That’s the short and the tall of it, for Rucks sake

Joe Pignataro

“It’ll be won at the source, within the contest”

Every coach you speak to, at any level of footy, regularly offers the above insight when the question is put to them about where the game will be won.

In William Buck Premier, we have been gifted in recent full and interrupted seasons to see high quality ruckmen, as well as elite level midfielders do battle. Ahead of the weekend’s matches we’re narrowing our focus to the source of those contests.

Friday night footy is upon us at Harry Trott Oval as Collegians aim to cut a run of four straight losses while Old Melburnians have put together their best start to the season in over a decade.

The first contest you will see under the Friday night lights is Matt Singleton going up against Nick De Steiger. Two of the more experienced rucks in the competition, Singleton has been part of the Lions senior team since 2014, while De Steiger is closing in on 150 senior games for OM’s dating back to 2010.

When they’re finished wrestling for it in the air, the contest becomes even more mouthwatering as it hits the ground – the class of Viv Michie and Kenny Ong, the youthful exuberance of Josh Watson, and experience of Freddie Sullivan will try to outmuscle and outfight Gus Borthwick (the human wrecking ball), Cam Banfield, the smooth moving Nick Daish and the speedster Lachie Haysman.

Forward of the footy Collegians have to get it into the hands of Dave Mirra and Ed Greene before Josh Freezer and Oscar Hosking can set up like a brick wall. At the other end Jackson Paine, Tom Baker & Al Armstrong will stand alongside Matt Warren, Luke McCleary and Hugh Johnson.

The purple army have owned OM’s in recent years, back at home with the crowd in full voice acting like a 19th man. Can they turn their fortunes around? Or does Paul Satterley’s midfield brigade outmuscle the opposition?

At the Uni Main on Saturday afternoon, University Blues and Old Xaverians may be without their regular starting rucks in Ayce Cordy and Shaun Hampson. But, the “backups” have become a significant part of both sides.

Will Carrington has shouldered most of the load in the last three weeks for the Blues, while last weekend Tom Hart stood tall in the centre, being ably assisted by Ed Delany who looks more and more like Luke Jackson each time he plays. Hugh Goddard also spent time doing the aerial acrobats against Caulfield recently, is Guy Martyn ready to play that card again?

Around the feet of the big men set yourself for Marcus Stavrou, Cauley Beetham and Dan Robinson to use their grunt and put their head over the footy, handballing to the outside run and spread from the contest. It won’t be made easy with the likes of James Carr, Marc James and Cam O’Shea wearing them tightly.

Sam Grimley (22 goals) has been the sharpshooter for Uni Blues in the absence of Alex Fasolo, Keiran Harper is back in the side while Tom Quinn, a regular small forward may find himself in the backline with Jack Hewitt and Xavier Richards running amok in recent weeks and helping to bury St Kevin’s in Round 7.

There’s more than just midfield bragging rights up for grabs on Saturday, a spot in the top 4 is on offer, and for Uni Blues fans, gather what’s left of your fingernails and get set for another close finish.

Over at Glen Huntly Oval, there hasn’t been a lot to smile about for either Caulfield Grammarians and St Bernard’s so far in 2022. The Fields have had to go deep into the depths of their ruck stocks this year, but the return of Declain Reilly and Jared Risol last week adds plenty of height and straightens them up.

Zac O’Halloran recently chalked up 150 games for St Bernard’s and has been a regular in the senior side for a long time. He is a thumping kick of the football, and has the ability to kick a long range goal. With the breeze in his back on Saturday, if he’s in range – forwards, don’t bother leading!

Will Edwards makes everyone around him stand taller, the captain of the Fields. Jack Wallace is arguably the best 2IC in the game. While for St Bernard’s, prior to suspension Charlie Vague was likely leading the clubs best and fairest. He returns to the side on Saturday.

Both sides must win this game, it’s a classic 8-point game with the fight on to get out of the bottom 2.

In my mind, Harry Thompson is the VAFA’s Benjamin Button. He gets better each year, and looks younger. Maybe because he rotates his famous #23 between short and long sleeves so regularly.

He is the #1 man at Old Trinity, and one of the most consistent ruckman we’ve seen. Since his senior debut in Round 1 of 2016, he has played 79 of a possible 94 games for the T’s. Goals haven’t been his forte, but floating down into defence with bucket hands has been his order of the day.

For Old Scotch, they’ll combat big H with Jesse Castan as their starting ruck. The midfield of the Cardinals is led by Aiden Franetic, Brodie Easton and Hugo Brown. Mark Gnatt will have to call on one of those three, or another one of his young troops to play a shut down role on Sam Mason who’s in the hottest of forms, but you can’t stop them all. Alex Emery is another of the green and gold’s brigade who’ll be one to watch.

Old Scotch will go into this contest with the memory of club legend and VAFA great John Bell in their hearts who sadly passed away earlier this week. No doubt there’ll be a few calls of “do it for Belly” when the ball is bounced on Saturday.

St Kevin’s will be going bayside on Saturday in a top of the table clash that’s not to be missed. Old Brighton coach, Greg Hutchison won’t be able to call on Lochie Filipovic to do the ruck as he is still a couple of weeks away. The load will be mainly shouldered by Andrew Doyle as he comes up against the games youngest, brightest ruck star Angus Hart.

Hart is currently taking each game in his stride, with no better VAFA mentor and master to learn off than the coach of St Kevin’s Anthony Lynch. Hart may well win it in the air, but Luke Winter, Tom Jok and Cam Hodges have got their work cut out for them with Harry Hill, Max Kennedy and Tom Fisher growling back at them when it hits the deck.

If St Kevin’s were uncomfortable last weekend in the Toorak Park portable change rooms, they’re going to find the going equally challenging at Brighton Beach Oval with the chance of showers through the afternoon.

The winner will sit on top of William Buck Premier come 5pm Saturday and whichever side that is, will no doubt be the main source of discussion in the wash up of Round 8.