Ruckman top 10

[GWT6]

He has 3 all Australians even though he didn’t reach his potential.

Shouldn't have any- just AFL marketing influence. A ruckman that averages less than 2 marks per game is really poor at football. He runs around like a dog chasing a car and the commentators get all excited, but he is just not a good footballer, can't read the game at all.

2012 should have been Cox, and if they pick a second one Maric, but the AFL did a spin that they were picking a ruck duo if they were choosing a team to play, so went with West Coasts' two ruckmen. Never done that before or since. Gifted for AFL PR.

Gawn was clearly the best ruckman in the comp in 2020 and 2021 with Grundy second, but the AFL love the marketing ability of Natanui, so they put him first ruck in 2020 and on the bench in 2021.

 

[Lingsface]

Shouldn't have any- just AFL marketing influence. A ruckman that averages less than 2 marks per game is really poor at football. He runs around like a dog chasing a car and the commentators get all excited, but he is just not a good footballer, can't read the game at all.

2012 should have been Cox, and if they pick a second one Maric, but the AFL did a spin that they were picking a ruck duo if they were choosing a team to play, so went with West Coasts' two ruckmen. Never done that before or since. Gifted for AFL PR.

Gawn was clearly the best ruckman in the comp in 2020 and 2021 with Grundy second, but the AFL love the marketing ability of Natanui, so they put him first ruck in 2020 and on the bench in 2021.

He was one of the best players for clearances as well that year.
Had some key stats but I agree could be so much better just lacks a bit of football iq on where to run.

 

[Kram]

Nic Nat.

If that the way you feel just be thankful you don't in WA

 

[masai tu]

666666666

Polly Farmer was doing it long before. Just that other rucks couldn't do what Polly did.

Then Stynes did similar stuff and others copied him. Shows how extraordinary Polly farmer was.

Interesting that Captain Blood (Team of the Century) isn't in anyone's list. Total legend, as big a name as anyone. But there is no way he could ruck nowadays. Even back then he was small for a ruck. Still, Team of the Century

Polly is numero uno.

The others can squabble about second.

By the way, Stynes would be way back in the pack. Madden, Dempsey, Moss, TI, Cox etc in front.

 

[masai tu]

He has 3 all Australians even though he didn’t reach his potential.

In this discussion, NikNat wasn’t even allowed in the changeroom.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

There’s no way Nic Nat is in this discussion. He wouldn’t even be in the top 20-30

 

[Kram]

I rate Naitanui but all time greats don't get 4 possessions and 0 marks playing in a GF.

 

[flamethrower]

The lack of Gary Dempsey mentions is disturbing. 300+ games, Hall of Fame, Brownlow Medal, 7 BnFs, Team of the Century for two clubs and a decade of dominance.

Still #2 all time for marks, #5 all time for hitouts (5 of the top 6 all played in the last decade) and #2 all time for Brownlow votes.

He had a 40 disposal game as a ruckman when it was rare for rovers, let alone rucks.

Beat me to it.

Don't forget he used to put out bushfires out in Truganina between seasons too.

 

[M Malice]

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Sean Rehn easily the best for the Crows & very influential for us going back to back.

Certainly streets ahead of Jamar.

 

[windyhill]

Madden would stop a goal down back, set one up from the middle or kick one himself. Absolute freak.

 

[Saint12]

My Top 5:
Gawn, Grundy, Stynes, Jamar, Cox.

Paul Salmon missing from your list?

Why is the first comment always the wanna be funny comment on every thread

 

[Toump Ass]

Why is the first comment always the wanna be funny comment on every thread

Why not. I work from home and get bored a lot.

 

[GWT6]

Madden would stop a goal down back, set one up from the middle or kick one himself. Absolute freak.

Madden brothers were both very lucky to be at their peak before data analytics came in. Dinosaurs getting a lot of taps but very one-dimensional.

 

[windyhill]

Madden brothers were both very lucky to be at their peak before data analytics came in. Dinosaurs getting a lot of taps but very one-dimensional.

In other words “ I never saw Simon play”

 

[My Tilly]

Sean Rehn easily the best for the Crows & very influential for us going back to back.

Certainly streets ahead of Jamar.

Very skillful big man.
Always surprising how few hit-outs those rucks averaged throughout their careers. It highlights how drastically different the game is today.

Clark Keating usually did nothing during the home & away then bob up in grand finals and manage 30 hit-outs which was completely dominant for it's time.

 

[Lingsface]

Not in the conversation but I remember Matthew Clarke having very good ruck skills.

 

[Back One Out]

I consider him a forward.

