SANFL Top 5 in 2024 – Rucks

The best Hostplus SANFL League performers in 2024 are being unveiled through the SANFL Top 10 rankings.

SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank will reveal his high performing midfielders, rucks, forwards and defenders now that the dust has settled on this year’s exciting campaign.

Form across the 2024 season was used as the chief factor in the ranking process, with selection in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year and West End State team weighing heavily, together with placings in the Magarey Medal, Shearman Medal, Club best-and-fairest awards and strong performances in finals matches.

High rankings in statistics such as total disposals, marks, contested marks, goals, clearances and tackles were also taken into account, along with Champion Data ranking points.

Find out who were the most influential rucks in 2024.

Port Adelaide officials would have been very pleased with the progress of emerging ruckman Dante Visentini in 2024.

The 21-year-old sprang to life mid-season, highlighted by his performance against Central District in Round 12 which yielded 20 disposals, seven marks, six tackles, a goal and 44 hit outs.

Measuring at 202cm, Visentini went on to average more than 30 hit outs from his 14 SANFL appearances while also displaying encouraging signs in his three AFL outings.

The Victorian faces a tough challenge to edge his way in front of Jordon Sweet and Ivan Soldo in 2025 but should continue to develop further in the Hostplus SANFL League.

Jarrad Redden was supposed to be enjoying a well-earned retirement in 2024.

Instead, the Eagles’ premiership bigman answered an SOS call from incoming coach Sam Jacobs to ”help out” in the centre square this year.

It resulted in the 33-year-old playing in 16 matches while posting solid averages of 10 disposals, three clearances and 33 hit outs.

Reaching his 150th game milestone this season, the Eagles’ No.55 racked up 38 hit outs in his final match, the Elimination Final.

Cam McGree was in and out of the casualty ward throughout 2024 but when he earned a second premiership medallion in as many seasons, it was well worthwhile.

Breaking his collarbone inside the opening two minutes of Round 1, McGree returned, only to have his cheekbone fractured in Round 13.

Then, just as the Tiger began building momentum into September, he injured the ligaments in his foot and ankle, causing him to play under considerable duress during the major round.

The 25-year-old managed to neutralise 2022 Jack Oatey Medallist Harry Boyd in the 2024 Grand Final, his efforts going a long way toward the Bays winning back-to-back flags.

Adelaide’s Kieran Strachan continues to display tremendous consistency in the Hostplus SANFL League as one of the competition’s premier ruckmen.

Winning the Crows’ State League Club Champion award for the third time in four seasons, Strachan was also named as the second ruck in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.

Posting averages of 16 disposals, five marks, four clearances and four tackles, the 29-year-old displays tremendous mobility in moving around the ground.

Faces a delayed start to his 2025 campaign after undergoing surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot suffered during preseason training.

Outside of a premiership medallion, there wasn’t much Harry Boyd didn’t achieve in 2024.

Norwood’s lion-hearted ruckman was the joint Magarey Medallist, Shearman Medallist and Michael Taylor Medallist as the Redlegs’ Club Champion.

The 26-year-old played for the West End State team against the VFL and was also the ruck in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.

Registering a competition-best average of 160 Champion Data ranking points in 2024, Boyd also posted monster averages of 20 disposals, 10 clearances, four tackles and 42 hit outs.

The boy from Shepparton is currently training with St Kilda during the SSP and is expected to land a spot on the Saints’ list for 2025.