In the third instalment of our 2023 positional rankings, we've dissected the ruck crop of the past season to name the 10 best big men of the competition.
The likes of Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy have dominated the top of these lists for the best part of the past decade, however the past 12 months have seen a shift among the highest echelon of ruckmen, perhaps due to the new combination of Gawn and Grundy at Melbourne this year.
The new age era of the ruckman sees the towering talls of the competition needing to widely expand on their games beyond hitouts and contests, with ground coverage, aerial impact and endurance among the leading traits for the competition's current crop of ruck stars.
After a season that saw ruck records shattered once again, we rank the best 10 ruckman of 2023...
SEE ALSO:ย THE TOP 10 DEFENDERS OF THE 2023 AFL SEASON
SEE ALSO:ย THE TOP 10 MIDFIELDERS OF THE 2023 AFL SEASON
8. Reilly O'Brien
The Adelaide ruckman recorded more hitouts than any other player in 2023 as the Crows made their move up the ladder before falling short of a finals spot.
O'Brien would again be Matthew Nicks' big body presence in the centre of the field, offering plenty of access to star midfield pair Jordan Dawson and Rory Laird as the Crows grew into a lethal attacking unit.
Ruck
Hitouts
Marks
Disposals
With O'Brien's impactful tap work and contested marking, the Crows have continued to rely on the 28-year-old as they eye a return to the top eight.
