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
SEE ALSO: 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...
Position: Ruck
Height: 204cm
Weight: 99kg
State: Victoria
Club: Brighton Beach
The younger brother of Port Adelaide tall Dante Visentini, Vigo comes in at No.5 in our ruck rankings after a premiership-winning campaign with the Sandringham Dragons.
Visentini played 11 Talent League games this year to add to a promising bottom-age season with the Dragons, averaging 20.6 hitouts and 12.0 disposals per game in 2023, ranking among the top eight for hitouts in the competition.
The Brighton Beach product would also make a pair of appearances for Vic Metro at the National Championships and would piece together his hottest run of form after returning to Sandringham, with a 19-disposal and 33-hitout performance coming in Round 17 against Oakleigh.
His 204cm and 99kg frame has Visentini in a position where he's ready to throw his weight around against senior players next year, with any National Draft selection likely to come late into the piece next week.
Kevin Sheehan says: A promising ruckman with the size and athletic ability to have a real influence on the play. Was an important member of the Sandringham Dragons' back-to-back premiership wins in the Coates Talent League over the past two years.
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.
FULL PROFILE
Position: Ruck
Height: 206cm
Weight: 89kg
State: Western Australia
Club: South Mandurah
A prospect rich in potential, Edwards entered 2023 as a potential top five selection before injury played a role in a campaign the Western Australian might've hoped for a greater return in.
An impressive bottom-age campaign with the black swans has given AFL recruits plenty to consider, while Edwards was again a promising force for WA and Peel Thunder this year despite some setbacks.
The Fremantle NGA talent averaged 23.0 hitouts and 10.0 disposals per game across three National Championships games in 2023 to go with a mean of 35 hitouts at the WAFL Colts level.
Edwards flexed his leaping ability at the AFL Draft Combine in October, recording top five scores in the standing and running vertical leap tests.
Kevin Sheehan says: An exciting ruckman still growing into his body. Has the height and natural leap to give his team a distinct advantage at stoppages. Has continued to develop this year and shown glimpses of his aerial ability at state under 18 level and took several exciting marks during the National Championships.
Position: Ruck
Height: 204cm
Weight: 93kg
State: Victoria
Club: Northcote
The Northern Knights talent was rewarded for a strong Talent League campaign with a selection at ruck in the Team of the Year, accompanied by midfielders Harley Reid, Ryley Sanders and Levi Aschroft in the side.
Green recorded 296 hitouts from 13 appearances for the Knights this year to rank third in the competition while also balancing National Championship duties for Vic Metro.
The 204cm ruckman would also be named in the U18 All-Australian side on the interchange from his three appearances at the carnival, where he averaged 12.0 disposals and 24.3 hitouts.
Green would also represent the AFL Academy this year in matches against Carlton's VFL side and Port Adelaide's SANFL squad, with his meeting against the latter the more impressive of the two.
Kevin Sheehan says: Developing tall who impressed throughout the year with his ruck craft, marking and mobility when playing for the Northern Knights, Victoria Metro and the Australia under 18s team. Holds his ground very well both under the ball in stoppages and marking contests and often provided great opportunities for his teammates at ground level.
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: 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.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="1707px" width="2560px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)