VETERAN ruckman Mark Jamar says Melbourne is building a strong ruck division and having several in contention to play will only benefit the team next year.
Jamar said the reality was that the ruck spot needed a few players to play in the position, given the demands.
“I think you’re always going to need three, maybe four rucks on your list because you’re going to get injuries. It’s a crash and bash industry in the ruck – you’re going to get impact injuries, maybe like to Max [Gawn’s] knee. Big guys at 105 to 110 kilols have a bit more stress on the body –you’re going to get the Jake Spencer, [Mark] Jamar stress fractures and you’re going to get the muscle soreness,” he told Dee TV.
“You’re going to need to rotate guys through. I reckon there’s always going to be three or four guys, maybe even five [when] you’ve got your young Max King and Jack Fitzpatrick who’s your forward/ruck as well.
“I think you need to work as a team and it’s nearly like ‘alright, here we all are, we’re in this together. At the end of pre-season, let’s see who’s on top, the top two are probably going to play, one forward, one ruck’.
“It’s always what’s best for the club and at that point in time, whoever’s in the best form deserves it and whoever’s done the best preseason ... we’ve all got our own unique abilities, our own special talents, so always, it’s going to be a competition but a team within a team.”
Jamar said he was eager for 2015 and determined to do everything possible to have another solid season.
“A lot of people don’t realise but ... [players have to] spend a lot of time looking after themselves and that’s all part of footy now. You’ve got to go above and beyond what’s there for you, you’ve got to go and find other things to help you do your job,” he said.
Jamar was also genuinely optimistic about Melbourne’s fortunes in 2015.
“Winning four games [is] not good enough, [and neither is] losing another four or five by one to two goals, [nor] losing another three or four by five or six [goals], when we were in front at three quarter-time or thereabouts. If we just fix those things up, all of a sudden it’s an eight to 11-win game season,” he said.
“Add the extra improvement we’re all going to get ... the games we lost by less than a kick or one to two goals, [if we] fix those up, there’s maybe eight wins. And the others, that you’re thereabouts, or the teams that you should beat on form – there’s another three or four [wins].
“If you look at it that way, that’s probably why most guys are thinking ‘we’re a good chance to play finals if we do the things we’re required to do’.”
