Every team is searching for a ruck combination that works best for them. Regardless of their approach, they know rucking remains a crucial part of the game, with coaches constantly looking for an edge and the big men refining what they do. PETER RYAN & CALLUM TWOMEY ew truly match one of the season’s understand biggest understatements: “I the role of reckon losing your ruckman SeARCHInG FoR THe PeRfECt StRUCtUrE ruckwork. is pretty significant when Fewer still you’ve only got one of them.” can assess its It’s tough having RUCKING value. Ruckmen even have three, as North Melbourne DOMINANT FORCE: At an imposing 211cm, Fremantle’s F specialist coaches, outliers coach Brad Scott is finding Aaron Sandilands (left) is recognised as the best big man in the game, as much for his football smarts as his physique. in a team game. out in trying to place Melbourne’s Mark Jamar and West Coast’s Dean Cox (below) The best in the business, Hamish McIntosh, Todd are others who combine skill, smarts and agility in the ruck. Fremantle’s Aaron Goldstein and David Hale Sandilands, says few in the one line-up, unless MoBIlITY appreciate how long it they bring a variety of takes to learn the art: “I just attributes to the table. FOOtY understand the game a lot “I think finding the SmARTs more in the last few years, right combination is about learning where to run and versatility. It’s still very where to position myself.” difficult for one ruckman Sydney Swan Mike Pyke is to go alone, and we think beginning to work out what it’s a real strength to have it’s about: “My main priority our three key position is to improve each week and ruckman-sized players take little steps.” running around the When it comes to ground who can play other selection, ruckmen are positions,” Scott says. football’s wicketkeepers, “With our three guys, we TApPING fighting for a specialist know they’re all very good ABIlITY position like few others. ruckmen, but we’re trying History shows two to develop their games so Ng ruckmen are needed to win they can play elsewhere NI premierships, but the best because I don’t think you O structure for the modern can just run with two game is debated more and ruckmen and play them 50- ITI more as the game quickens, 50 game-time anymore. S midfield run becomes vital “It’s always a balance and PO and the search for an edge you’re always searching for is constant. that balance you want. PREseNCE Do we use one specialist “It comes down to a and one part-timer? Do we decision – I rate those three pick one very good and one players in our best 22, but ‘OK’ ruckman? Is there room whether it’s necessarily for two top-quality big men? our best structure (having Do we rotate them off the all three in the team) is bench or push them forward something we’ve had to do a for a breather? Do we want lot of experimenting with.” an athletic runner or a big- Hawthorn was forced bodied stoppage expert? into the laboratory earlier You need at least one, this year. With rucks as Hawthorn found out in Simon Taylor, Max Bailey, round five when its only Wayde Skipper and Luke available big man Brent Lowden injured at the start VERSATILE: Collingwood’s Darren Jolly, Renouf was a last-minute of the season, ruck coach pictured left, outpointing Sydney Swan Shane Mumford, is mobile around the ground and withdrawal. His absence Damian Monkhorst and adept at pushing forward to kick a goal. prompted coach Alastair fellow assistants resorted Clarkson to deliver post- to teaching midfielder RUCKING WATCH FOR… Luke Hodge the basics of ruck COLLISIONS: The tactic, work. Hodge’s role was merely to whereby ruckmen jump into compete while Renouf rested. each other at a centre bounce “We focused on teaching him and aim to palm the ball when mainly to get the ball down they land back on the ground, to the ground in the area our is widespread according ground-level guys knew it was to Adelaide’s ruck coach going to be,” says Monkhorst, the Matthew Clarke. No. 1 ruckman in Collingwood’s 1990 premiership team. “If the ground-level players AGgRESsIOn THINK ABOUT… are second-guessing where the THE IMPACT OF CHANGE: opposition ruckman is going to If the AFL caps interchange put the ball – especially if they rotations, clubs may not be able happen to be dominant – then to carry two genuine ruckmen. it puts everyone behind the eight-ball,” he says. Jarryd Roughead and Many midfielders talk of the Carl Peterson were tried too. FIERCE: confidence they get from having Employing the third Essendon’s a big-bodied ruckman alongside Patrick Ryder man-up tactic increased (a goes hard at them as they hunt for the ball at play Hawthorn continues