Re: 2018 Rd 7: Pre Game Paranoia: Carlton vs Adelaide
Reply #107 –
Who are the AFLs current top ruckmen, and how were they drafted?
I would think more than half the current 2018 top rated 1st rucks were Rnd 1 or 2 draft picks by the club they play for, also a good percentage of them still play for the club they were drafted for.
Of those who have moved, a couple are the case were they left because they were not better than the existing first ruck option.
Subjectively, it seems the hit rate for success on picking a ruck early in the draft is no better or worse than any other player, but I appreciate the time-frame for a return on that pick can be significant given that rucks typically peak in their late 20s. The issue of No.1 versus other early picks is more about what individual clubs need at the time, not who is necessarily the very best player, and even so it's still a coin toss if any individual pick will be a success!