SA Footy

southernbulldog wrote:Looks like they could be handy for us.Also noticed that Dustin Launer named as possible in as well im assuming he is Blakes brother .

Yes, Dustin is an IN as well.

Surely Dustin is the recruit and Blake has tagged along?

DOC wrote:Surely Dustin is the recruit and Blake has tagged along?

Dunno, from what I'm reading elsewhere, Blake is a walk-up start in the A's.

Perhaps I have them the wrong way around. One of them was a very good junior at WWTFC.

DOC wrote:Perhaps I have them the wrong way around. One of them was a very good junior at WWTFC.

That's Dustin.

Be handy if we could find a ruckman

southernbulldog wrote:Be handy if we could find a ruckman

Plus a key forward

TDJ44 wrote:

southernbulldog wrote:Be handy if we could find a ruckman

Plus a key forward

I think McCormick? from Frankston has that role.

TDJ44 wrote:

southernbulldog wrote:Be handy if we could find a ruckman

Plus a key forward

With a couple of excellent key defender acquisitions Fraser Fort can concentrate as a full time fwd option alongside Aiden Grace and Hosko.

We clearly lack a genuine big man capable of dominating the taps.
Billy McCormack will likely be the main ruck. He's not going to win a lot of ruck contests but is a genuine ball winner around the ground with a big tank.

Jacob Thomson might get an opportunity if he gets himself fit.

ferret wrote:

southernbulldog wrote:Looks like they could be handy for us.Also noticed that Dustin Launer named as possible in as well im assuming he is Blakes brother .

A Dustin Launer played for the Eagles U18 premiership team last year. Played a few reserves games. Was a very good player for the Eagles U18's, was very surprised he didn't make the senior list at the Eagles.

I agree. I thought he looked like a player the eagles certainly would have wanted to hold onto.

I could see him making a very positive contribution to the dogs. I wouldn't expect him to play league this year but reckon he will be regular in a few years. I hope he sticks with it.

Mr Fuller wrote:

ferret wrote:

southernbulldog wrote:Looks like they could be handy for us.Also noticed that Dustin Launer named as possible in as well im assuming he is Blakes brother .

A Dustin Launer played for the Eagles U18 premiership team last year. Played a few reserves games. Was a very good player for the Eagles U18's, was very surprised he didn't make the senior list at the Eagles.

I agree. I thought he looked like a player the eagles certainly would have wanted to hold onto.

I could see him making a very positive contribution to the dogs. I wouldn't expect him to play league this year but reckon he will be regular in a few years. I hope he sticks with it.

Maybe the distance worked in our favour given they are from Eudunda/Robertstown. 20/30 minutes less driving from Elizabeth to Woodville three times a week adds up. Especially if he can now car pool with the bro.

You can have your Menzels,
we've got The Launers

UK Fan wrote:Groundhog Day for Centrals fans this off-season

It looked so promising early on but we are going to be 2-4 quality players short again this season.


Finals looks a long way off.

Since this statement we've picked up 3 players, things might not be as bad as some think, fingers crossed.

Hopefully we can finish 9th or higher.

These latest recruits will add good depth to the midfield which is desperately required.


Now if we can sign 2/3 KPPs and an A grade ruckman we might be ok.

northerner wrote:

TDJ44 wrote:

southernbulldog wrote:Be handy if we could find a ruckman

Plus a key forward

With a couple of excellent key defender acquisitions Fraser Fort can concentrate as a full time fwd option alongside Aiden Grace and Hosko.

We clearly lack a genuine big man capable of dominating the taps.
Billy McCormack will likely be the main ruck. He's not going to win a lot of ruck contests but is a genuine ball winner around the ground with a big tank.

Jacob Thomson might get an opportunity if he gets himself fit.

I may be going out on a limb here but are tap ruckmen all that important? After all, when we won the 2004 GF by 125 points, we lost the vast majority of taps but won the clearances handsomely. It is only about 10% of taps that go to clear advantage on average... we have shown we can rove to the opposition ruckman and totally nullify their effect. Although it would be nice to win those '10% of clear advantages', I don't think we are losing much by not having a genuine tap ruckman. It is the marks a ruckman takes that is more important IMHO.

bulldogproud wrote:

northerner wrote:

TDJ44 wrote:

southernbulldog wrote:Be handy if we could find a ruckman

Plus a key forward

With a couple of excellent key defender acquisitions Fraser Fort can concentrate as a full time fwd option alongside Aiden Grace and Hosko.

