DERMOTT Brereton has rated his Top 10 ruckmen in the AFL so far in 2023.<\/p>\n
The Hawthorn champion takes into account the amount of ruck contests the players are involved in as well as their contested work around the ground and their clearance game.<\/p>\n
Brereton has Fremantle\u2019s Sean Darcy as his highest rating ruckman due to what he does all around the ground as well as in the middle.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old leads the league for hit-outs, is the 19th rated player for contested possessions and ranked first for ruckmen, and equal ninth alongside Adelaide\u2019s Reilly O\u2019Brien in the AFL for contested marks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one who really jumps off the page and I have as my number one at the moment is Sean Darcy,\u201d Brereton said on SEN\u2019s Dwayne\u2019s World.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe goes to 71 contests a game. He wins 53 per cent of his tap outs.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s taking 1.8 contested marks around the ground and he\u2019s just a huge presence for his team.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe now has the support of Luke Jackson who is a very capable ruckman.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brereton also spoke of the Dockers\u2019 duo of Darcy and Luke Jackson, as well as that of Melbourne\u2019s double act of Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy, as the best ruck pairings in the AFL.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two teams that have that big capability in the middle of the ground at any stage, so there\u2019s no let off for the opposition, is Melbourne with Grundy and Gawn, and Fremantle with Darcy and Jackson,\u201d Brereton said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re probably the two best double tandem centre square ruck (combinations).\u201d<\/p>\n
Brereton\u2019s Top 10 ruckmen of 2023 so far:<\/p>\n
10 – Reilly O\u2019Brien (Adelaide)<\/p>\n
9 – Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne)<\/p>\n
8 – Rowan Marshall (St Kilda)<\/p>\n
7 – Sam Draper (Essendon)<\/p>\n
6 – Tim English (Western Bulldogs)<\/p>\n
5 – Oscar McInerney (Brisbane)<\/p>\n
4 – Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast)<\/p>\n
3 – Max Gawn (Melbourne)<\/p>\n
2 – Brodie Grundy (Melbourne)<\/p>\n
1 – Sean Darcy (Fremantle)<\/p>\n