Ranking the top 10 ruckmen of the 2023 AFL season

We’re up to the big men of the game, with some breakout seasons shaking up the top few names.

EDITOR | December 15, 2023 - 4:30pm

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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...

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3. Kieren Briggs

Arguably the most improved player of the competition this year, having started the season outside of Adam Kingsley's plans before earning his chance and taking it from Round 10 onwards.

The GWS big man emerged as one of the best clearance figures for a player of his size, averaging 6.5 clearances per game to flex his formidable follow-up work at the coalface.

Briggs' ability to out-muscle his opponent at ruck contests and across the field gave him a mighty advantage, with the 24-year-old throwing around his 108kg frame with no mercy in mind.