their team (he will feature in the most popular players as usual, if not be 2009’s most popular). Fortunately there is little to fear as this Cox is battery powered by the energizer bunny – Woosha has already stated he expects him in round 1.

2008 Season – 106.7 DT
2009 NAB Cup – 34 DT – ignore this, he was used sparingly

Distance….

Distance….

Space…

More distance…

David Hille ($381k): Here is where the debate of To Ruck? or Not To Ruck? Begins. Either you take the money hit and pick one of the next few ruckman for premium price, guaranteeing you solid scores, or you use that money elsewhere and take the risk trying to pickup a cash cow or lower echelon performer.

If you spending the money on your rucks, David Hille is your best bet. He was the second best ruck in DT last year, boasting the rare combination of success in the ruck contests (18.2 h/o’s), as well as an attacking style that allows him to run off his opponent and rack up the possessions (16.2), not to mention booting the odd 6 pointer. At 27 years old he is smack bang in the middle of his prime, and a second solution to all your worries at this position.

2008 Season – 86.0 DT
2009 NAB Cup – 70.3 DT

Troy Simmonds ($370k): Simmonds was a lock last year at his bargain price, but being more expensive this year, he’s not such a sure thing.

In the similar mould to Hille above, and at a similar price, Simmonds brings a well rounded DT attack. On his day he can drop the kind of scores that lead to upsets in your DT league (like the 130 the prick put on me in Round 17 last year!). His proficiency around the ground (16.7 touches) might improve if Richmond’s bolstered midfield reaches its potential and finds more of the ball, the only question mark around Troy is his age. Now over 30 you have to question whether his output will drop off, or worse if he cannot stay fit all season – hopefully he has been sipping on the same rejuvenation juice as his mate Richo. In this price range I go Hillie.

2008 Season – 83.7 DT
2009 NAB Cup – 61.7 DT

Drew Petrie ($374k): Not your traditional ruckman, Drew spends a lot more time up around the ground, either up forward or down back. That said he doesn’t even manage more possessions (16.0), or goals for that matter, than Hille. Throw into the mix the fact you can’t rely on hit-outs to eek out a score on an off day (9.0), and the fact his opportunities may dwindle further if McIntosh can blossom this season and you might not be using your money to the best of its ability with Petrie.

2008 Season – 84.4 DT
2009 NAB Cup – 76.0 DT

Aaron Sandilands ($363k): An absolute monster in the middle (29.4 h/o’s), the Sand-Man is probably the only other ruck apart from the big Cox who can completely take over and win a game from the middle. Anyone who saw the finish of the preseason derby knows what I am talking about where Sandi stood up and utterly destroyed Mark Seaby in the last few minutes to turn around a 5 goal deficit (with some help from a very confused man in white).

Unfortunately Sandi can’t consistently post DT scores – his variance can be pretty great, and at his price that can wreak havoc with your W-L record.

2008 Season – 81.9 DT
2009 NAB Cup – 61.0 DT

Brad Ottens ($329k): Ottens is an attractive price for a ruckman with the score on the board, but injuries have affected 5 of his last 6 season. Whether you select Ottens probably depends on your ruck structure – if you take a reasonably ‘rich’ 3rd ruck option such as Kreuzer, Leuenberger or McEvoy, then Ottens might be a good fit because you can cover his probable injury concerns. If instead you’re going to go with cheap 3rd and 4th rucks, then Ottens probably isn’t for you.

2008 Season – 74.1 DT
2009 NAB Cup – 47.7 DT

DHF Lock: Dean Cox
Avoid: Fraser, Jolly, Cloke, Lade

Mid-Rangers:

Hamish McIntosh ($296k): Your chances at a rising mid-ranged ruck almost start and end here with H-Mac. After a promising 2007 where McIntosh showed considerable improvement, playing every game and posting a more than respectable 80 DT points per game, DTers had started hailing him as savior to their ruck problems. Unfortunately in 2008 H-Mac didn’t make the further leap everyone had touted, if anything dropping off before a mid season injury that almost shut him down for the rest of the year.

H-Mac is what the lads in Boiler room would call an “average down”. If you liked him last year at his inflated price you should love him at this price, but the memory or last year will probably spurn you, leaving others who didn’t get stung last year to laugh all the way to victory if he stays healthy.

2008 Season – 66.9 DT
2009 NAB Cup – 61.3 DT

Matthew Kruezer ($241k): Welcome to the three year rule; generally speaking players make their biggest leap in the third season once they have had a couple of solid preseasons in them and have gotten comfortable in the big league. This is how I feel about Kreuzer this year – he was a great backup last season (in DT) and has shown he will definitely be a big cog in Carlton’s future (and in your DT leagues going forward), but right now he is probably just still one year away.

2008 Season – 54.3 DT
2009 NAB Cup – 53.0 DT

Jamie Charman ($278k): On a three year downward slide DT wise (from 77.3 in 2006 to just 62.3 in 2008), and in DT the obvious rule is to get people on the way up, not the way down. Throw in to the mix his knee injury to start the season (missed the entire NAB cup) and it isn’t the best recipe.

2008 Season – 62.8 DT
2009 NAB Cup – injured

DHF Lock: Hamish McIntosh

Cash Cows:

Rookie rucks are usually somewhat of a struggle, but we think this year has the potential to be a bit different – there’s a few very cheap options out there, which might free up the cash for you to take on 2 premium rucks straight away.

There are a number of options between 100-200k which look suited to your 3rd ruck position – Matthew Leuenberger ($191k), Ben McEvoy ($142k), Jessie White ($137k) and Richmond rook Tyrone Vickery ($122k).

But there’s also the option of going cheap with your bench rucks and using the cash elsewhere – so here are our best 2 picks to save some cash on your rucks:

Jake Spencer ($75k): Melbourne’s rucks are about as attractive as their silver strip, so Spencer is one cheap rookie who might see a lot of game time in 2009. Played all 4 NAB preseason games, and while he won’t get you a ton of points, he isn’t exactly breaking the budget. As cheap a player as you can get who looks like playing a few games – how could you go wrong for your 4th ruck at least?

2008 Season – Rookie
2009 NAB Cup – 34.3 DT

Sam Jacobs ($75k): Played all 4 NAB preseason games – which is a good sign for a role in Round 1 – and he actually scored somewhat reasonably to boot. With the injury to Robbie Warnock, he looks like he could get a good run of games early in the season and could make you a bit of cash while providing you with a bench option who can cover an injury to one of your main rucks. Very nice option at $75k.

2008 Season – Rookie
2009 NAB Cup – 52.8 DT

DHF Lock: Spencer and Jacobs are both great bargain basement bench rucks if selected for round 1.

So – what rucks are you going with? Which strategy are you going in with? Leave us a comment below!