Salmon played his best footy as a ruckman. Absolute natural. He was a great ruckman who was unfortunately played out of position by Kevin Sheedy due to Essendon's lack of key forwards and surplus of ruckman (Somerville and Alessio)

He was skilled enough to kick some big bags of goals at full forward, but he was far better suited to the ruck, as he proved at Hawthorn



The other one you missed was Peter Everitt. Super-skilled, agile big man and a handy goalkicker. Excellent ruckman. He is underrated by most people due to him being a thoroughly unlikeable f**kwit. He was a 3-time All Australian. It really should've been 4 x AA. Very stiff to miss selection in 2004 when he kicked 28 goals and dominated the ruck contests with 120 more hit-outs than next-best White, Cox and Sandilands




All-Australian selections (Ruckman 1991-2022)

6 Max Gawn, Dean Cox

4 Aaron Sandilands

3 Peter Everitt, Nic Naitanui

2 Jim Stynes, Shaun Rehn, Matthew Primus, Brendon Lade, Brodie Grundy

1 Scott Wynd, Paul Salmon, Justin Madden, Paddy Ryder, Jeff White, Todd Goldstein, Corey McKernan, Matthew Allan,
Steven King, Will Minson, Michael Gardiner, Luke Darcy, Mark Jamar, Brad Ottens (fwd), Adam Goodes (utility), Mark Blicavs (utility)

 

[biglaycock]

Madden brothers were both very lucky to be at their peak before data analytics came in. Dinosaurs getting a lot of taps but very one-dimensional.

One dimensional? Simon kicked 575 goals

 

[My Tilly]

One dimensional? Simon kicked 575 goals

Was also one of the best pack marks of all time.

 

[p4p1]

Very skillful big man.
Always surprising how few hit-outs those rucks averaged throughout their careers. It highlights how drastically different the game is today.

Clark Keating usually did nothing during the home & away then bob up in grand finals and manage 30 hit-outs which was completely dominant for it's time.

And they were often big hit outs as well, giving our mids plenty of time and space.

 

[p4p1]

Polly Farmer,
6 x premiership player
3 x sandover medslist
2 x Simpson medalist - BOG in grand finals
2 x Simpson medalist - interstate games
3 x AA
1 x Tassie medal
10 x B&F winner
Geelong team of the century
East Perth team of the century
West Perth team of the century

 

[Lingsface]

Salmon played his best footy as a ruckman. Absolute natural. He was a great ruckman who was unfortunately played out of position by Kevin Sheedy due to Essendon's lack of key forwards and surplus of ruckman (Somerville and Alessio)

He was skilled enough to kick some big bags of goals at full forward, but he was far better suited to the ruck, as he proved at Hawthorn



The other one you missed was Peter Everitt. Super-skilled, agile big man and a handy goalkicker. Excellent ruckman. He is underrated by most people due to him being a thoroughly unlikeable f**kwit. He was a 3-time All Australian. It really should've been 4 x AA. Very stiff to miss selection in 2004 when he kicked 28 goals and dominated the ruck contests with 120 more hit-outs than next-best White, Cox and Sandilands




All-Australian selections (Ruckman 1991-2022)

6 Max Gawn, Dean Cox

4 Aaron Sandilands

3 Peter Everitt, Nic Naitanui

2 Jim Stynes, Shaun Rehn, Matthew Primus, Brendon Lade, Brodie Grundy

1 Scott Wynd, Paul Salmon, Justin Madden, Paddy Ryder, Jeff White, Todd Goldstein, Corey McKernan, Matthew Allan,
Steven King, Will Minson, Michael Gardiner, Luke Darcy, Mark Jamar, Brad Ottens (fwd), Adam Goodes (utility), Mark Blicavs (utility)

That is a great point Everitt was seriously underrated!

Salmon was 7x leading goal kicker in a pretty great side.

 

[GWT6]

Polly Farmer,
6 x premiership player
3 x sandover medslist
2 x Simpson medalist - BOG in grand finals
2 x Simpson medalist - interstate games
3 x AA
1 x Tassie medal
10 x B&F winner
Geelong team of the century
East Perth team of the century
West Perth team of the century

Never saw Farmer play, but from what I've heard he was probably the greatest ruckman of all time.

But it's a bit deceptive to say he was 6 x premiership player. He won 1 at the top level. Nobody is referring to Mitch White as a premiership player on here, and he was best on the ground in the VFL grand final.

 

[masai tu]

Never saw Farmer play, but from what I've heard he was probably the greatest ruckman of all time.

But it's a bit deceptive to say he was 6 x premiership player. He won 1 at the top level. Nobody is referring to Mitch White as a premiership player on here, and he was best on the ground in the VFL grand final.

Farmer v White, played in totally different eras.

The VFL & WAFL are now a shadow of what they were.

Deceptive no, Farmer was very good.