It was fine while Jlo was good, Snake was crap* and Sandilands was young but as soon as Sandilands stepped up to become good, Jlo's knees turned to chalk and Simmonds walked out. The football accountants in the sky won't put up with that sort of nonsense.

Luckily Warnock left or Sandilands would be walking about with the biggest pair of leg calipers you'll ever see. Interestingly enough, Warnock started to fall apart the minute he arrived at Carlton where Matthew Kruezer was top of the pile. His manager really has a lot to answer for on that one.



* Being able to hold down a spot in a position other than ruck will also qualify you for crap ruckman status.

I concur with the assessment of our current state of rucks but its hard to apply the three twin towers (thank you Jacko) rule retrospectively.

Daniel Bandy was an up an coming young ruckman who was coached into being a crap ruckman when they tried to make him a key defender - a position where he didn't ruck at all.

What was JLo's status when he kicked 5 against Hawthorn for our first win of the 2001 season in Round 18.?

And which of the three categories was Clinton Wolf?

I guess we didn't have it as right in the past, as we do now. If we suddenly had to go with Zach Clarke as number 1, I think he'd be able to 50/50 it in the space of half a season.

My understanding, from previous googling, is that Alex Silvagni also rucked a bit in the VFL.

It's a pretty clear cut lineage if you look at it.

It starts with Burton and Bandy. Both jostled for position as good ruckman and in the end, Bandy had to play all around the ground to fill the crap ruckman spot. Gerard Neesham new the score and selected young up and comer Jeff White in the draft.

White did a good job as a youngster but got ambitious before his time - seeing him leave for greater opportunity.

Clem Michael was recruited and filled the young up and coming ruckman role well but progressed a little too quickly and Burton was outed.

Justin Longmuir was then picked up and Clem Michael's knees were shot within a few years. Simon Eastaugh was brought in to replace Bandy but, once again, ambitious rooted his knees.

Troy Simmonds was brought in and proved an excellent crap ruckman, particularly when he was playing at full forward, but Terry Wallace convinced him he was a good ruckman and forced him to leave.

Then, obviously you've got Sandilands who buggered up Longmuir's knees and Warnock who had to leave.

There were a few blokes in there with very short careers, like Clinton Wolf, Feddema, Clarke who were victims before they even had a chance to get noticed - keeping the universe in balance.

Thats all very good and insightful shane. But
You've all got it wrong. What you need is a case ruckman. A really good quality monster ruckman. One that dominates. But he needs to be flexible too - so that he can be folded up and hidden in the cargo hold in a big case and secreted over the border. Just so those spies from the dark side don't get to know just who is playing till the latest minute possible. Those spies casing the airport seeking advanced knowledge of team lists etc. Case ruckman can really bugger up a case officers career. I've given you the tip earlier in the year. Our spies are out and our trade craft has reached new heights. We've now got case ruckman, case midfielders and just in case, case KPP and reserves. As supporters we need to develop new skills at interpretation - and realise that lines are not for snorting - like that other mob. But for reading between.

I was surprised that the editor let this quote from the carlton midfielder through "He's worked under probably the best ruckman in the comp in (Aaron) Sandilands so he's got a good apprenticeship." Perthnow article

Because it compliments a Freo player or because you've got a dirty mind?

The only alternative to Shane's correct theory is that you have an Otten's type ruckman, who can justify long periods of time as a key marking forward. But they are not ubiquitous.

I notice a trend to rest key players in the forward line instead of rotating them off the bench. I think Harvey is sweating on Clarke to come up so he can throw the big fella forward.