Ranking the 10 best AFL ruckmen of 2025

The role of the ruckmen has continued to evolve over the past decade, with the need to be more than just a dominant hitout player now demanded. The 2025 season saw a range of different ruck archetypes take centre stage in the middle of the field, with some household names, and others entering career-best form, both catching the eye. In the final part of our positional rankings for 2025, we name and rank the top 10 ruckmen of the year. SEE ALSO: THE TOP 10 DEFENDERS OF 2025 THE TOP 10 MIDFIELDERS OF 2025 THE TOP 10 FORWARDS OF 2025 Tim English The Western Bulldogs big man sneaks into our top 10 after another strong season at the Kennel. English's ruck metrics pale in comparison to others on this list, but his intangibles as a tall who covers the ground nicely don't go unnoticed. That work rate led to 13 goals for the Dogs this year, which is the second most for any ruckman in the competition, and first in the league for uncontested possessions. English's aerial dominance was also on show, with his 6.1 marks per game seeing him top the list among rucks this year too. Rowan Marshall The Saints star remained one of the competition's best ball-winning, clearance, defensive and marking ruckmen in the competition this year. Marshall has become known for his ability to impact play away from just ruck contests, with his work rate and ability to hit the scoreboard among his many strengths. While his raw ruck numbers alone might not rank well amongst other talls, his range of traits are always on show. They'll be required significantly in 2026, with Marshall now set to partner top recruit Tom De Koning in the red, white and black following the latter's switch, and Marshall's denied request to join Geelong, over the off-season. Lloyd Meek The Hawks ruckman added to his stellar 2024 season with another strong campaign this year. Using his weight and strength to get an upper hand, Meek ranked top five for hitouts and hitouts to advantage this year. He also sat just outside the top five for clearances per game among ruckmen, and was also sixth for total goals, managing to get forward and have an impact on the score when possible. With the nature of the game, and its rules, starting to go against the art of the big-bodied ruckman, 2026 shapes as a fascinating season for Meek. Tom De Koning The Blue-turned-Saint made the most of his contract year, enjoying a career-best season as a decision on his future came closer. The first half of De Koning's campaign saw him firmly in All-Australian contention, with his aerial prowess and physicality in the middle standing out. As the cessation of the season edged closer, De Koning was used more forward of the ball, with the Blues potentially looking at their ruck options for life after the departed star. With a move to St Kilda secured, De Koning will once again need to share the ruck workload, and will be doing so with another player on this list in Rowan Marshall. Jarrod Witts Not for the first time in his career, the Gold Coast ruckman had a significantly underrated season as the Suns saw September football for the first time. While Witts' own numbers were strong - ranking No.1 for hitouts and hitouts to advantage - it was how he tortured his direct opponent that was most impressive. The Suns conceded the second fewest centre clearances per game this year, and ranked third for getting first possession at clearance, with many thanks going to their veteran ruckman. Entering 2026, all eyes will be on Witts and if he's ready to pass the baton onto emerging big man Ned Moyle for the future. Darcy Cameron The Collingwood premiership ruckman took on a larger slice in 2025 as American Mason Cox was kept to the VFL for most of the year. Cameron concluded his campaign ranking top five among rucks for contested possessions, marks, contested marks, intercept marks and intercept possessions, coming in at No.1 for the latter two metrics. The season saw Cameron take the standing as the best aerial threat among his ruck class, with the Magpies often positioning the ex-Swan behind the ball to rely on his intercepting ability. Where Cameron can look to make up some ground on those ahead of him is his efficiency from hitouts and follow-up work, with both lacking compared to the top line of talls in the competition. Luke Jackson The Dockers made the first-string ruck role at Fremantle his own through large periods of 2025 as partner-in-crime Sean Darcy continued to battle with both fitness and form. With Darcy kept to an average of 64.8 per cent time on ground this year, Jackson's triple-position threat saw him lean more towards a more central role in the middle of the field for Fremantle. The emergence of Paddy Voss in attack also aided the Dockers' flexibility, with Jackson at times used as a midfielder even while Darcy was also at centre bounces. Adding a midfield role to his known ruck-forward mix saw Jackson's game reach new heights, with 2025 proving to be a career year for the premiership Demon as a bona fide match-winner in purple. Brodie Grundy There's fair weight to the argument that Grundy's best form this year cleared any of his counterparts, and may have been the best across the competition for any player. After a slower start to his year, he found a purple patch of form from Round 9 onwards, amassing at least 20 touches in 10 of his final 14 games, including seven successive games within that window. Grundy finished the year top three for disposals, clearances and contested possessions among ruckmen, as well as top five for the all-important hitouts, hitouts to advantage and hitout win rate. Amog rucks to have played at least five games this year, Grundy also ranked second for ground ball gets, with his follow-up work as an extra midfielder a key trait to his game. Tristan Xerri The Roos big man managed to surpass his breakout career-best campaign of 2024 with another dominant run in the ruck under Alastair Clarkson this year. While a three-game suspension hindered his campaign, and potentially his chances of a maiden All-Australian blazer, there was no doubting his standing as arguably the game's best ruckman. The North Melbourne mammoth, while as good as most in chasing hitouts, might be the best ruckman at following up his work on either side of possession. Xerri ranked No.1 for ruck hard ball gets, clearances and tackles among his fellow ruckmen this year to continue to bring his bash and crash nature once the ball hits the deck. Max Gawn A record-tying eighth All-Australian blazer saw the champion Demon recognised as the game's best big man once more in 2025. Gawn, at the age of 33, remained top of his class with another astute campaign of ruck craft. His ability at stoppages is unmatched, while his off-ball work rate to either get behind the next kick or push forward to add to the scoreboard is just as damaging. While big Max has been at the top for some time, 2026 could finally be the year he's dethroned, given the strength of the AFL's ruck crop that is set to reach their peak.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	ADEL	23	18	5	72	139.3
2	GEEL	23	17	6	68	141.5
3	BL	23	16	6	66	114.2
4	COLL	23	16	7	64	122.4
5	GWS	23	16	7	64	115.3
6	FRE	23	16	7	64	109
7	GC	23	15	8	60	124.9
8	HAW	23	15	8	60	120.9

Ranking the 10 best AFL ruckmen of 2025

We’ve named and ranked the best rucks in the competition.

1Max Gawn

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