Ruck (Australian rules football)

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In Australian rules football, the ruck is the name given to both the contests for the ball initiated by a field umpire to commence play, and to the players' specialist position who nominate to contest them (sometimes gendered as a ruckman/ruckwoman). The ruck occurs at centre bounces and stoppages when the umpire sends the into the air during a Ball-up or a boundary throw-in. According to the Laws of Australian Football only a nominated ruck may contest the ruck. The rucks are among the most important players on the field as they are the first to set up play for their team. As reach is instrumental to winning ruck contests, height, arm span, vertical leap and endurance are huge physical advantages so the rucks are usually the tallest on each team.

The role of the ruck in Australian rules is similar to a lock in rugby union contesting a line-out. The key differences are that with the exception of boundary throw-ins, the ball is almost always thrown straight up high into the air rather than horizontally, so in this respect, the ruck is similar to a basketball centre. The ruck needs to be able to control the ball by palm tap or fist with outstretched arms. Unlike rugby, the ruck must rely on vertical leap because lifting teammates is not allowed.^[1] Australian football rucking often involves vigorous mid-air collisions with the opposing ruck.

With no offside or knock on rules, the ruck can tap the ball in any direction. Before a bounce down or ball up, rucks confer with the onballers (rovers and ruck-rovers) to pre-determine the direction of the tap so that they can position themselves to best receive it to the team's advantage.

The ruck is typically the tallest player on either team. A typical professional Australian Football League ruck is over 200 cm or 6'7.^[2][3] While teams historically would play one primary ruck, the relaxation of interchange and substitution rules at the professional level has allowed teams to select players for multiple ruck roles and tactics.^[4]

When a ruck beats their opponent by contacting the ball, it is called a hit out and measured as a statistic and performance indicator of effective ruckwork. Although the ruck is the primary player to score hit-outs, sometimes tall key position players fill in for the ruck around the ground if the ruck cannot run to make the contest in time.

Rucking is one of the most physically demanding positions on the ground, both in terms of fitness and body contact. As a result of the high level of physical contact of clashing with opponents in the air, many rucks have large physiques or bulk up to prevent injury. As well, due to the use of knees when jumping, many rucks wear protective thigh and shin padding, whereas players in other positions rarely do. Coaches often field more than one ruck and rotate them due to the physical pressure of the position and the endurance of having to run to ruck contests around the ground.