So many times in the past there have been examples of ruckmen blossoming when they are given the number one ruck job. Sinclair is a good example. While Sinkers is in good form Darcy is not going to get the no.1 role. In a pre season game Darcy was THE ruckman and showed us what he can do.
Ruckmen do often take until they are 23 or 24 before they really start having an impact. Grundy and Nankervis are a couple of exceptions to this rule.
I recall Michael Gardiner doing his knee sometime in the early naughties and the media wondering how West Coast would cope, given how important he was for their game. But they rolled out an unco-ordinated, unheralded guy who was around 23 at the time and had been on their list for a couple of years after being picked up as a rookie. Enter Dean Cox.
I think it is true of players of any size. Some make seamless returns and are never bothered again, while some have second, third (or even more) subsequent ruptures. Patton, Clay Smith, Dan Menzel, Naitanui, Malceski and, of course, AJ, are examples of players of various sizes who have had recurrent knee issues.
Sinclair has been fantastic this year and such a revelation. Our midfield has managed to adjust to us losing heavily in the hitouts. We play the stoppages defensively, which is something anticipated after we lost Naismith.
The problem with Sinclair is that he's not a good tap ruckman and gets dominated by the better ones in the game. We lost the hitouts 63-31 against McEvoy, which has been typical this year and even worse when we go up against Gawn and Grundy. Cameron can put up a much better fight in the ruck contests and hopefully can grow to give a real good contest to even the best ruckmen. It's because of this that I feel Cameron will eventually win the #1 ruck spot. Sinclair makes a very solid backup for both the ruck position and key forward; he could yet see a fair amount of game time given injuries to KPPs.
Tom Morris said during his trade talk update on OTC tonight that "St Kilda are almost certain they will land Hannebery, which is a blow to the Swans who will have to work out a trade deal with St Kilda". Tom seems to have forgotten Hannebery has 3 years to run on his contract & the Swans can hold onto him if they wish to do so ( both Harley & Longmire have indicated he's a required player). Tom was talking like Hannebery is coming out of contract or is a Free Agent!
Tom also mentioned Geelong have offered Luke Dahlhaus 4yr X $500k contract which the Bulldog can't or willing to match.
Jarryd Polec to North Melb is just about over the line.
North are also 50/50 chance landing Andrew Gaff.
St Kilda offering Daniel Menzel 2 year deal (Geelong just one year).
Increasing noise surrounding Dylan Shiel to Essendon.
Mitch McGovern to Carlton is on the cards.
Last edited by KSAS; 27th August 2018 at 11:18 PM.
There is a suggestion on SEN that Gaff's only non-WA offer is coming from North (and that the dollars involved aren't that high - Lycett is more highly sought after).
It makes zero sense to me that clubs like Carlton and St Kilda wouldn't be making big dollar offers to Gaff. He's a quality player and they have oodles of cap space to spare, plus he won't cost them anything trade wise if he comes as a free agent. Why would the Saints want the older Hannebery over Gaff as a free agent? (Possibly they could try for both.)
Ludwig, I would be very happy to be proved wrong about Cameron. Really hope he gets given the chance to prove you right.
Re: Gaff, I wondered if he might be on the Swans radar?
Something about the Hanners / Lloyd business doesn’t feel right to me. That the clubs rumoured to be involved would have picks 3 or 4 in the draft made me wonder if the Swans do have their eye on a player before Blakey and are prepared to offload a player of that caliber to draft them? Either that or a major free agent coup like Gaff.
I read somewhere today: SEN that Shiel may be off to our nemesis the Hawks.
Most of these trade rumour always seem to be one way. From nonvic to Vic clubs.
Is it just the natural Melbourne media bias or are non Vic teams having a hard time keeping players.?
Reporters on both On the Couch and FootyClassified tonight saying that Hanners is heading to the Saints. I’m still at a loss how this can happen without the Swans agreeing given he is under contract for several more seasons? Am I missing something? Are they desperate to offload him? I can only see that scenario if they are made a good offer for him.
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