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High-leaping ruckman Oscar Steene\u2019s performance at the centre ball-up in his Collingwood debut last week has attracted the attention of several AFL clubs as well as the Tassie Devils as he showcased the future of rucking.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old pre-season supplementary selection, who is contracted until the end of next season, has the athleticism to take advantage of the new ruck rules.<\/p>\n
![\"Oscar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/6cdd37eafe3380169736a131b60f73b209d17ba3.jpeg\")
Oscar Steene appears to be one of the beneficiaries of the AFL\u2019s new ruck rules.AFL Photos<\/p>\n
He is among a cohort of ruckmen, including Hawthorn\u2019s Ned Reeves, Geelong\u2019s Mitch Edwards and Adelaide\u2019s Lachie McAndrew, who have risen in value since the league changed the rules to encourage players to leap at centre bounces and reduce secondary stoppages.<\/p>\n
St Kilda\u2019s Tom De Koning, Docker Luke Jackson and the Bulldogs\u2019 Tim English are also players with the physical attributes suited to thriving in the new conditions.<\/p>\n
Related Article The Devils can sign players who are out of contract at the end of 2027 and 2028, and are in a position to develop a list that reflects the increasing speed and athleticism required to play the game.<\/p>\n Other big young men who have contracts expiring next year include McAndrew, Cats pair Edwards and Toby Conway, Essendon\u2019s Nick Bryan and Port Adelaide\u2019s Dante Visentini.<\/p>\n Tasmania are therefore monitoring the progress of a large collection of players suited to the modern game, and in the case of Giants midfielder Tom Green, those with the characteristics to potentially lead a new club.<\/p>\n Steene shares ruck duties with Darcy Cameron, the Magpies\u2019 reigning club champion, who played a vital role in the club\u2019s 2023 premiership as a ruckman who could take marks playing a kick behind play and occasionally drift forward to kick goals.<\/p>\n Cameron\u2019s hitouts-to-advantage ratio is at 20.8 per cent this season, which is the lowest of his career. It was 23.5 per cent against the Giants on Friday night, compared to newcomer Steene\u2019s 35 per cent.<\/p>\n The abolition of the substitute this season means teams now start each game with five players on the bench, which has so far encouraged teams to combine the old and new style of ruckman. Hawthorn has played Reeves and Lloyd Meek, St Kilda has paired De Koning and Rowan Marshall, and Fremantle has used Jackson and Sean Darcy to cover both the centre-bounce duel and around-the-ground skills.<\/p>\n Marshall\u2019s hitouts-to-advantage ratio has plummeted to a career-worst 19.2 per cent in 2026 as he adjusts to the rule adaptations and sharing the field with ex-Blue De Koning.<\/p>\n On the flip side, Richmond used makeshift options Campbell Gray, Mykelti Lefau and Ben Miller on Saturday against Jackson and Darcy, in injured skipper Toby Nankervis\u2019 absence. The Tigers were demolished 57-9 in hitouts, and lost the clearance battle 41-26.<\/p>\n Recruiters are in the assessment stage \u2013 wary not to jump to conclusions from a small sample size \u2013 but already on alert for how it might change the types of players they need to unearth and prioritise.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n They are also monitoring the real impact of hitouts to advantage to winning clearances, the change in the numbers of secondary stoppages and throw-ins, and the way the best ruckmen counter their opposition and adapt to the shift.<\/p>\n Six recruiters emphasised that ruckmen still needed all-round football skills, and it was too early to elevate or put a line through anyone, but all conceded the rules tilted the advantage to athletic and supersized ruckmen.<\/p>\n Eight-time All-Australian Max Gawn is fresh from a starring role in Melbourne\u2019s come-from-behind win over Carlton, but even his numbers have suffered, and he is concerned for what the changes mean for his brethren.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter watching the [pre-season] games, what\u2019s actually happened is what I didn\u2019t really want,\u201d Gawn said in February. \u201cIt\u2019s literally two players jumping into each other and no real ruck craft at all.