The evolution of the ruck role has dramatically changed over the years.
From what was a means to help direct the ball to a midfielder in a ruck contest to now being a key part of what happens around the ground, a ruckman's job has never been tougher.
The expectation to help out in defence, join in on the chain from the backline to the forward line, and push hard into the front half to provide aerial support, the role has never been more expansive.
That is why some ruckmen are the best in their cohort and rival some of the competition's top-tier players.
Before we begin, here are a few notable players stiff to miss a top 10 spot...
Snubs:
Mark Blicavs
Jarrod Witts
Toby Nankervis
Sean Darcy
Lloyd Meek
Sam Draper
Reilly O'Brien
10. Kieren Briggs
The Giants ruckman well and truly made his mark in 2023, but in the most recent season, he established himself as one of the premier big men in the league.
Briggs is a commanding ruckman who uses his physicality and strength to overpower his opponent. His follow-up work is impressive.
Ranked second in average clearances in 2024 but also produced high hit-out numbers, which a quarter of (26.4%) found his teammates.
