Opinion First Choice Ruck - Pitto vs TDK

[Beyond Blue]

I think Pitto plays round 1 due to his form in pre season and TDKs preseason injury setback, as I really cannot see TDK being able to go for much more than 60% of the time which would leave us dangerously exposed against Nank and Soldo.

I’m really not sold on both of them playing in the same team either and would rather see one of them play with Young picked as the back up because he provides more flexibility being able to go back or forward.

In my opinion the first ruck spot will come down to who’s fittest and in form out of the two, both of whom are still trying to cement their professional footballing careers and that can only be a good thing for the club.

 

[haveago]

Aside from Richmond, I feel like most clubs play two rucks - with different skill sets

Melbourne used expert Ruck Max Gawn and had Luke jackson as back up (but he is more of a forward)
Dogs had English and Sylvia as back up

I feel like Pitt probably needs to become more effective up forward - or Harry McKay needs to spend more time rucking.

I would hate to see Big H in the ruck, at most take some boundary throw ins deep inside 50 ala Tomahawk.

He is just too valuable for mine.

It is time for TDK to step up and the Melbourne game showed he is ready. Very exciting.

Pitto is all heart and is a good foot soldier that can surprise but he now has to be No.2.

I believe they can both play however at this point. Pitto resting on Bench and TDK forward(and some bench)

Jack SOS should only be used very sparingly if at all .

 

[Beyond Blue]

Aside from Richmond, I feel like most clubs play two rucks - with different skill sets

Melbourne used expert Ruck Max Gawn and had Luke jackson as back up (but he is more of a forward)
Dogs had English and Sylvia as back up

I feel like Pitt probably needs to become more effective up forward - or Harry McKay needs to spend more time rucking.

Aside from taking boundary throw ins and ball ups inside 50, I really hope we don’t use McKay in the ruck ever.
Too big a risk of injury (especially at centre bounce downs) and takes our biggest weapon away from where he plays his best.

 

[Accidental genius]

TDK first choice ruck with Jsos as relief
When not rucking or resting on bench, TDK to take screamers up front.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

JSOS is a better ruckman than Pitto is a forward.. Play TDK and JSOS in support.

 

[BigBreakfast]

I like what I have seen from Pitto during the preseason. Follow up work in particular has been good and he has cleaned up nicely behind the footy as an intercept marking option. More physicality than TDK too. Easy t become enamoured by the athleticism of Tom but, give his body some time to build before he is thrown to the monsters. I’m back flipping for now, Pitto to start, not sure where that leaves Tom. We are too tall if he plays as a forward, can we have him on the bench?

 

[BlueTang]

TDK to the wing richo style, would solve a couple of problems!

 

[4flagsin5yrs]

I like what I have seen from Pitto during the preseason. Follow up work in particular has been good and he has cleaned up nicely behind the footy as an intercept marking option. More physicality than TDK too. Easy t become enamoured by the athleticism of Tom but, give his body some time to build before he is thrown to the monsters. I’m back flipping for now, Pitto to start, not sure where that leaves Tom. We are too tall if he plays as a forward, can we have him on the bench?

horses for courses.

Reckon TDK is fine against the lighter framed rucks - English, Grundy....

Against the bigger lads - Gawn, the Tigers' duo, Darcy from Freo - Pitto every time.

Certainly don't think we can have Charlie, Harry and TDK up forward often - unless we're 12 and 0, playing some weaker teams!

 

[footyfan1978]

JSOS is a better ruckman than Pitto is a forward.. Play TDK and JSOS in support.

Jack is not ruckman. He just a body that can compete and probably outdo the opposing ruck once the actual ballup is down but he not tall enough to be able to win hitouts.
Ideally he not used at all in ruck unless main ruckman all injured or no Lewis Young to help out.
It seems like the the coaching staff and him still expect him to do it at times.
I do not mind him in the middle but I know the hit outs we cannot expect to win. The only time it advantages us if he can somehow stop the opposing ruck winning hit out to advantage. Hopefully we are using real ruckmen, 99% of time.