We clearly lack a genuine big man capable of dominating the taps.
Billy McCormack will likely be the main ruck. He's not going to win a lot of ruck contests but is a genuine ball winner around the ground with a big tank.

Jacob Thomson might get an opportunity if he gets himself fit.

I may be going out on a limb here but are tap ruckmen all that important? After all, when we won the 2004 GF by 125 points, we lost the vast majority of taps but won the clearances handsomely. It is only about 10% of taps that go to clear advantage on average... we have shown we can rove to the opposition ruckman and totally nullify their effect. Although it would be nice to win those '10% of clear advantages', I don't think we are losing much by not having a genuine tap ruckman. It is the marks a ruckman takes that is more important IMHO.

I reckon this is why we've recruited both Kendall & McCormick,
they're 3 big mobile blokes that CAN ruck but are better up forward.
Together with Fort, I reckon these 3 can cause havoc.
Apparently Jakob Thomson is a lot fitter & is "training the house down."

bulldogproud wrote:

northerner wrote:

TDJ44 wrote:

southernbulldog wrote:Be handy if we could find a ruckman

Plus a key forward

With a couple of excellent key defender acquisitions Fraser Fort can concentrate as a full time fwd option alongside Aiden Grace and Hosko.

We clearly lack a genuine big man capable of dominating the taps.
Billy McCormack will likely be the main ruck. He's not going to win a lot of ruck contests but is a genuine ball winner around the ground with a big tank.

Jacob Thomson might get an opportunity if he gets himself fit.

I may be going out on a limb here but are tap ruckmen all that important? After all, when we won the 2004 GF by 125 points, we lost the vast majority of taps but won the clearances handsomely. It is only about 10% of taps that go to clear advantage on average... we have shown we can rove to the opposition ruckman and totally nullify their effect. Although it would be nice to win those '10% of clear advantages', I don't think we are losing much by not having a genuine tap ruckman. It is the marks a ruckman takes that is more important IMHO.

Agree that ruckman aren't that important, it helps if you have a quality midfield though.
Our midfield isn't good enough at the moment.

bulldogproud wrote:

northerner wrote:

TDJ44 wrote:

southernbulldog wrote:Be handy if we could find a ruckman

Plus a key forward

With a couple of excellent key defender acquisitions Fraser Fort can concentrate as a full time fwd option alongside Aiden Grace and Hosko.

We clearly lack a genuine big man capable of dominating the taps.
Billy McCormack will likely be the main ruck. He's not going to win a lot of ruck contests but is a genuine ball winner around the ground with a big tank.

Jacob Thomson might get an opportunity if he gets himself fit.

I may be going out on a limb here but are tap ruckmen all that important? After all, when we won the 2004 GF by 125 points, we lost the vast majority of taps but won the clearances handsomely. It is only about 10% of taps that go to clear advantage on average... we have shown we can rove to the opposition ruckman and totally nullify their effect. Although it would be nice to win those '10% of clear advantages', I don't think we are losing much by not having a genuine tap ruckman. It is the marks a ruckman takes that is more important IMHO.

I agree entirely though a tap ruckman would be nice to have, the scenario you mention above is spot on. I didn't mind when Tom Collier was rucking as he acted as an extra mid/ wingman. It's winning the clearances not necessarily the taps that's important (Richmond won a GF without a gun ruckman as did Western Bulldogs to a lesser degree). We had Marsh last year that may be viewed as a tap ruckman, but he couldn't get a mark or kick around the ground. Of course having a strong midfield would be nice.

The inclusion of The Launers & Bailey Reeves should help out significantly in the midfield.
Alongside Grant & The Schillers, that doesn't sound too bad I reckon.

You could recruit Wines, Martin, Mitchell, Sloane and Neale and some (not all) of your blokes would still be predicting the spoon.