Cal’s Scale of Hardness – Rucks

How Does the Scale of Hardness Work?

Based on the data from 2021, teams are coloured according to how many points they gave up to opposition players across the course of the year. This is how the Scale is currently constructed per position.

This data will change as the year progresses… and so will the Scale. The Scale has a new and exciting complex formula in 2022 which takes into consideration multiple components of data which are weighted differently.

The Scale should be used as a resource. A guide in case you are torn between two players and you are looking for a deciding factor after the coin let you down. The Scale is here to help!

Please note… forwards are not covered. The forward we should be targeting in Fantasy should be playing midfield and that should be your area of focus.

Premium Focus:

Max Gawn (RUC, $911 ,000) – For those who aren’t scared of Luke Jackson. Well done and enjoy Max’s start to the year. BUT WHAT… Hang on! As he is playing ‘easy ruckman’ does this mean Jackson get more exposure to the middle? Interesting… as easy runs may not serve Max well.

Brodie Grundy (RUC, $893,000) – St Kilda, Adelaide, Geelong and West Coast open Grundy’s account and this year he is one hell of a popular pick. Against those teams last year he had mixed results scoring 99 v St Kilda then 69 v Geelong and 129 & 120 v WCE. (DNP v Adelaide)

Reilly O’Brien (RUC, $723,000) – Of all the ruckman, ROB has the toughest start not meeting an ‘easy team’ till round six. Based on last year’s results, he will be averaging 87 by that point… still better than what he is priced at. ROB usually starts slow though and only averaged 65 in his first three last year.

Sean Darcy (RUC, $786,000) – A mixed bag for the big man who dominated last season averaging 94. His hardest game early on is against Nic Nat but with that said he still scored 100 and 101 against him last year. No reason he can’t continue his 2021 form into this season.

Rowan Marshall (RUC, $752,000) – Was a 26pt better player last year without Ryder and averaged 104 in games he missed. Marshall has a tough run early against Grundy, Sean Darcy and Nankervis but it won’t really matter if he is the No. 1 ruckman. After that though… his run is all green and all eyes need to be on Ryder and how he is progressing early.

Mid-price/cheap options predictions:

Sam Draper (RUC, $481,000) – Very tough run for the up and coming jet as he meets all of the hardest teams in the first six weeks. In that time he plays Darcy, ROB …Gawn and Grundy who monstered him to 39 and 40 last year.

Braydon Preuss (RUC, $367,000) – Role very important for this guy and although he should be ok… we’re not 100% sure as he battles Flynn and Briggs for the main role. Tricky draw early for him meeting one green team in the first five games, but his value can not be denied if he’s the No. 1 man.

Jarrod Witts (RUC, $572,000) – Four teams are deemed the ‘mega hardest’ in the scale and Witts hits two straight up in his comeback to the AFL. What a re-introduction to the game! But once again, value is value even though he might start slow.