Follower (Australian rules football)
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]
Ruckman[edit]
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:
- 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 Gawn
Ruck-rover[edit]
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:
- 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 Cotchin
Rover[edit]
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:
- 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, 2013
References[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[edit]
- Pascoe, Robert (1995). The winter game : the complete history of Australian football. Port Melbourne: The Text Publishing Company. ISBN 0-85561-644-X.