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]}

Australian rules football positions
B:	back pocket	full-back	back pocket
HB:	half-back flank	centre half-back	half-back flank
C:	wing	centre	wing
HF:	half-forward flank	centre half-forward	half-forward flank
F:	forward pocket	full-forward	forward pocket
Foll:	ruckman	ruck rover	rover
Int:	interchange bench	interchange bench	interchange bench
Int:	interchange bench
Coach:	coach

Ruckman

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
Andrew Phillips

Ruck-rover

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

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

^ ^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