AFL 2025: ‘Varying size’ of ruckmen the new normal, says Michael Voss

Former stars want Patrick Cripps out of the ruck, but there’s a reason clubs are turning increasingly to their midfielders in the unglamorous position. Ed Bourke dives into the numbers.

Former stars have called for him to get out of there, but Patrick Cripps is poised to continue in a part-time ruck role for Carlton as the pinch-hitters get smaller again.

Blues coach Michael Voss was adamant Cripps enjoyed taking on boundary throw-ins and the odd centre bounce, after he competed in 14 ruck contests in the loss to Richmond.

He was not the only Brownlow medallist to shoulder a ruck load in round 1, with Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines going up against Collingwood back-up Daniel McStay as the Power went down at the MCG.

Five clubs – Carlton, Geelong, Port Adelaide, Richmond and Western Bulldogs – opted to use a midfielder or smaller player in at least five ruck contests as teams sought a point of difference at stoppages.

But Geelong great Jimmy Bartel said using Cripps as a relief ruckman for Tom De Koning had cost the Blues in the form of “lost energy” at stoppages in the final term.

Cripps had 12 disposals in the final quarter but took five ruck contests and only managed one clearance as the Tigers booted four goals to one to snatch the game.

“Don’t ever play Patrick Cripps as a ruckman, because you lost all energy in the last quarter from him around the ball,” Bartel told Nine’s Footy Classified.

“I know he boxed on, because he’s brave, but keep him fresh to do his number one job.”

Voss said the tactical manoeuvre “wasn’t unique” to the Blues, and indicated he would keep using Cripps in the role throughout the season.

Carlton’s Patrick Cripps (left) and Richmond’s Kamdyn McIntosh engage for a boundary throw-in during the third quarter of the Tigers’ round 1 win over the Blues. Picture: Michael Klein

“The fact it is ‘Crippa’ might give it a bit more attention, but you’ll notice a lot of second rucks have varying size about them,” he said on Wednesday.

Kamdyn McIntosh, who ran with Cripps for much of the game, was used against him in the ruck by the Tigers, while 191cm Joel Freijah went up against Tristan Xerri and Jack Darling as Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge tried to keep Sam Darcy forward in the second half of their win over North Melbourne.

Shaun Grigg, who at 190cm was Richmond’s second ruck in its 2017 premiership year, said sometimes the role could actually take the physical burden off a player like Cripps.

“If you’re a genuine midfielder, surprisingly it can sometimes be less of a toll, because you go up for the contest and then you’re involved in the second phase of play, rather than the real bash and crash for first possession,” the Gold Coast assistant coach said.

Richmond premiership player Shaun Grigg (left) says ruckwork can sometimes be less physically draining for midfielders than jostling for position at stoppages. Picture: Michael Klein

“For guys like Cripps, it might be a good way to break a tag if you’re going in there.

“The only time you really put yourself in harm’s way is if you’re silly enough to try and win the centre bounce against a genuine ruckman who’s keen to put a knee into your chest or your thigh.”

Collingwood coach Craig McRae cast fresh doubt over the importance of the ruck battle on Tuesday, when he noted the Magpies had won first possession against GWS in opening round but “got smacked around the ball”.

The opposite happened to GWS on Saturday against Melbourne, as Max Gawn dominated the hit-outs against Lachie Keeffe but the Giants won the clearances by 13.

“There’s so many different layers to it – one avenue is the hitout, (but) then there’s the follow up … to have an extra midfielder around is a cost and a reward at times,” McRae said.

Originally published as AFL 2025: ‘Varying size’ of ruckmen the new normal, says Michael Voss