In Australian rules football, the followers are the players in the following three positions: ruckman, ruck-rover, and rover. These three players are known as followers because they have traditionally been used as players that follow the ball all around the ground, as opposed to playing in a set position. In recent years, there has been a decreased emphasis on set positions in Australian football. Followers still cover more ground than any other player on the field.[citation needed]
The ruckman's job is to contest with the opposing ruckman at centre-bounces that take place at the start of each quarter or after each goal, and at stoppages (i.e., boundary throw ins, ball-ups). The ruckman usually uses his height (typically players are over 195 cm tall) to palm/tap the ball down so that a ruck-rover or rover can run onto it.
Notable ruckmen in Australian football over the years include:
Before the 1950s, the role of the ruck-rover was known as the follower. His role was to assist the ruckman and rover at centre bounces by blocking and shepherding them from opposition players.[3] This position all but disappeared in the 1950s with the success of Ron Barassi, Jr. in a role designated for him by Melbourne coach Norm Smith.[3] The closest equivalent of the follower position in today's game is known as a tagger.[3]
The ruck-rover's job is to be directly beneath the flight of the ball when a ruckman taps the ball down, allowing an easy take away, or clearance, from a stoppage. Typically, players are not as tall as the ruckman, typically ranging from 170–190 cm in height.
Notable followers and ruck-rovers in Australian football over the years include:
The rover is a player who lurks around centre bounces and stoppages to receive the ball from a ruck rover and complete a clearance. Rovers are typically the smallest player on the ground.
Notable rovers in Australian football over the years include:
Haydn Bunton, Sr. (Fitzroy, Subiaco and Port Adelaide, 1931–1945),[7] Brownlow Medallist 1931, 1932, 1935; Sandover Medallist 1938, 1939, 1941; Named forward pocket in AFL Team of the Century (1996)
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In Australian rules football the followers are the players in the following three positions ruckman ruck rover and rover These three players are known as followers because they have traditionally been used as players that follow the ball all around the ground as opposed to playing in a set position In recent years there has been a decreased emphasis on set positions in Australian football Followers still cover more ground than any other player on the field citation needed Australian rules football positions B back pocket full back back pocketHB half back flank centre half back half back flankC wing centre wingHF half forward flank centre half forward half forward flankF forward pocket full forward forward pocketFoll ruckman ruck rover roverInt interchange bench interchange bench interchange benchinterchange benchCoach coachContents 1 Ruckman 2 Ruck rover 3 Rover 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 See alsoRuckman editThe ruckman s job is to contest with the opposing ruckman at centre bounces that take place at the start of each quarter or after each goal and at stoppages i e boundary throw ins ball ups The ruckman usually uses his height typically players are over 195 cm tall to palm tap the ball down so that a ruck rover or rover can run onto it Notable ruckmen in Australian football over the years include Graham Polly Farmer East Perth Geelong and West Perth 1953 1971 1 Sandover Medallist 1956 1957 1960 Named first ruck in AFL Team of the Century 1996 John Nicholls Carlton 1957 1974 1 Named back pocket in AFL Team of the Century 1996 Jack Dyer Roy Wright Brownlow Medallist 1952 1954 Carl Ditterich St Kilda and Melbourne 1963 1980 1 John Sam Newman Geelong 1964 1980 1 Gary Dempsey Footscray and North Melbourne 1967 1984 1 Brownlow Medallist 1975 Don Scott Hawthorn 1967 1981 1 Graham Moss Claremont and Essendon 1968 1983 2 Brownlow Medallist 1976 Barry Round Footscray and Sydney 1969 1986 1 Brownlow