\u201d<\/p>\n Adelaide\u2019s Reilly O\u2019Brien started a three-year contract in 2026, but hasn\u2019t played a game since the advent of the new rules. He signed his deal before the rules were introduced, while the Hawks locked Meek into a four-year deal mid-last season after his career took off under the previous ruck rules.<\/p>\n Players such as O\u2019Brien, who relied on wrestling in tests of strength, must now find new ways to make an impact or face becoming extinct. At least he has the security of his contract.<\/p>\n \u201cIt [suits] the jumpers. I think that\u2019s what it\u2019s designed to do; to help guys like Tom De Koning, Luke Jackson [and West Coast\u2019s] Bailey Williams,\u201d O\u2019Brien said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt gives them a chance to show their strengths in there and not get wrestled out of it, so against those guys, it will certainly be a challenge \u2026 I\u2019m still trying to work it out.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Unlike O\u2019Brien, Giant Kieren Briggs does not have a contract beyond this season when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The new rules could reduce his value, although he has still managed a hitouts-to-advantage percentage of 37.7 per cent. The Hawks\u2019 Reeves leads the competition at 50 per cent.<\/p>\n The very best ruckmen, such as Gawn, English, Brodie Grundy and Jackson, can earn close to $1 million dollars per season, but clubs are reluctant to spend too much of their salary cap on a ruckman unless he is outstanding.<\/p>\n Most earn an annual salary of $500,000-$750,000.<\/p>\n The lure of basketball riches in the American college system is further complicating the situation for AFL recruiters, who remain concerned about the lack of ruck options in the development pathway, from the under-18s to the state leagues.<\/p>\n Indiana Pacers guard Johnny Furphy is playing in the NBA<\/a> after making football his back-up plan. His older brother, Joe, was a category B rookie at Geelong before being delisted and signing with Coburg in the VFL.<\/p>\n University of Florida standout Alex Condon previously committed to Collingwood<\/a> as a category B rookie, but is also NBA-bound.<\/p>\n Countless others are also chasing their hoops dreams, leaving Talent League clubs to often use undersized players in the ruck.<\/p>\n AFL recruiters have enjoyed their own wins against basketball, from the likes of Jackson to Eagle Cooper Duff-Tytler, St Kilda\u2019s Alex Dodson, Eagle Jake Miles-Wrency, Melbourne\u2019s Oscar Berry, Crow Indy Cotton, Richmond\u2019s Oliver Hayes-Brown and most recently, North Melbourne\u2019s Lachie Brewer.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n There are three high-quality candidates in this year\u2019s draft class, headed by 204-centimetre, potential top-five prospect Harry Van Hattum, of the Northern Knights.<\/p>\n Demon Jacob van Rooyen\u2019s younger brother, Claremont\u2019s Benji, and North Adelaide\u2019s Ethan Herbert are the other two big men who could be top-30 selections in the 2026 draft.<\/p>\n Related Article However, at least one talent scout believes Herbert, who has dominated at SANFL under-18 level, may end up in a key-position post down back instead.<\/p>\n The ruck rules have changed the rucking landscape and the names at the forefront of selectors and recruiters\u2019 minds. It\u2019s a shift akin to any industrial revolution.<\/p>\n Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774411512_100_13814660fd0e5a54fae44049caa18ec5be9ad88c.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774974641_239_ccc4a1b463b84afa4ae6960d10f5aee84453dc1c.jpeg\")
Tom De Koning\u2019s athleticism and high-leaping style should be suited to the ruck rules.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Darcy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7ee2cd439e830b793f99245b8368119b1b59d119.jpeg\")
Darcy Cameron and Reilly O\u2019Brien are still adjusting to the league\u2019s new ruck conditions.AFL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Australia\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/f2992e0a47600ddef29df99ebf4e9db453e8c1e7.jpeg\")
Australia\u2019s Alex Condon chose to chase his NBA dream over signing with Collingwood.AP<\/p>\n![\"Hawthorn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774420570_4_203246b60653759b7eb61b55baae8bdb1320e312.jpeg\")
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