Injury to Nic Naitanui meant that Nathan Vardy started last season in a ruck tandem with Tom Hickey where he contributed 20 hit outs and precisely zero on the scoreboard when resting forward, before being dropped to the WAFL in mid-season as other options were tried. The Eagles have built a ruck brigade with different skill sets on each of their options, and they often have to reach down the depth chart to cover injuries. It seems that is the only scenario where Vardy plays seniors again, as his hurt factor is minimal.
Honeymoon over for Vardy
Injury to Nic Naitanui meant that Nathan Vardy started last season in a ruck tandem with Tom Hickey where he contributed 20 hit outs and precisely zero on the scoreboard when resting forward, before being dropped to the WAFL in mid-season as other options were tried. The Eagles have built a ruck brigade with different skill sets on each of their options, and they often have to reach down the depth chart to cover injuries. It seems that is the only scenario where Vardy plays seniors again, as his hurt factor is minimal.
Nathan Vardy is a premiership ruckman and no one can take that away from him, that's the first thing to say about him. Injury to Tom Hickey means he has graduated from tandem ruck to taking much more of the load at stoppages in the short term. Today he comes up against a young opponent in Tim English which represents a rare opportunity to post a big score for fantasy purposes, making him an interesting spot start in draft leagues and earning him some ownership in daily competitions.
Hearty party for Vardy
Strictly a back up on the Eagles list, they had reason to break glass and put Nathan Vardy in the seniors once Nic Naitanui went down with injury last July. He played his forward/ruck role in tandem with Scott Lycett to perfection, averaging about a goal from seven touches with 16 hit outs, including a big goal at a crucial stage in Q4 of the grand final. With NicNat out until later in 2019, Vardy will now support Tom Hickey in much the same role. Hickey is a downgrade from Lycett so Vardy might play a bit more in the guts, but he starts so far behind the ruck baseline that it is hard to see him lifting his rating sufficiently to make him anything more than replacement-level for fantasy purposes.
Mark Vardy's card
The Eagles were desperate for fit big men last year, and luckily for them Nathan Vardy put together his first full season since 2013. His fantasy scoring was far below replacement level in the new ruck era without third men up, however. Vardy should return to the WAFL while Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett play seniors, if the injury gods don't grant him another chance he doesn't really deserve on that showing.
