2020 AFL Dream Team: Who is the AFL’s premier ruckman?
A dominant ruckman can be the difference between winning and losing. Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn both earned All-Australian jackets last season, but who is the best in the competition? HAVE YOUR SAY
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There are times when their relevance is questioned but you won’t find too many Premiership teams without a ruckman of influence on Grand Final day.
Some make the air their area of dominance a la Max Gawn, whereas his arch rival Brodie Grundy offers Collingwood an extra man when the ball hits the ground
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THE BEST RUCKMAN
ROWAN MARSHALL (St Kilda)
The young man who came from nowhere to become a rucking gun. He and Paddy Ryder has a good ring to it for the Saints.
SuperCoach Price: $598,700
2019 SC Average: 110
Champion Data says: Marshall rated elite for disposals, contested possessions and score assists last season. He also ranked in the top-three ruckmen across the AFL for pre-clearance disposals, pre-clearance contested possessions and pre-clearances tackles.
TODD GOLDSTEIN (North Melbourne)
When up and running as he was last year, Goldstein deserves to be in the conversation as the best in his chosen art.
SuperCoach Price: $609,400
2019 SC Average:112
Champion Data says: Goldstein rated above average for disposals, hitouts-to-advantage, centre bounce clearances and score launches last season. He also averaged career-highs for disposals, contested possessions and clearances.
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BRODIE GRUNDY (Collingwood)
Like Jim Stynes before him, effectively plays as an extra midfielder given his ability to win huge disposal numbers
SuperCoach Price: $705,900
2019 SC Average: 131
Champion Data says: Grundy was the only ruckmen to rate elite for disposals, hitouts-to-advantage and clearances. He was also the only ruckmen to average at least 20 disposals per game.
MAX GAWN (Melbourne)
In a traditional sense, Gawn is the ideal ruckman. What he needs to do is hit the scoreboard more often (just seven goals in 2019)
SuperCoach Price: $697,100
2019 SC Average: 128
Champion Data says: Gawn was the only ruckmen to rate elite for disposals, intercept marks and hitouts.
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MATTHEW KREUZER (Carlton)
When he’s fit, few if any ruckmen can exert more influence on a game via the one percenters that bring teammates into play
SuperCoach Price: $528,900
2019 SC Average: 97
Champion Data says: Kreuzer rated elite for clearances as well as above average for contested possessions, hitouts-to-advantage and score assists last season
Originally published as 2020 AFL Dream Team: Who is the AFL’s premier ruckman?
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