Just as Port Adelaide waited 12 months for Scott Lycett, Crows gambling on finding Sam Jacobs’ back-up in later trade deal
CROWS lead ruckman Sam Jacobs needs ruck support. But Adelaide’s view of the short-term options - and the prospects in later trade and free-agency markets - could keep Jacobs waiting and carrying a heavy load again.
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ADELAIDE’S needs in this AFL trade period were universally (at least outside the bubble at West Lakes) seen as pace to advance a one-dimensional midfield.
And speed in attack where the absence of Charlie Cameron - traded to Brisbane last year - is measured by Adelaide falling from the AFL’s high-scoring team to average fell by more than three goals (20 points from 108 to 88).
Don Pyke does have a good squad hardly in need of major reworking. It certainly measures better than the 12th ranking the Crows carry after an amazing collapse from 2017 minor premier and grand finalist.
But beyond speed there is the growing question of Adelaide’s ruck battery.
When Crows lead ruckman Sam Jacobs was asked at The Advertiser Foundation AFL grand final luncheon of his view on Adelaide’s priorities in this trade period, he quickly appealed for support in ruck.
First, North Melbourne’s long-term project with Braydon Preuss was seen as a trade target. On Friday, it became contracted Geelong ruckman Zac Smith as Channel Seven spotted the big Cat at Adelaide Airport and drew a predictable conclusion.
“Fake news,” said Crows list manager Justin Reid on leaving the start of trade talks at AFL House at the Melbourne Docklands on Monday.
But Reid referred to Zac Clarke - rather than Zac Smith. Clarke last appeared on a Dockers team sheet as a ruckman in 2016 when he played his 101st - and final - AFL game.
Jacobs will be 31 on April 10 as he starts his 11th AFL season in a career that began 12 years ago on Cartlon’s rookie list. He showed the strain of working almost 90 per cent of Adelaide’s ruck duties year after year - a task that became more demanding this year as he carried a back strain.
And there is much to watch with ruckmen if the AFL Commission endorses the 6-6-6 starting positions that will increase the need and merit of clean ruck taps to accurate midfielders at centre bounces to load up forwards when they have an equal number (six) of defenders to beat.
Hence Jacobs’ genuine public appeal for ruck support to be found in this trade period.
Reid’s list-management view of the ruck options at West Lakes is - continue to develop (that “organic growth” from Reid’s 2016 trade script) Reilly O’Brien, who had his season wrecked by a serious shoulder injury this year.
The pinch-hitting ruck options are with key forwards, in particular Josh Jenkins and the promising Elliott Himmelberg. And the rookie list has Paul Hunter.
Port Adelaide had to wait 12 months - after last year identifying a need for a mature ruckman to support Patrick Ryder - to secure Scott Lycett from West Coast as a free agent.
Adelaide might also have a long-term plan to wait for a preferred ruckman in the 2019 trade period rather than take second or third-best in this market. In the meantime, Jacobs should take comfort in the kudos carried by the team’s new physio chief Steve Saunders.
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au