As we head into September, it is interesting to note that the top four teams all have a ruck division spearheaded by recycled big men.
Darren Jolly’s inclusion in the Collingwood line-up this year is a key reason behind the team’s improvement. His strength and competiveness have delivered exactly what the Magpies required at key moments in big games.
Jolly has always excelled at centre-square bounces and ball-ups. The improvements to his contested marking and goalkicking in the second half of his career have turned him into an incredibly difficult opponent. His partnership with another recycled ‘big boy’, Leigh Brown, is proving to be one of the great combinations of 2010.
The radical difference in the way Jolly and Brown play the ruck role actually makes them harder to combat. Opponents have to deal with the big frame of Jolly wearing them out for about 70 per cent of the time, intersected with the quick, forward running, goalkicking, in-your-face style of Leroy Brown. It’s working well enough to keep former No.1 draft pick Josh Fraser out of the side, stranded on 199 games.
The Cats also traded back in 2005 to bring Brad Ottens to Geelong, a move that has been unbelievable for everyone but Richmond.
Don’t underestimate how big and strong a unit Brad Ottens is - he is just about the only player capable of physically competing with Aaron Sandilands.
Although it can take Ottens a while to hit top form, his 13-game lead-in to September sees him poised to have a massive impact on the finals. Collingwood fans will still be having nightmares about his best-on-ground preliminary final against them in 2007.
Tom Hawkins remains their best second option ahead of Mark Blake, who has played 17 games this year.
Hawkins’ extended lay-off with a foot injury is a concern, but there is enough game-time left for him to be ready for the big stage in two weeks’ time. In fact, Geelong will be waiting for him to provide them with exactly what Leroy Brown is giving the Pies.
Eyebrows were raised when Ross Lyon chose to recycle Michael Gardiner from the West Coast Eagles.
With the Saints, Gardiner has shown glimpses of the form that made him an All-Australian as well as enough consistency to suggest that he won’t be pushed around by anyone in September.
Ben McEvoy looks to have the all-round game to become a very good player. He will be the Saints’ preferred finals option ahead of Steven King, who has also proven to be good value at his second club.
The Saints’ fourth ruck option, Rhys Stanley, has the potential to be more exciting than Nic Naitanui. Not many two-metre ruckmen win the grand final sprint, have the endurance of Nick Riewoldt, and a very good set of hands; if Stanley can combine these qualities with a fanatical competitive spirit, there’s no limit to what he can do.
The Adelaide Crows released Ben Hudson to the Bulldogs, where he has been sensational. His ability to follow up with a second and third effort around the stoppages is a stand-out quality. He has great presence on the field and a passion for ‘giving it’ to the opposition, and his teammates love him.
After a 101-point thrashing by Geelong, the Dogs can’t get Hudson back quick enough.
Will Minson needs to provide a little more of what Hudson does if he is to get a permanent spot back in the side.
Young Jordan Roughead had shown enough in the way of contested marking and athleticism in his seven games this year to be genuinely exciting. At this stage, he’ll get the nod ahead of Big Will for the Dogs’ first final.
The Bulldogs’ ruck stocks are in great shape, with a young gun in Ayce Cordy still to debut.
The old adage that big men take longer is true, and it makes sense. Dustin Martin is having an enormous impact in his first season with Richmond, benefiting from a fully developed physique, while Rhys Stanley’s bean-pole frame will be almost unrecognisable when he fills out in a few years’ time. Perhaps this is why clubs are getting such great value from recycling big men.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
