Power premiership ruckman Dean Brogan backs Port’s bid to snare Scott Lycett
THE bold move to recruit premiership ruckman Scott Lycett to Port Adelaide reminds Dean Brogan of the Power’s set-up in the 2004 premiership, when twin towers worked a treat.
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PORT Adelaide premiership ruckman Dean Brogan has hailed the bold play to lure West Coast Eagles flag-winning equivalent Scott Lycett back to Alberton as a potential masterstroke.
The Power yesterday lodged a formal five-year bid for Lycett to return to Port Adelaide, where he was a former junior and played six SANFL games in 2010.
He toured the facilities at Alberton on Thursday and told his team-mates at the Eagles’ best and fairest on Friday night ofhis wish to return home.
West Coast has until Tuesday to match the offer, with Lycett being a restricted free agent, but no club has ever matched a bid for a player in the ruckman’s position seeking a move.
Should the offer – understood be worth around $3 million – be accepted, Brogan said it had the potential to markedly boost the Power’s premiership aspirations.
Paddy Ryder had to carry a heavy load as a lone genuine ruckman this season – while also battling injuries – and the Powerhad to rely on pinch-hitters such as key forward Charlie Dixon to help out with the taps while the club waited for youngerruckmen to be ready for the intensity of the AFL.
Lycett would not only take a load off Ryder, but also free him up to spend time in the forward line, where he is equally dangerous.
“I think Port needs somebody,” Brogan said. “I’m not sure (Billy) Frampton and (Peter) Ladhams and the other young guys theyhave are ready to fill the void.
“The way Lycett played through the finals series – all year, really, but especially through the finals series – he was fantastic.
“To get a quality ruckman like that is a big win, if they can get him.
“I guess it’s up to the coaching staff and the game plan to fit him and Ryder and Dixon all in the same team, to make it work.
“But I think it’s a massive coup; he’s one of the best ruckmen in the comp.
“And from what I hear he’s a good fella who has a bit of go in him.
“Paddy carried a big load this year with a sore body that disintegrated towards the end.
“Age doesn’t lie; it catches up with you.”
A Lycett return to Alberton would wind back the clock for Brogan, who remembers partnering Brendon Lade as a genuine ruckpartnership in the club’s 2004 premiership.
It would come as the club will also bring back 2004 premiership players Brett Montgomery and Jarrad Schofield as assistantcoaches.
“Paddy is a good forward as well,” Brogan said. “If they could preserve him, use him more forward and get Lycett to do thebulk of the ruck work and (then) Paddy comes in and makes things happen . . . it’s like the good old days of the two rucks.
“I think it’s a good move.”