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
1. Max Gawn
It should be no surprise the Melbourne champion is placed at the top of the table.
Gawn has revolutionised the ruck role but has also made it his own, turning a slow start in his career into seven All-Australians.
The Demons tall is elite across the board, helping find his teammates in the contest via his tap work or by hand; his ability to assist in defence or create an option around the ground is second to none; and his durability, which cannot be understated given the workload he is put through.
Gawn has done everything and more, and even at the ripe age of 32, he is still one of the best players in the AFL.
