The ruck role has caused much confusion for footy experts in recent seasons. Some sides seem to benefit from a pure tap-winner type, while other sides require the around-the-ground type of big man.
It is hard to judge ruckmen against each other in 2022; one player might record the most hit-outs but provide less value than his versatile opponent.
Mark Blicavs may be one of the most valuable players in the competition, but does most of his damage as an onballer or lockdown defender, not necessarily as a ruckman.
Conversely, Oscar McInerney was a quality ruck stoppage player in 2022, but wasn't as versatile in general play as someone like Tim English.
With all nuance considered, here is our top five ruckmen of 2022:
SEE ALSO: Top Defenders of 2022
SEEL ALSO: Top Midfielders of 2022
4. Reilly O'Brien
Reilly O'Brien is quietly putting together a quality career at the Crows after five full seasons of top-10-level stats with some monster games.
He emerged as a routine ruckman for Adelaide with the decline of Sam Jacobs and rose to near-stardom quickly.
Some stellar games during his first full year in 2019 surprised everyone. His 54 hit-out, 19-disposal, 7-tackle and 5-mark performance in Round 13 against eventual premiers Richmond was a notable performance.
He has sustained this top-10 level through 2022, but has obviously improved his fitness. He attended a league-high average of 79.5 ruck contests this season and was able to record a career-high average for hit-outs with 36.9.
Like English, he also has a versatile edge to his sword. A 28-disposal, 47-hit-out and 7-tackle performance against Geelong was historically good and proved to the league that he can dominate games if he must.
If Adelaide begin to rise up the ladder over the coming seasons, look for O'Brien to gain more recognition as one of the competition's best ruckmen.
Jarrod Witts was the best ruckman in the AFL this year. The metrics are simple – how many ruck contests attended, how many hitouts won, how many hitouts to advantage and how many individual clearances from stoppage.
Max Gawn played a hybrid role in 2022, which allowed him to play across defence or go into attack while Luke Jackson went onball. That is why Freo wanted Jackson so badly in order to pair him with Sean Darcy, which pushed Melbourne to recruit Brodie Grundy because Max Gawn cannot carry the truckload any more.