SuperCoach 2020: The mid-price ruckmen that can make an impact
If you’re not going with the big two in Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn, it’s likely because you think you can use the money better elsewhere … and it’s these guys who will help.
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If you’re not going with the big two in Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn, it’s likely because you think you can use the money better elsewhere. And it’s these four guys who will help.
Nic Naitanui (WC)
$475,800
The star big man made his return from an ACL injury – the second since 2017 – in Round 15 last year, playing just 58 per cent of his comeback game against the Hawks.
But he walked off the field with 99 SuperCoach points to his name.
It was a similar story a week later with Natanui tallying 14 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven clearances, 23 hit-outs and 88 points in 52 per cent game-time.
And, yes, you guessed it, despite hurting his ankle and spending 43 per cent of the match on the bench, the 29-year-old finished with a game-high 11 clearances and 94 points against the Magpies.
Naitanui missed the final six home-and-away matches but returned for the Eagles’ two finals posting scores, in limited game-time, of 68 and 90.
He’s done it all of his career, too.
In 2012, his fourth season in the game, Naitanui recorded 15 SuperCoach tons — four in excess of 150 — including a career-high 185 against the Blues to finish the year as the All-Australian ruckman.
He then averaged 96, 91, 103, 106 and 97 in his next five seasons.
But there’s no hiding from the fact one of the games’ most-influential has played just 33 home-and-away matches since 2015.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: The risk is there, sure, but if any ruckman is going to get close to the 130-point averages of Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn, it’s Naitanui.
Sam Jacobs (GWS)
$348,400
In his last outing as a Crow, the 31-year-old tallied 25 hit-outs-to-advantage and 125 SuperCoach points in the Round 23 clash with the Bulldogs.
It was just his fifth game in 2019 but it showed he’s still more than capable at the top level.
At GWS, a “refreshed” Jacobs will be the man to lead the Giants’ ruck brigade – which works with one of the game’s best midfields – with Shane Mumford set to play a modified role in 2020.
Jacobs’ output has fallen away gradually since the 2014 season when he averaged 115 points, finishing the year as the third-ranked player in the competition but his tap-work remains elite and, prior to this year, he’s proven as durable as any big man in the game.
Between his Adelaide debut in Round 5, 2011 and the injury in Round 2, 2019, Jacobs played 181 of a possible 185 games for the Crows.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Going with Jacobs over one of the big-two will save you more than $300k. And he could push three-figures again.
Tim English (WB)
$448,400
In his draft year of 2016, English was compared to a young Dean Cox in the way in which he gets around the ground – sometimes appearing like a fourth midfielder.
Given English played plenty of junior footy in the midfield before a 20cm growth spurt three years prior to the Bulldogs taking him at pick No. 19, it was little surprise to hear 205cm big man can win his own ball.
And last year, we saw it on a regular basis.
The 21-year-old, whose work below his knees is, arguably, the best of any ruckman in the competition, tallied 10 or more disposals in all-but three matches last season, finishing with 15 or more on six occasions.
He broke through for the first SuperCoach ton of his career, on the back of 14 disposals, seven marks and 26 hit-outs against the Tigers before following it up with a 15-disposal, two-goal, 121-point performance three weeks later.
In his final three matches of the year, including the elimination final loss to the Giants, English averaged 17 disposals, nine contested possessions, 26 hit-outs and 98 points per game.
English’s body is still developing as is his ruck craft. And it showed at times last year with the young Bulldog failing to record more than 10 hiouts in three of his four clashes with the competition’s ruck heavyweights in Grundy, Gawn and Todd Goldstein.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: It was a start of something which could be very big. But is 2020 the year?
Sean Darcy (Freo)
$402,800
After 26 career games, the 202cm young ruckman has recorded more hit-outs than any other player on record.
And, now, after the retirement of Aaron Sandilands, despite such an impressive start, Darcy gets the opportunity to really make his mark.
The 21-year-old played 11 matches in 2019, a season he battled for consistency in his body, form and, of course, opportunity.
But he broke through for the first SuperCoach ton of his career.
After going close in his debut season with two scores of 99 in the first seven games of his career, Darcy tallied 16 disposals, 13 contested possessions and 113 points against the Bombers in Round 22.
Untried ruckman Lloyd Meek will keep the pressure on Darcy but the No. 1 ruck role appears his to lose.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Darcy’s scoring history without consistent opportunity suggests there will be a spike but it’s unlikely to be worth the saving.
Originally published as SuperCoach 2020: The mid-price ruckmen that can make an impact