Time to stand tall
THERE’S no avoiding Geelong is in a ruck crisis and more worrying, there doesn’t seem to be a clear path out.
The opportunity is there for one of Rhys Stanley or Zac Smith to put their hand up as Geelong’s No. 1 as the Cats push towards finals and a premiership tilt.
So far, neither seems to have taken that challenge.
Geelong invested plenty in recruiting both Smith and Stanley. The Cats have shown faith at a time when it may have waned elsewhere.
But who is going to truly repay the faith this year?
Is either a competitive enough beast to grab the opportunity by the throat and run with it?
“You can see Chris Scott is challenging Zac Smith and Rhys Stanley, they have been in and out. (He’s challenging) one of them (to grab) that ruck spot and none of them have,” former Suns coach Rodney Eade said on his Eade Files podcast.
“I think they get disappointed with Zac Smith. A few of the ruckmen towel him up.
“He has got the height, he has got the athleticism and he started off well for Geelong. He can play OK, but he’s not a super competitor.
“I think he is the one more than Stanley they need (to get going). They need to keep working with him to try and nullify the opposition’s effectiveness at times. At least he has got the height to combat the opposition.”
Stanley — the man in favour at the moment — had 32 hit outs on Saturday night, but just four of those went to advantage. Opponent Matthew Kruezer had 12 go to advantage from his 39.
We all understand that Stanley’s asset is his work around the ground, but that goes out the window when it takes 42 minutes of playing time to register your first disposal.
Esava Ratugolea’s potentially season-ending broken ankle also muddies the waters.
Ratugolea had surgery late Sunday, with the club confirming a plate and screws were inserted to stabilise the injury.
“Ratugolea is a big out. Even though he is a young lad, he is the back-up ruck and he can take a mark forward, so he helps their forward structure,” Eade said.
So now there’s not one, but two key position places up for grabs … and seemingly no one in good enough form to take them.
We’re yet to see Smith and Stanley play in the same team this year and that still remains a legitimate solution, even if it goes against the current trend in the AFL.
Just West Coast runs out each week with two recognised ruckmen. Other clubs are happy to go with their No.1 and someone who can pinch hit.
Wylie Buzza is also a massive chance to earn his first senior game of 2018. He hasn’t set the world on fire in the VFL this year, but he is a competitor and talented.
He can play a similar role to Ratugolea.
Mature-age recruit Ryan Abbott, who has been solid in the VFL, could also fill the ruck void. And then of course there is Mark Blicavs who can play in the ruck. The Cats would be reluctant to rip him out of defence where he has been starring.
There are plenty of options sitting there for Geelong. A decision has to be made quickly with almost half of the season now in the rear vision mirror.
The ideal scenario for coach Chris Scott is that one of Smith or Stanley make that decision and grab the opportunity in front of them and run with it.
On what we’ve seen this year, there’s no point holding your breath.