Port Adelaide’s Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines does not have the reply to his AFL membership’s “puzzling question” after dropping one other ruckman to damage.
The Energy’s skinny ruck shares might be examined on Sunday after they host Gold Coast and their imposing co-captain and ruck Jarrod Witts.
Port’s first-choice ruckman Scott Lycett is a month away from coming back from a shoulder damage.
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His preliminary substitute, seven-gamer Sam Hayes, has fallen from choice favour.
The Energy’s mid-season draftee, ruckman Brynn Teakle, broke a collarbone when making his AFL debut final weekend.
Port have one other potential ruckman on their record, Dante Visentini, however he is an untested 18-year-old.
“It’s the gift that keeps giving,” Wines instructed reporters on Tuesday of Port’s ruck issues.
“… Whatever happens this weekend, not to sure. That is a really puzzling question for (coach) Ken (Hinkley) and the team.”
Port ahead Jeremy Finlayson has crammed in at ruck however at 196cm tall, he is 12cm shorter and nearly 10 kilograms lighter than Witts.
“He (Finlayson) is almost like another midfielder,” Wines stated.
“And it almost might be a bit of a time in football where that more mobile fourth mid type of ruckman is coming in.
“You see loads of actually good ruckmen within the league nonetheless doing actually good issues however the instances could be altering a bit, the place ruckmen who follow-up their work and be that additional quantity on the bottom degree is absolutely essential.”
Wines said whichever way Port selectors go, they’d be studying how best to combat Witts.
“What he does within the ruck and offering them first entry to the ball, it most likely retains us midfielders on our toes a bit bit extra and maybe not anticipating us to win as many hits and negating their affect,” he stated.
“But additionally he’s an actual figurehead across the floor, going ahead or kicking lengthy down the road he’s all the time there both marking it or making a contest.
“He is someone that we’re going to put a lot of work into.”
