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So it’s days before Christmas and to be honest, not even the DreamTeam or SuperCoach Team Pickers are out for the 2021 preseason. Yet, one player line is a pure and simple easy selection this season. I’m talking about the ruck division for next season, regardless of the format.
Embed from Getty ImagesONLY 5 RUCKS WORTH PICKING
I (MJ) believe there are only five ruckmen worth owning in the salary cap formats of the game. Those four are Brodie Grundy, Max Gawn, Reilly O’Brien, Rowan Marshall and Braydon Preuss.
For years our ruck division has been locked with the ‘set and forget’ combo of Grundy and Gawn. And despite a quiet end to the season for Brodie Grundy, I can see little reason for him not to be near the top of the ruck division tree.
Big Max Gawn, well he’s arguably now the most dominant fantasy player in the game across all formats. So barring an injury, he’s a safe option.The other three are new to the conversation, but all for different reasons.
Reilly O’Brien had a breakout season as the Crows ruck last season. I believe he is the only ruck that I’d have any confidence in getting close/overtaking either of those big boys, especially in AFLFantasy scoring.
A SuperCoach average of 106 and an 86.8 (adjusted 108) average in AFLFantasy/DreamTeam has him already right around the mark. Given his elite aerobic capacity and endurance his strength, a return to full quarters should only help him further.
Rowan Marshall makes the cut due to his R/F DPP and an increasing ability to dominate around the ground as well as at stoppage. While some believe Paddy Ryder‘s ruck days are done, a look back at the Saints elimination final win where he was best on the ground (in the ruck) means that if he’s fit, he’ll still spend plenty of minutes there.
Marshall averaged just shy of 104 in SC and 77.3 (adjusted 96.6) in AFLFantasy. A replication of that makes him a top tier FWD let alone a great insurance policy should R1/2 go down.
Lastly, it’s new GWS Giants ruckman Braydon Preuss. The reason he makes the list isn’t that he’s a genuine top tier option. Rather, he’s the only stepping stone ruckman. I think that’s worth considering at R2. Preuss has shown at both Melbourne and North Melbourne; when allowed to ruck solo, he’s capable of scoring 80+ in AFLFantasy and mid to high 90’s regularly in SuperCoach.
If you choose not to go ‘set and forget’ ruck combo, then Braydon is the only ‘non-premium’ option I can advocate selecting right now.
Embed from Getty ImagesWHY NOT…
Todd Goldstein had a fine 2020, especially in the first half of the season. But as the year went on, his owners became increasingly frustrated with his output. In his last five games of the year, he averaged 84 in SuperCoach and 62.2 (77.75) in AFLFantasy.
A new coach may do him wonders, but at 32 his best fantasy footy days are now in the rear vision mirror.
Nic Naitanui was excellent this year, especially in SuperCoach. However, he was one of several players that benefited from shorter quarters. It meant that in that format his scoring impact was more heavily weighted due to the way that game is played.
It wouldn’t shock me to see him back up his 110 average, but in that format that’s still a minimum of 10 points below what the other big rucks gave us last year.
Sam Draper was excellent as a cash cow, but you can’t go near him next year. He’s not at the elite level just yet. Talk to me in another 12 months.
Tim English was meant to breakout last year, and he managed to deliver for a handful of games. However, I have minimal confidence that he will deliver that breakout in 2021. He’ll be a potential value pick in drafts, but not someone in the salary cap formats of the game I want a piece of.
Ben McEvoy is of some interest, especially with RUC/DEF status, but to be fair, that’s more to do with versatility in drafts. Should the Hawks play him more ruck (which given the way the draft went for the club he should) then he’s a sneaky second-tier ruck inclusion. Maybe even a DEF premium option should that line have a lower scoring threshold.
