AFL Supercoach 2022: Ruck prices and selection guide

Kieran Francis

AFL Supercoach 2022: Ruck prices and selection guide image

The ruck landscape is changing in AFL Supercoach 2022 with more premium options available than ever before.

Previously, you could generally set-and-forget star ruck duo Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy for the entire season.

However, some new challengers to the throne have emerged in 2022.

Sporting News looks at the prices of the AFL ruckmen and analyses the questions you want answered.

Top 10 Premium Ruck Prices

Name Club 2020 Avg. Price
Max Gawn Melbourne 120.8 $657,400
Sean Darcy Fremantle 118.0 $642,600
Nic Naitanui West Coast 115.3 $627,400
Brodie Grundy Collingwood 115.2 $627,100
Tom Hickey Sydney 103.3 $562,000
Todd Goldstein North Melbourne 100.8 $548,800
Rowan Marshall St Kilda 98.6 $536,800
Reilly O'Brien Adelaide 95.7 $520,600
Scott Lycett Port Adelaide 94.2 $512,600
Oscar McInerney Brisbane 93.6 $509,600

The set-and-forget Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy ruck duo is finally being challenged by Fremantle star Sean Darcy.

Despite being hampered by an injury in the early part of last season, Darcy still averaged 118 and established himself as a Supercoach elite ruckman. With not much threat of his ruck time being stolen, like Gawn's situation with Luke Jackson, it appears Darcy is close to a lock.

Doubting Gawn will be done at your peril but you have to wonder whether his score average will suffer with the development of Jackson.

Both Grundy and Nic Naitanui are capable of being premium options, but will their bodies hold up, having had significant injury issues in past seasons.

MORE: Price and selection guides: Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards

Cheaper Premium Ruck Options

Name Club 2020 Avg. Price
Toby Nankervis Richmond 93.6 $509,300
Jonathon Ceglar Geelong 90.3 $491,700
Ben McEvoy Hawthorn 88.9 $483,700
Tim English Bulldogs 88.7 $482,600
Luke Jackson Melbourne 71.6 $389,800

Cheaper premium ruck options will be few and far between in the two main spots this season, but some coaches seem to be keen on Luke Jackson, who has forward eligibility and looks to be developing into a great player.

Rookie Ruck Options

Take a look at our full rookie and cash cow guide here.

MORE: Price and selection guides: Defenders | MidfieldersForwards

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.