Who is the best Ruckman of the 21st Century?

[RUNVS]

Ruckmen
6 - Dean Cox

Dean Cox

Age

42

Ht

203cm

Wt

107kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.9

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.5

3star

G

0.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

13.0

4star

K

5.8

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.0

1star

| 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012
6 - Max Gawn

11

Max Gawn

Age

32

Ht

209cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

6.7

4star

CL

2.8

4star

HO

35.3

5star

D

18.5

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

7.0

4star

CL

3.5

4star

HO

29.2

5star

D

8.4

3star

K

3.6

2star

HB

4.8

4star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

15.6

5star

| 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
4 - Aaron Sandilands

Aaron Sandilands

Age

41

Ht

211cm

Wt

118kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

4.4

2star

HB

8.2

5star

CL

3.3

5star

HO

31.4

5star

No current season stats available

D

5.4

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

2.0

2star

HO

13.6

5star

| 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014

On a bit of a roll at the moment having done midfielders and defenders but I am curious about who you all think is the best ruckman of the 21st century?

To be on the list

• Must have 4 All Australians or more
• Must have had majority of those 4 AA's in the 21st Century.

For ruckman at least the choice is pretty clear between these three as no others really get close.

I am going to go with Gawn personally as he is not only dominant in a tap to advantage but his contested marking can't be stopped when he is on form. I have never seen a ruckman truly dominate a game like Gawn can.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

Dean Cox

Dean Cox

Age

42

Ht

203cm

Wt

107kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.9

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.5

3star

G

0.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

13.0

4star

K

5.8

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.0

1star

all the way for me. Great ruck and was such an athlete, that the Eagles essentially had an extra midfielder. Alongside Simon Madden, the best I've seen live (although would have loved to have seen Stephen Michael at his peak).

 

[Underarm]

Shaun Grigg.

 

[cherrypie]

I would marginally have Gawn over Cox, especially considering he still has years left. Goldstein third place a fair bit behind them. Nic Nat would be up there if not for injuries

 

[RAPPA]

I've Gawn with Cox

 

[TheUnicorn]

Dean Cox

Dean Cox

Age

42

Ht

203cm

Wt

107kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.9

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.5

3star

G

0.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

13.0

4star

K

5.8

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.0

1star

 

[Tandy]

Gawn will overtake Cox by end of career. Just needs another solid couple of years

 

[Caligo]

Dean Cox

Dean Cox

Age

42

Ht

203cm

Wt

107kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.9

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.5

3star

G

0.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

13.0

4star

K

5.8

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.0

1star

. The bastard was basically a midfielder who happened to be 2m tall.

Just not fair.

 

[My Tilly]

Dean Cox. The bastard was basically a midfielder who happened to be 2m tall.

Just not fair.

Likewise Gawn.

 

[Headless]

Likewise Gawn.

Wouldn't say so. Cox was something else in the midfield, and I'll select Cox for that reason.

 

[My Tilly]

Wouldn't say so. Cox was something else in the midfield, and I'll select Cox for that reason.

Cox was brilliant. Certainly a level above Gawn in terms of skill as he was just as adapt on the opposite of the body but in terms of sheer influence on a game, Gawn is the equal of Cox.

 

[Caligo]

Likewise Gawn.

Nope. Gawn can't collect a ball off the floor like Cox. Not as good a kick either.

 

[RUNVS]

Nope. Gawn can't collect a ball off the floor like Cox. Not as good a kick either.

Gawn was/is better at contested marking though. He is basically unstoppable when he is in the zone.

 

[Caligo]

Gawn was/is better at contested marking though. He is basically unstoppable when he is in the zone.

Yes, but that doesn't really relate to me calling him a giant midfielder. Gawn is very good at taking advantage of being so tall. Cox was very good at football generally, whilst happening to be very tall.

 

[Young Redleg]

Basically splitting hairs between Cox and Gawn really.

 

[Freomaniac]

Kane McGoodwin , I am surprised Sam Jacobs

10

Sam Jacobs

Age

36

Ht

200cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.3

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

6.1

4star

CL

2.3

4star

HO

32.8

5star

D

6.5

1star

K

4.3

2star

HB

2.3

2star

CL

3.3

4star

HO

27.5

5star

D

8.0

2star

K

2.0

1star

HB

6.0

4star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

15.0

5star

never got an All Australian honour at his best.

