Pick two of Mim Strom, Matilda Scholz and Lucy Wales and your ruck line is done. On last season's GameDay Squad scoring they averaged 114.1, 111.6 and 110.6: the tightest top tier of any position, and well clear of everyone behind them.
Rucks are the scarcest position in the game. Your AFLW squad carries two of them (in a 7 DEF, 6 MID, 2 RUK, 7 FWD structure where the bench scores full points), and because most clubs play only one genuine ruck, the pool of reliable scorers is tiny. Getting this line right is a genuine edge; getting it wrong means a weekly hole in your score.
The pecking order
- Mim Strom (Fremantle). 114.1 average last season, and 108 points with 26 hitouts sharing duties for Australia against Ireland. The safest pick.
- Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide). 111.6 average at 21, and under-22 eligible, which matters for the special comps. Won 24 hitouts in reduced minutes on Saturday; on a full workload the scores come.
- Lucy Wales (Hawthorn). 110.6 average from nine games. The forgotten one of the trio, and the one your rivals will miss.
- Ally Morphett (Sydney). 99.2 average, the clear fourth if you miss the top three.
- Alice Edmonds (Western Bulldogs) averaged 80.8 and is the depth option beyond that. Out for the first few rounds so not someone to consider any time soon.
Two traps for new players
First: Georja Davies (Gold Coast) is listed as a ruck, but in the Suns' practice match they played as a defender, and played well (16 disposals, 7 marks, 6 tackles). Positions on GameDay Squad are fixed all season, so Davies scores in your RUK spot while doing a defender's job. Intriguing, but that is a watch, not a Round 1 pick.
Second: Melbourne's ruck situation. Lauren Pearce is six to seven weeks away, and Georgia Campbell (39.0 average last season) only got their first pre-season minutes in late July. Avoid the whole situation until it settles.
Two spots, three elite options. Spend a decent card on whichever two you land, and move your thinking time to the lines with seven spots to fill.