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:Â THE FIVE BEST FORWARDS FOR THE 2023 AFL DRAFT
SEE ALSO:Â THE FIVE BEST DEFENDERS FOR THE 2023 AFL DRAFT
Accompanied by comments from AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan, here are the FIVE best ruckmen for the 2023 AFL Draft...
1. Ethan Read
FULL PROFILE
Position: Ruck
Height: 202cm
Weight: 92kg
State: Queensland
Club: Palm Beach Currumbin
A prospect out of Gold Coast's Academy, Read steadily rose throughout the year to be placed as a likely top 10 selection.
The athletic ruckman flexed his ruck craft and aerial dominance at the National Championships in the Allies' undefeated premiership-winning run, feeding the likes of Colby McKercher, Ryley Sanders and Caiden Cleary as a difference maker in midfield.
Read would be recognised as the starting ruckman in the U18 All-Australian team after averaging 21.3 disposals and 13.0 hitouts per game, showing his ability to cover all areas of the ground.
The teenager's elite aerobic capacity was made evident at the AFL Draft Combine, where he recorded a third-place finish and sub-six-minute run in the 2km time trial.
Kevin Sheehan says:Â Mobile and highly skilled ruckman whose work rate and ball use are outstanding features of his game, along with his aggressive work at stoppages. A member of the Gold Coast Suns Academy, he was a dominant force for the Allies at the National Championships and earned All Australian honours.
