Darcy Fort comes into the Brisbane senior line-up today as a late replacement for Oscar McInerney to play lead ruck, an unfamiliar role at the club since his move from Geelong given the Big O's durability across the years. However, McInerney has been carrying injury this year so this may not be the only time he has to carry the primary ruck load, with the distinct prospect of him having to step up in finals or earlier if the management of the #1's issues doesn't succeed in getting him on the park for big games. As a short-term fantasy prospect, job security is Fort's major question.
Darcy Fort comes into the Brisbane senior line-up today as a late replacement for Oscar McInerney to play lead ruck, an unfamiliar role at the club since his move from Geelong given the Big O's durability across the years. However, McInerney has been carrying injury this year so this may not be the only time he has to carry the primary ruck load, with the distinct prospect of him having to step up in finals or earlier if the management of the #1's issues doesn't succeed in getting him on the park for big games. As a short-term fantasy prospect, job security is Fort's major question.
Darcy Fort has retained his spot in the senior Brisbane Lions spot during a period where first-choice ruckman Oscar McInerney spent some time at VFL to rebuild his match fitness, after what looked at first to be a minor injury. Fort's role on the Lions list is firmly as backup, but it looked like he might inherit the lead ruck role for Brisbane's premiership defence a month ago when the Big O was struggling. He has now reverted to his usual spot on the depth chart, battling with Sam Day to be the forward/ruck support to McInerney. His goalkicking also comes in handy.
Darcy Fort is one of a number of lower-priced rucks whom fantasy coaches are casting an eye over in preseason, searching for value as they want to move cash elsewhere in their team. His job security will be higher this year with the departure of Zac Smith but still not strong as Rhys Stanley is still nominally number one ruck. His ceiling is also questionable. Other than that, he has got obvious potential.
Fort into the breach
Amidst the club's ruck uncertainty, Darcy Fort was given a chance late in the season and grasped it with both hands, catching our attention with a three-goal debut as a tandem ruck alongside Ryan Abbott. Splitting his time on ball and forward, Fort didn't look entirely out of place in the senior squad. With Abbott going to St Kilda as a delisted free agent and Zac Smith returning to the Suns, Fort moves up the pecking order. His chance at a string of games is directly correlated with Rhys Stanley's form and since he isn't atop Geelong's list, he shouldn't be near the top of ours. Pass.
Fort is no pillow
Geelong realised their need for a bonafide number one ruckman in the off season, and they’ll hope that 25-year-old Darcy Fort is the answer they’ve been looking for. From Central Districts in the SANFL, Fort averaged 101 across his 2018 campaign. He is a fine tap ruckman who also has the ability to line up in attack. Fort will be given every opportunity to make the ruck position his own, and will be intertwined in an enthralling positional battle with established Cats. Fort is one to watch extremely closely over the preseason competition, because if he can secure the number one ruck position, he could prove to be an incredible steal with a late draft pick.