Medallist 1981 Rick Davies Sturt Hawthorn and South Adelaide 1970 1986 Simon Madden Essendon 1974 1992 2 Norm Smith Medallist 1985 Peter Moore Collingwood and Melbourne 1974 1987 2 Brownlow Medallist 1979 1984 Justin Madden Essendon and Carlton 1980 1996 2 Paul Salmon Jim Stynes Melbourne 1987 1998 2 Brownlow Medallist 1991 Scott Wynd Western Bulldogs 1988 2000 2 Brownlow Medallist 1992 Peter Everitt Dean Cox Shaun Rehn West Adelaide Adelaide and Hawthorn 1990 2002 Matthew Primus Jeff White Corey McKernan Aaron Sandilands Todd Goldstein Max GawnRuck rover editBefore the 1950s the role of the ruck rover was known as the follower His role was to assist the ruckman and rover at centre bounces by blocking and shepherding them from opposition players 3 This position all but disappeared in the 1950s with the success of Ron Barassi Jr in a role designated for him by Melbourne coach Norm Smith 3 The closest equivalent of the follower position in today s game is known as a tagger 3 The ruck rover s job is to be directly beneath the flight of the ball when a ruckman taps the ball down allowing an easy take away or clearance from a stoppage Typically players are not as tall as the ruckman typically ranging from 170 190 cm in height Notable followers and ruck rovers in Australian football over the years include Ron Barassi Jr Melbourne and Carlton 1953 1969 3 Paul Bagshaw Sturt 1964 1980 4 Michael Tuck Hawthorn 1972 1991 5 former AFL career games record holder 426 Robert Harvey Chris Judd Jobe Watson Daniel Kerr Garry Hocking Geelong 1987 2001 6 Michael McGuane Collingwood and Carlton 1987 1997 6 Brad Sewell Trent CotchinRover editThe rover is a player who lurks around centre bounces and stoppages to receive the ball from a ruck rover and complete a clearance Rovers are typically the smallest player on the ground Notable rovers in Australian football over the years include Harry Collier Collingwood 1926 1940 7 Brownlow Medallist 1930 Haydn Bunton Sr Fitzroy Subiaco and Port Adelaide 1931 1945 7 Brownlow Medallist 1931 1932 1935 Sandover Medallist 1938 1939 1941 Named forward pocket in AFL Team of the Century 1996 Allan Ruthven Fitzroy 1940 1954 7 Brownlow Medallist 1950 Lou Richards Collingwood 1941 1955 7 Bill Hutchison Essendon 1942 1957 7 Brownlow Medallist 1952 1953 Steve Marsh South Fremantle and East Fremantle 1945 1958 8 Sandover Medallist 1952 Bob Skilton South Melbourne 1956 1971 7 Brownlow Medallist 1959 1963 1968 Named rover in AFL Team of the Century 1996 Bill Goggin Geelong 1958 1971 7 Ross G Smith St Kilda 1961 1975 7 Brownlow medallist 1967 Bill Walker Swan Districts 1961 1976 8 Sandover Medallist 1965 1966 1967 1970 Barry Cable Perth North Melbourne and East Perth 1962 1979 7 Sandover Medallist 1964 1968 1973 Kevin Bartlett Richmond 1965 1983 7 Peter Crimmins Hawthorn 1966 1971 7 Leigh Matthews Hawthorn 1969 1985 7 Named forward pocket in AFL Team of the Century 1996 Tony Liberatore Western Bulldogs 1986 2002 7 Brownlow Medallist 1990 John Platten Hawthorn 1986 1997 7 Magarey Medallist 1984 Brownlow Medallist 1987 Gary Ablett Jr Geelong and Gold Coast 2002 2020 9 Brownlow Medallist 2009 2013References edit a b c d e f g Pascoe 1995 p 38 a b c d e f Pascoe 1995 p 39 a b c d Pascoe 1995 p 41 Team of the Century sturtfc com au Archived from the original on 30 July 2013 Retrieved 14 August 2012 Team of the Century hawthornfc com au Archived from the original on 23 February 2011 Retrieved 14 August 2012 a b Pascoe 1995 p 42 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Pascoe 1995 p 40 a b AFL Hall of Fame Players AFL com au Archived from the original on 25 March 2012 Retrieved 11 August 2012 2012 Australia Post Australian Legends Stamps Archived from the original on 25 March 2012 Retrieved 13 August 2012 Bibliography editPascoe Robert 1995 The winter game the complete history of Australian football Port Melbourne The Text Publishing Company ISBN 0 85561 644 X See also editFootball Australian rules positions Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Follower Australian rules football amp 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