The expected return of Dockers tall Luke Jackson this week will fascinate Fremantle fans as the young star - who ranks as the most efficient ruckman in the AFL - finally pairs with partner-in-crime Sean Darcy.

With Darcy missing the first month of the season, and Jackson sidelined with a hamstring strain the past three weeks, the duo haven't played together since August last year.

Both players have thrived as solo ruck options during their time in purple, but the combination of Jackson and Darcy hasn't always been fruitful for both, with Darcy often struggling to have an impact forward of the ball.

Jackson can be an attacking threat, but a limited display in the middle of the field can still hamper Justin Longmuir's plans.

With a matchup against Rowan Marshall scheduled for Friday night at Marvel Stadium, Longmuir - should Jackson be cleared to return - will be looking to strike the right balance in utilising his two-pronged ruck force.

2025 Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars Match
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 15: Coen Livingstone of the Indigenous All Stars and Luke Jackson of the Dockers compete in a ruck contest during the 2025 Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars match between the Indigenous All Stars and the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium on February 15, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Jackson's start to 2025 has him rated as the No.1 ruckman in the competition for hitouts to advantage (HTA) per ruck contest (RC) attended, with the ex-Demon tallying a total of 47 HTAs from his 248 RCs, good for 18.95%.

That rating has him ahead of the 31 other AFL ruckmen who have attended at least 100 ruck contests to start the current season.

The next highest is Sydney tall Brodie Grundy (16.59%), with sidelined Essendon tall Nick Bryan (16.23) the only other ruckman to surpass the 15% mark.

Adelaide's Reilly O'Brien (14.99) and Gold Coast's Jarrod Witts (14.67) round out the top five, with Darcy (14.43) just behind.

While Darcy's efficiency in finding an advantageous hitout from each contest attended has him rated highly, it will be critical that the Dockers don't hinder Jackson's leading proficiency when they combine.

The loss of Bryan for Essendon, as well as the season-ending injury to Sam Draper, will be felt at the Bombers. Veteran Todd Goldstein has shown a positive start to his campaign - managing 11 hitouts to advantage from the 75 ruck contests he attended on Anzac Day - good for 14.67%.

Essendon make call on veteran ruck
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 11: Todd Goldstein of the Bombers handballs during the round nine AFL match between Essendon Bombers and Greater Western Sydney Giants at Marvel Stadium, on May 11, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Brisbane's Oscar McInerney has struggled for a solid return, going at 10.23%, however pinch-hit option Sam Day has been promising in his supporting role, having an efficiency of 9.93%.

Geelong's Mark Blicavs firms as the leading secondary ruckman, even though his 11.27% rating is ahead of first-string option Rhys Stanley's 9.59.

2025's most efficient ruckmen 

Rank Player HO HTA HTW% HTA% RC HTA PER RC %
1 Luke Jackson 132 47 53.2 35.6 248 18.95
2 Brodie Grundy 211 71 49.3 33.6 428 16.59
3 Nick Bryan 76 25 49.4 32.9 154 16.23
4 Reilly O'Brien 248 76 48.9 30.6 507 14.99
5 Jarrod Witts 242 71 50 29.3 484 14.67
6 Sean Darcy 78 29 38.8 37.2 201 14.43
7 Tristan Xerri 246 82 42.7 33.3 576 14.24
8 Max Gawn 251 71 48.5 28.3 518 13.71
9 Lloyd Meek 266 80 43.3 30.1 614 13.03
10 Jordon Sweet 265 68 47.6 25.7 557 12.21
11 Tom De Koning 214 69 37 32.2 579 11.92
12 Toby Nankervis 240 66 43.2 27.5 556 11.87
13 Kieren Briggs 142 37 44.5 26.1 319 11.60
14 Mark Blicavs 54 16 38 29.6 142 11.27
15 Tim English 227 61 41.7 26.9 545 11.19
16 Darcy Cameron 206 53 40.6 25.7 508 10.43
17 Oscar McInerney 170 44 39.5 25.9 430 10.23
18 Sam Day 63 14 44.7 22.2 141 9.93
19 Rhys Stanley 103 26 38 25.2 271 9.59
20 Darcy Fort 51 11 43.6 21.6 117 9.40

Rucks ranked by Hitouts to Advantage per Ruck Contest attended (min. 100 Ruck Contests)