Free-agent ruckman Scott Lycett’s decision to wait on new deal could benefit Crows or Power

SOUTH Australian Scott Lycett’s decision to wait on free-agent offers could be a blessing for him — and for the Crows and Port Adelaide, as the latter reassesses its options in the wake of a season-ending knee injury to its young ruck talent.

West Coast free-agent ruckman Scott Lycett could emerge as much-needed insurance at Port Adelaide as All-Australian ruckman Patrick Ryder continues to be vulnerable to injury. Picture: Tony McDonough

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SOUTH Australian free-agent Scott Lycett is playing a waiting game that gives both the Crows and Power extra time to rethink their needs for insurance in ruck.

Lycett, 25, will use this week’s AFL mid-season bye with West Coast to look at his growing options that ultimately could range far from resigning with the Eagles, a homecoming move to SA or a deal on the east coast.

Lycett, formerly a Port Adelaide SANFL player recruited from the Magpies’ old Eyre Peninsula country zone, has increasing new appeal in SA as both the Crows and Power note their pressing need for better cover in their ruck batteries.

In the past three weeks, Adelaide has been forced to rely on battered lead ruckman Sam Jacobs — who is fighting back pain — rather than work back-up ruckman Reilly O’Brien.

And since the opening round — when All-Australian ruckman Patrick Ryder crumbled to left Achilles tendinitis — the Power has needed to manage Ryder and re-assign key forward Charlie Dixon to ruck duties rather than delve into its developing ruckmen in the SANFL.

Lycett, the No. 29 pick in the 2010 AFL national draft, put off contract talks with West Coast at the start of the year. However, this was not a sign of an intent to take up free agency.

Rather, as his Perth-based manager Colin Young explained to The Advertiser, Lycett needed time to re-establish his market value as a ruckman by playing games.

Lycett’s season was wrecked last year by injury. He dislocated a shoulder in a WA State league practice match while on the comeback from a knee injury. He then needed more shoulder surgery in August after his only AFL game of the season.

These setbacks denied Lycett the chance to establish his true worth in an open market — and to fill the gap left at West Coast by No. 1 ruckman Nic Naitanui time on the sidelines recovering from knee surgery.

West Coast’s Scott Lycett looks to handball while being tackled by St Kilda’s Jarryn Geary in the round 11 AFL match between the Eagles and Saints at Optus Stadium. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty

Lycett has played all 11 AFL games this season.

Young will meet Lycett later this week with the landscape significantly changed from the start of the season when Adelaide and Port Adelaide felt there was no pressing need to review the free-agent list for a ruckman.

Port Adelaide drafted under-18 All-Australian ruckman Sam Hayes with pick No 47 at last year’s draft. But after impressing in the SANFL, the young talent ruptured his ACL in a routine training drill on Monday.

The Crows and Power still remain with a focus on their own list-management — and salary cap — challenges. These are free-agent vice-captain Rory Sloane and out-of-contract forward Tom Lynch at Adelaide; vice-captain midfielder Ollie Wines at Port Adelaide.

But the vulnerability exposed by injuries to Jacobs and Ryder force the need to rethink at West Lakes and Alberton.

Lycett will in the next fortnight learn how West Coast intends to use him in the long-term as Naitanui gains more strength to play more game time.

He will learn which AFL clubs are prepared to work a two-ruck unit — with Richmond emerging as a relevant option.

He will gather where — other than Adelaide and Port Adelaide — there is a pressing need for new ruck depth. This puts Essendon and Gold Coast in the frame.

And Thursday’s meeting of the new AFL “think tank” — with Hall of Fame Legends Malcolm Blight and Leigh Matthews — could significantly change the value of ruckmen and the need for two on the field at the same time should there be a push to further reduce interchange rotations.

“There are a lot of ‘what ifs’ to work through,” Young said. “And those discussion will open up next week, first with West Coast.”

West Coast ruckman Scott Lycett at Etihad Stadium last month. Picture: Julian Smith

FACT FILE

Scott Lycett

Age: 25 (September 26, 1992)

Height: 203cm

Weight: 101kg

AFL games: 61

AFL goals: 39

Drafted: Pick No. 29 (second round, national) 2010 from Port Adelaide (SANFL).

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