AFL Supercoach 2023: Ruck bargains, prices and selection guide

Kieran Francis

AFL Supercoach 2023: Ruck bargains, prices and selection guide image

AFL Supercoach rucks used to be a relatively easy set-and-forget process, but in 2023 selection for your team looks a lot more complicated.

With only six ruckman scoring an 100-plus average last season and a variety off-season moves potentially affecting their scoring this campaign, it's going to be a tough line to deal with.

The Sporting News helps you navigate the AFL Supercoach 2023 ruck situation.

Top 10 Premium Ruck Prices

Name Club 2022 Avg. Price
Max Gawn Melbourne 113.0 $622,100
Jarrod Witts Gold Coast 109.9 $605,100
Tim English Western Bulldogs 105.5 $581,000
Sean Darcy Fremantle 102.1 $562,600
Reilly O'Brien Adelaide 101.8 $560,500
Nic Naitanui West Coast 97.6 $537,500
Mark Blicavs (MID) Geelong 97.6 $537,200
Toby Nankervis Richmond 96.5 $531,100
Todd Goldstein North Melbourne 93.2 $513,300
Brodie Grundy Melbourne 103.5 $512,900

Max Gawn has been a hugely popular pick in the past few years but how will the arrival of Brodie Grundy at Demonland affect his scoring? It's almost too much of a risk to outlay the $600k on him.

Jarrod Witts and Tim English enjoyed breakout Supercoach seasons in 2022, but will they back it up this campaign?

Grundy appears to be value if he returns to his All-Australian form at Collingwood, but what will his role be alongside Gawn?

Sean Darcy is another ruckman on the up but how much ruck time will Luke Jackson snare at Fremantle?

Max Gawn Tim English

Cheaper Premium Ruck Options

Name Club 2022 Avg. Price
Rowan Marshall St Kilda 92.0 $506,500
Darcy Cameron Collingwood 84.6 $465,900
Luke Jackson Fremantle 84.5 $465,500
Sam Draper Essendon 72.4 $398,700

Surprisingly, the top two picked ruckman are both cheaper options in Rowan Marshall (42%) and Darcy Cameron (25%).

Marshall will assume the No.1 ruck role at St Kilda after the retirement of Paddy Ryder, while Cameron doesn't have to compete with Brodie Grundy anymore.

Luke Jackson could be a value pick if he has plenty of ruck time, while Sam Draper has shown signs and is below $400k in price.

Darcy Cameron.jpg
Getty Images

Rookie Ruck Options

Check out our guide to AFL Supercoach rookies in 2023: AFL Supercoach 2023: Rookies, cash cows and cheapies to keep an eye on

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.