He was unfortunate in 2012. No disrespect to Todd Goldstein

17

Todd Goldstein

Age

35

Ht

201cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

5.7

2star

HB

7.5

5star

CL

3.1

5star

HO

32.5

5star

D

16.7

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

7.4

4star

CL

7.0

5star

HO

32.9

5star

D

5.2

2star

K

2.6

1star

HB

2.6

3star

HO

10.0

5star

.

More than happy to replace Sandilands for 2014 for Big Sauce Jacobs. Sandi can keep 2008, 2009 and 2010.

 

[Grrr]

Todd Goldstein

17

Todd Goldstein

Age

35

Ht

201cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

5.7

2star

HB

7.5

5star

CL

3.1

5star

HO

32.5

5star

D

16.7

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

7.4

4star

CL

7.0

5star

HO

32.9

5star

D

5.2

2star

K

2.6

1star

HB

2.6

3star

HO

10.0

5star

is under rated I think. Not as good as those mentioned but not far below.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Gawn over Cox, slightly.

 

[Engimal v3]

Gee, let me think

 

[KissKiss]

I think Gawn is just edging past Cox for me but its very close. You wouldnt blame anyone for picking the other.

Gawn still has a bit more time in his career though. He probably requires another big year to make it clear cut.

Sandi and Goldstein are probably the next two with maybe Goodes depending how you classify him

 

[Engimal v3]

Todd Goldstein is under rated I think. Not as good as those mentioned but not far below.

I rate Goldy above Gawn, even taking away North bias. Goldstein is the most talented player North have drafted in 20 years - and if he'd played with a Richmond, Collingwood, etc. I have a feeling he might have got the edge on a few accolades that he missed out on. I'd have it:

Cox > Sandilands > Goldstein > Gawn

Cox is the standout from the group to me. He wasn't getting huge hitout numbers like Goldy, but there really wasn't anything he couldn't do. Sandilands doesn't have as many highlights as the others, but he consistently beat the other top ruckmen of his day.

Gawn is still very good, and him being a premiership captain puts his legacy in no doubt.

 

[Grrr]

I rate Goldy above Gawn, even taking away North bias. Goldstein is the most talented player North have drafted in 20 years - and if he'd played with a Richmond, Collingwood, etc. I have a feeling he might have got the edge on a few accolades that he missed out on. I'd have it:

Cox > Sandilands > Goldstein > Gawn

Cox is the standout from the group to me. He wasn't getting huge hitout numbers like Goldy, but there really wasn't anything he couldn't do. Sandilands doesn't have as many highlights as the others, but he consistently beat the other top ruckmen of his day.

Gawn is still very good, and him being a premiership captain puts his legacy in no doubt.

Agree with you on most of that, especially in regard to playing in a bigger club.

Sandilands was a great tap ruck but the others, especially Cox and Goldstein were so much better around the ground, an equally important part of rucking in my eyes. Gawn dominates games pretty regularly, so I would go Cox, Gawn just over Goldstein. Not much between any of them.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Kane McGoodwin , I am surprised Sam Jacobs never got an All Australian honour at his best.

He was unfortunate in 2012. No disrespect to Todd Goldstein.

More than happy to replace Sandilands for 2014 for Big Sauce Jacobs. Sandi can keep 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Yeah, Imo Jacobs should have been AA ahead of Goldstein, bit over his career Goldstein was better for longer.

 

[HairyO]

Cox was just so good and despite the Eagles list he stood out.

Probably 3rd or 4 of all time behind Farmer, Madden, maybe Rehn?

There are players from 80 years ago Im sure but I dont know how to compare them.

 

[Trav 20]

Cox and Gawn both 6 x AA and both 2 x B&F. Both with one flag.

Cox more skillful and Gawn the better contested mark. Gawn averaging just over 2 and Cox under 1.

Gawn more hitouts already from 87 less games.

Brownlow votes are rubbish, but for those that care Gawn has 108 votes from 203 games and Cox just 71 from 290.

I can't complain about anyone choosing Cox, but for me I think Gawn has influenced more games. And I'm clearly biased.