 

[El Topo]

VFL can't begin soon enough - we'll have a whole new dimension to the side if TDK starts holding his marks and kicking his 1-2 goals per game

 

[BlueJet]

IMO.. Pittonet as number one ruck, TDK forward, JSOS off the bench as a utility option.

 

[GordonBlue]

I see a place for Pitto, TDK and SOS. Gives us flexibility to change things up if it's not going our way.
It would work as both TDK and SOS can fulfil others roles.

 

[rileyjones452]

cant play both round 1, already very tall. i think Pitt gets the nod just... Jsos to chop out. Get TDK to take the piss in the magoos and get some confidence up

 

[Beyond Blue]

TDK to the wing richo style, would solve a couple of problems!

Wingers are typically among the fittest players at a club. Richo was a aerobic monster (like Blicsavs) so he could handle it but TDK would be a long way off the fitness levels required to play wing. If he had to come up against good runners like Amon, McLuggage, Langdon etc he’d need a ventilator by quarter time.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

I see a place for Pitto, TDK and SOS. Gives us flexibility to change things up if it's not going our way.
It would work as both TDK and SOS can fulfil others roles.

Conversely going 1 + JSOS allows an extra midfielder to play. If it's not working or injury forces a change, we can make it week to week.

 

[Jeremias]

Pittonet starts the season as our #1 ruck. He'll be out there on Thursday night against the Tigers.

The question now is whether TDK is named alongside him. That I am less sure about. I am generally not a fan of playing 2 rucks in tandem but appreciate we do need to get games into TDK and it is suitable to do that against certain opponents.

Whilst I am a big fan of TDK let's not forget he's still young and raw with a lot of development to come. I am not convinced he is ready to take the mantle of #1 ruck at senior level just yet.

I am just happy first and foremost that he is fit and enters the season with some game time behind him already. Continuity is so important for our younger players and that's no more true for anyone than it is a tall like TDK. We all want to see him at senior level, but if we can get a full season into him I'll be thrilled regardless of whether most of that is at reserve level.

Re: this Thursday night, it's touch and go I'd say. Tigers have done the 2 ruck thing successfully with Nankervis and Soldo so it may be in our thinking to counter that with Pitto and TDK. But I do love the less conventional idea of the Pittonet / Jack combination.

 

[WFGodot]

Right now Pitt but ultimately TDK.
I don’t think TDK is durable enough atm.
I don’t like carrying 2 big units like this in one game either.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

We can always have TDK as sub too. Yes generally you want someone more versatile, however we'd have that extra versatile player in the 22 already by virtue of going with 'one' ruck.

 

[gab213]

Both playing, no surprises there.

 

[Kramer1]

Worked well last night. Pitto only credited with 16 hit outs, but lost very few contests, and worked his arse off off ball. TDKs early hanger was only possible as Pitto pushed hard from the centre square to put on a block.

TDK obviously exciting and a genuine forward threat. Still 10kg off banging with the big boys, and lacks a bit of craft...which is understandable.

 

[jungojungojungo]

They're a good tandem. Pitto can bang bodies and is a traditional ruck. TDK can chop out and unleash his jump on the unsuspecting first ruck. Speaking as a very average amateur Ruckman - this is the worst combo, you can't get into a rhythm.

 

[BlueTang]

They're a good tandem. Pitto can bang bodies and is a traditional ruck. TDK can chop out and unleash his jump on the unsuspecting first ruck. Speaking as a very average amateur Ruckman - this is the worst combo, you can't get into a rhythm.

It was suck getting hit hard by Pitto, then TDK **** slapping your face, perhaps some would enjoy it ?

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Was good last night and was competitive in the ruck and useful around the ground, credit where its due.. Still not convinced having both in the side works.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Pitto was immense last night. I actually felt he was in our top 5 players.
People shouldn’t underestimate the hard work he did yesterday. If he keeps that up, we will be well placed.

 

[Foucault1989]

I don't think Pitt played a bad game,the free kicks were a bit stiff in my view. However when TDK when into the centre square we dominated clearances and he got a few himself