Bupa TSL Round 15 Ruck of the Week
Round 15 of the Bupa Tasmanian State League is now behind us, and after a weekend soaked in drama and entertaining football, we want to know who you considered to be the standout performers.
We now take a look at the ruck stocks, with two dominant performances bringing this segment back for round 15.
Hugh Johnston (Tigers)
Hugh Johnston was exceptional against the Demons, laying eight tackles and having an astonishing 75 hit outs for the match.
Often rucking unopposed, Johnston controlled the ruck duel to give his midfielders first access and use of the football.
Johnston is putting together a solid body of work in 2018, and with Heath Thompson as his foil, is able to also provide a key target inside 50, but it was his efforts in the ruck on the weekend that saw him influence the game like few others on the ground.
Haydn Smith (Lauderdale)
Coming up against arguably the season’s best ruckman in Ryan Bailey, Haydn Smith clearly took the spoils in a dominant display.
Smith is able to move well around the ground for a big man and made the most of this agility with strong contested marks around the ground his bread and butter.
Strong aerially and in the ruck contests, Smith drifted forward to kick a clutch goal in the final stanza to cap off a memorable day for himself and the Bombers as they won back the Speak UP! Stay ChatTY Cup and bragging rights on the Eastern Shore.
