Coaching Edge - AFL Community

Coaching
ruckwork
by ben hudson
Ben Hudson is
ruck coach at
Collingwood and
has played for
four AFL clubs.
This article was
written as part of
the requirements
for the AFL/
AFLPA Level 2
coaching course.
Description of the position/Ruckman’s
role in the team structure
A ruckman’s primary role is to provide
a physical, aggressive contest at every
stoppage – centre bounces, boundary
throw-ins and ball-ups. The ruckman
plays a vital role in a team establishing an
advantage at stoppages and clearances,
giving the team first use of the ball. Winning
a hit-out is not enough; it must be a hit-out
to the advantage of the team’s midfield.
The position has evolved and the
modern ruckman is the keystone of the
midfield and must provide second efforts
and spread offensively and defensively
from the contest.
Relationships to other positions
in the team
The ruckman must have a close working
relationship with the team’s other midfielders
and understand the strengths and
weaknesses of each of them to help the team
gain advantage at stoppages and clearances.
The ruckman plays a leadership role in the
midfield, directing others on positioning, after
assessing the opposition, to ensure they get
first use of the ball.
Player responsibilities for the position
Ruckmen are responsible for providing a
contest and trying to gain advantage at all
stoppages. They provide vocal leadership
and communication at these stoppages to
ensure set-ups are clear to the midfield and
played to advantage. It is also the role of
ruckmen to push back and provide support
to a team’s defensive players. A highly
competitive workrate is required –
offensively and defensively.
Characteristics required to play
the position successfully
The characteristics of a successful ruckman
are limitless, but the essentials are aggression
and physical determination. Other key
characteristics are a competitive nature,
relentlessness, vocal leadership, and a
preparedness to sacrifice for the benefit of
the team – speed and agility are a bonus.
While some ruckmen will have grown
up playing Australian Football, they can
come from other sports with transferable
skills such as basketball, rugby union and
even soccer. Zac Smith came from a soccer
background and Kurt Tippett and Todd
Goldstein from basketball.
Analysis of specialised
situations related to the position
(specific set plays, etc.)
Ruckmen can find themselves in many
different situations throughout a game.
One of the most important aspects today
is that ruckmen understand their team’s
specific midfield set-ups and structures at all
stoppages. Not only must they understand
their team’s hit zones but where the various
other midfielders are in all stoppages, which
can vary depending on where that stoppage
is on the ground, the scoreline and the time
remaining in the game.
Another key element is knowing the
opposition’s structures and its ruckman’s
favourite hit zones. As an example, it’s
time-on in the last quarter, with a minute or
so remaining, and there’s a ball-up on the
wing, with your team protecting a lead of just
20 ⁄⁄ COACHING EDGE / JULY 2013