Id like to keep both but if one had to be moved on;
Before last weeks game id say CCJ. Chol is more mobile and has a good leap, as the 3rd tall can cause opposition coaches match up headaches, the only knock i have on him is not consistent enough but CCJ could be our next power forward, very good overhead and is hard at the contest.
Samson Ryan if they look at him more so to be a forward and Soldo/Nank/Colina main rucks then CCJ if the right offer was made, (imo we will get a first-rounder for him) the club could do the deal and have 3 first rounders in the back pocket and likely to nab a young mid or 2. Tom Green, Cerra etc (if available)
Not interested in giving first-rounders for 26 years plus years old unless we get that player as a free agent. It's the draft (mini rebuild on the fly) or nab a kid in a trade deal who's 20/21 with a decade of their best footy ahead of them.
Yes, I'm with you. Found this decision too hard at first an had to go away and think about it, especially since I finally virtually wrote Mabs off after the Colonwood debacle - but luckily I included a qualifier for that performance giving him and out for the injuries he sustained early in that match which may have detracted from his ability to compete. Maybe he was even brave to stay on?
However, delighted with his latest effort against BLs (and rapid recovery).
Ideally I want to keep both. But it's hard to make a choice without knowing a) about whether Soldo will recover fully and b) whether Colina can make the level as an AFL ruckman. What if neither occurs? You have to have doubts about each player, and what club needs or can afford to keep 5 rucks on its list? Many on here were huge skeptics on Soldo for a long time. His main attribute is ... he's BIG and makes a real effort. He's not quick, agile or athletic. Probably the main success was forming an effective partnership with Nank as two tough, dogged competitive rucks of different sizes. He is not a natural or very talented footballer. Will that knee recuperate to successfully carry that huge body-weight for a prolonged career? He doesn't seem to be recovering much at all.
Hate to say it when he is out injured, especially due to that mongrel Shove Hawkins, but I think I'd be fighting very hard to keep both Chol and CCJ for the future and making a tough call on big Ivan. Mabs is actually the most agile and athletic of all our ruckmen with a great natural spring, probably the quickest, best at ground level with excellent hands skills, as well as the best kick. Which comes in handy when he is your 2nd ruck who can spend dangerous periods up forward, adding another tall weapon or allowing Tom/Jack to rest or move up the ground.
Retaining CCJ provides an option to replace JR8 until Nank has had enough, then he should be ready to move into the No.1 ruck role ( he won't be the biggest but has a good leap and strong marking ability, fair mobility). I also believe that Chol can possibly provide a possible JR8 stopgap until we can find and develop our next Tasmanian KPF champion, if he can find his genuine competitiveness consistently as he did this game.
Under this scenario, it gives us a back-up giant in Colina to see if he comes on who might be a Soldo replacement anyway. Just like Ivan, he is a project player that is going to require 2/3 years minimum to step up - if at all. Apologies to Ivan Soldo, love his story of making it successfully at Tigerland, but really hard decisions must be made.
It's all hypothetical anyway because Mabs or CCJ can easily leave for better deals and money. Can only hope the club will make strong offers to keep both and maybe some loyalty and connection to their team-mates might influence them to stay.
I won't enjoy seeing us play an opposing team featuring either over the next 5-10 years. I suppose if we have to select but one, CCJ is ahead due to being younger, maybe more upside and consistency., more capable to develop into Nank No.1 ruck replacement. But I love what Cholly brings.
