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
2. Jarrod Witts
Witts only emerged as one of the league's best ruckmen in 2022 as he entered the All-Australian conversation with elite numbers across the stoppage board.
He ranked first in the league for hit-outs and hit-outs to advantage and is considered an elite clearance-getter for his position.
He consistently provides first use for his midfielders Touk Miller and Noah Anderson and does so for entire matches with no notable secondary ruckman to give him a spell. He attended the most total ruck contests in 2022; a true testament to his fitness as a 30-year-old big man in the AFL.
Many thought he was unfairly snubbed from the All-Australian team and his pure ruck numbers probably suggest he was. He easily recorded the most total hit-outs on the year with 833; nearly 100 more than second place.
The lack of a secondary ruckman limits his ability to do damage around the ground but he has nonetheless proven to be one of the more valuable midfield assets in the competition.
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.