Ken Hinkley's Top 10 Ruckman in 2026

10 - Darcy Fort (Brisbane)

"Brisbane have needed him at the most important time of the year. He just does his job whenever Fages (Chris Fagan) calls on him. When he's needed, he gets it done."

9 - Toby Nankervis (Richmond)

"Warrior. He's still a gun and he still terrifies me when he marks the ball."

8 - Darcy Cameron (Collingwood)

"I think he's a really good intercept ruckman. I think he marks the ball a lot, I'm just not sure he's absolutely everything else that some of these high quality rucks can be."

7 - Tim English (Western Bulldogs)

"Really starting to emerge. He's a damaging ruckman, he's not just a ruckman. As I said some of these blokes, their whole game's amazing."

6 - Tristan Xerri (North Melbourne)

"Last year outstanding, he was in the All-Australian conversation with Max (Gawn). He probably will be (higher) if he keeps going the way he's going."

5 - Tom De Koning (St Kilda)

"He had Max (Gawn) on toast in the first quarter and then the tonsillitis kicked in and he didn't have enough antibiotics otherwise it would have been a whole different conversation."

4 - Luke Jackson (Fremantle)

"He could be No.2 in my mind if he played ruck the whole time. Absolute superstar ruckman. If he ever gets let free as a full-time ruck, goodness gracious me."

3 - Brodie Grundy (Sydney)

"He's been an outstanding ruckman over his career. He's done lots of great things and he's made a world of difference up there in Sydney."

2 - Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast)

"He's a big man. He's been an absolute star for (Gold Coast). He's been captain at different times. He's keeping a great ruckman, Ned Moyle, out of the game."

1 - Max Gawn (Melbourne)

"Maxy gets number one and rightly so. He's been the best for a number of years now and he deserves the titles, and he deserves the conversation - is it Simon Madden or Max, because he's been outstanding."