using this contest ground level. Presence is often to effect). Down on big-man with Port an underestimated attribute power, the Hawks struggled. Adelaide’s outside football clubs. Dean Brogan. As soon as Skipper was Sandilands has presence, as over his injury, however, the do Mark Jamar, Darren Jolly Hawks enjoyed a turnaround “I think it’s possible, remains for the more physical, and Shane Mumford. Darcy in fortunes. (It has helped, also, particularly with the way players old-style ruck role. says Sandilands has become the that several other Hawks have now rotate around the ground. If “I note with interest the success complete package. returned.) Skipper made his you look at Leigh Brown of Mitch Clark and Paddy Ryder “Even if someone like debut in the brown and at Collingwood, as mobile ruckmen, and it has Sandilands only had similar gold in round seven, his flexibility is been very successful,” he says. hit-out skills and stoppage work and the Hawks have I’d also say keeping Josh “But I’d also say that by as his strengths, he would need lost only once since, Fraser out far the most dominant more,” Darcy says. by two points to that by far the of the side ruckman in the competition is “Sandilands’ value at the Geelong last week. most dominant because, if Sandilands, because he allows moment lies in his aggression Skipper’s smarts, ruckman in the they get in Fremantle to dictate how it and physical presence. He floats Monkhorst says, competition is trouble, he wants to set up around the forward, is a good mark and a have compensated can be used ground and at stoppages. good leader.” for his comparative Sandilands as a key back, “If you’re asking me who the Sandilands says his lack of height (he is BRAD SCOTT forward or most important ruckman in the performance is measured by 194cm, one centimetre in the ruck,” competition is, it’s not a versatile the impact he has on the game. taller than Roughead), and Darcy says. ruckman. It’s a big, dominant “Whether that is giving first use he has complemented Renouf’s It’s not a simple decision tap-out ruckman in Sandilands.” to the midfield, or the quality of athletic, jumping style, which though, as Adelaide ruck coach Monkhorst supports the your clearances, or the work you Monkhorst is also fine-tuning. and former Brisbane Lions, notion that fundamental do around the ground,” he says. “Skipper has grown up as Crows and St Kilda ruckman elements remain vital. He “It’s not so much possessions a ruckman and, though he’s Matthew Clarke points out. believes bigger-bodied ruckmen, or the number of hit-outs; it’s a shorter ruckman, he’s got a Clarke agrees that finding the whose main asset is their more about following up after the strong technique, like John best ruck combination is about strength, will continue to have stoppage and your positioning.” Barnes of yesteryear. They “versatility”, but also argues currency in the modern game. Sandilands has an enormous get away with being shorter that using key-position players “Some people get caught height advantage – at 211cm he is because they’re smarter, and he’s as ‘pinch-hit’ ruckmen can be up with a ruckman getting 30 the tallest man in the competition given the side some balance,” detrimental. possessions, but it’s not really – but his footy smarts are as Monkhorst says. “Sometimes it works really a ruckman’s role to do that,” important as his reach. The Hawks’ experience well in that it frees them up Monkhorst says. The rucking role is clear: give settled one debate. It’s now clear and gets them into the play and “If you’ve got good on-ballers, the team the best possible chance two men capable of contesting gets their confidence going for they should be getting the to win quality clearances or score stoppages is necessary. But what when they go forward, but other touches and a ruckman should or stop goals from stoppages. A qualities (or combination of times they’ll go out with a dozen be making their lives easier. dominant ruckman allows teams characteristics) do they need? plans in their head and not be “Generally you’ll find that to set up structures on their Former Western Bulldogs able to execute any of them,” a smaller, athletic guy will come terms, rather than reacting. ruckman Luke Darcy believes Clarke says. in for a short period of time Almost every week we see the thinking is “starting to “We’ve seen that this year with and be the new ‘fad’ everyone’s how important the decisions change” and that a premiership Kurt Tippett, who has benefited talking about, but then they get ruckmen make at stoppages are team in the future will buck the from having a single focus.” found out.