I know we're obviously biased so what do your non-Melbourne mates think?

 

They dont normally pick two ruckmen but I think Gawn deserves the ruck spot with Grundy on the bench

It's out of Gawn and Grundy for me.  Nic Nat can do the flash stuff but I don't feel he has the consistency or the substance of the other two.

Max has the better ruckwork and the better influence on the contest, while Grundy plays almost like a midfielder and has a big influence on games through this.  It's close, but at the moment you would lean towards Gawn because of his ruckwork.

Watch Maxie destroy Jacobs. Numerous hit outs to clear advantage and has contributed to Chunk's renaissance and the our dominance at clearances.

If the AA selectors need another influential ground level midfielder, we have plenty to recommend. But leave the ruckwork to Max.

Let's see QB. May seal it for either

Gawn is on a level all his own.

 

I agree that they'll pick both Gawn and Grundy, assuming both hold their form all year. It has happened in the past, but this year both are genuinely in the top half dozen players for the year, so can't be left out just so they only pick 1 ruck. 

It's out of Gawn and Grundy at this stage of the year, but plenty of footy still to come for one to pull away from the other.

Grundy has been fantastic this year, but he plays differently to Gawn with one controlling clearances with his tap work and drifting forward to kick goals, while the other influences around the ground better, using his mobility and versatility.  While not a perfect correlation, it's similar to the Cox vs Sandilands debates for 2005-08.

It's often the influence of the media that decides if there'll be one or two rucks in the AA team on any given year.  At this stage, I'd say that Gawn has a slight edge over Grundy, even if it's just for his consistency.  Nic Nat is not playing at the standard of these two at this stage.

It’s clear to me - I only opened the article to register a vote for Maxy. Seems I wasn’t alone either...

ATM it's Grundy by a whisker, but given our harder second half of the year, if we are to make the finals (Max will have a huge influence in that) he will overtake Grundy by year's end.