Eagles stick with rucks for Swans AFL game
Apr 12, 2017 - 9:23 AM West Coast coach Adam Simpson will continue to back ruck duo Jonathan Giles and Nathan Vardy ahead of Thursday night's AFL clash with Sydney.The back-up big men have been thrown into the deep end this season with Nic Naitanui, Scott Lycett and Drew Petrie all sidelined by injuries.
After claiming wins over North Melbourne and St Kilda, the Eagles looked well off the pace during a disappointing loss to Richmond at the MCG last week.
The Tigers' ability to run rings around West Coast's midfielders prompted calls for Simpson to consider fielding a smaller lineup with just one ruckman.
But Vardy and Giles have retained their spots, with the Eagles instead dropping wingman Lewis Jetta and on-baller Mark Hutchings for Sam Butler and Liam Duggan.
Simpson said the injuries to stars Naitanui and Lycett meant the Eagles didn't have the option of dropping a ruckman.
"A lot of teams play a ruck and a forward-ruck and that is what Vardy is," Simpson said.
"When you have got a dominant ruckman who can ruck all day, that is great and teams will take that, but we don't have that. We have got two workhorses who need each other to get through the four quarters."
Forward Jack Darling was in doubt with an ankle injury but has been named in the Eagles' 22 and is expected to be given as long as possible to prove his fitness.
Both Darling and key defender Jeremy McGovern have been floated as potential ruck options but Simpson was keen to avoid tinkering with the side's balance.
"You'd hate to win or lose games because you're too tall or too small but you need to look at the bigger picture sometimes," Simpson said.
"I think there is an option there one day to do that with Jack or even (Jeremy) McGovern in the ruck but it just takes away a bit from what they're in the side for as well. We won't be doing that this week."
Sydney have recalled Tom Papley and Harry Cunningham in place of Sam Naismith (knee) and Jordan Dawson.
The absence of Naismith and Kurt Tippett (ankle) means it will be left to former Eagle Callum Sinclair to shoulder the Swans' ruck load on his own.
Source: AAP
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