In the third chapter of Zero Hanger's positional rankings for the final week leading up to the 2023 AFL Draft, we'll be counting down the five best ruckmen on offer.
Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia are all represented in our top five, with each member on this list a live chance of earning a National Draft selection despite the lower reliance on ruckmen at the draft.
Headlined by a Suns Academy graduate, this year's ruck craft boasts a number of tall teenagers who stop the tape close to seven feet and above the 200cm mark.
The new age of ruckman has also led to this year's top prospects baosting elite endurance and/or sprinting skills as well as clean ball use and ground coverage.
SEE ALSO: THE FIVE BEST FORWARDS FOR THE 2023 AFL DRAFT
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Accompanied by comments from AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan, here are the FIVE best ruckmen for the 2023 AFL Draft...
4. Taylor Goad
Position: Ruck
Height: 206cm
Weight: 97kg
State: South Australia
Club: Willunga
The South Adelaide prospect caught high levels of attention at last month's AFL Draft Combine for his impressive 20m sprint and standing vertical test results.
Goad posted a 2.965 second time in the 20m sprint, and would also finish in the top eight for the vertical test to show off his athleticism as a 206cm project player.
The promising teenager averaged 10.4 disposals, 3.2 clearances, 2.3 tackles and 21.2 hitouts per game from his 13 U18 appearances for the Panthers in 2023, recording 25+ hitouts on six occasions.
Goad would make his National Championships debut this year to play in all four of South Australia's matches, impressing with his ruck craft and mobility, while his tackling efforts have also been noticed.
Kevin Sheehan says: Developing ruckman who has only begun to focus on a potential AFL career this year after initially applying his natural talent to basketball. Showed splendid improvement this year playing for his state and club at under 18 level.
