Well, there wasn’t much the Cats didn’t do in 2022, was there?
A resounding Grand Final win gave Chris Scott and his team everything they’d been after for years. Critics were silenced, jokes about their collective ages were laid to rest, and the Mongrel Punt Ruckman Championship Belt found its way to a new home, around the waist of one of the more underrated players in the game.
Sometimes, I wonder how much was expected of Mark Blicavs in the AFL. Seriously, his career strikes me as one that could have gone pear-shaped. Athletics background – as much an athlete as a footballer… he is the type of player some would criticise. And they did.
Versatile to a fault, the defender/wingman/onballer/ruck was almost too adaptable. But being able to do everything well was not lost on the Cats, who awarded him their highest annual honour on two occasions.
And with a powerhouse display in the 2022 decider, he adds another accolade to his CV, right alongside his first All-Australian Blazer; the Mongrel Rucman Championship Title.
Blicavs heads into the 2023 season with a target on his back. To be the man, you’ve gotta beat the man, and in Round One, the Magpies, former champ Darcy Cameron, and Mason Cox will be looking at taking that belt straight off the Geelong utility.
If they can catch him.
We’re less than a week away from the opening of the 2023 AFL season. The belt is polished, the champ is ready, and the challengers are lining up.
Let’s get ready to rumble.
Below is the season in review in regard to the Mongrel Punt Ruckman Title. I am providing this free to all readers prior to it all going behind the paywall with the rest of the results dating back to 2017, as of the commencement of the 2023 season. Enjoy.
Whilst we are all well aware of how it ended in 2021 – with Max Gawn holding not only the premiership cup, but the Mongrel Punt Ruckman Championship Title, how it came to pass is another story.
Commencing at the beginning of 2017, we tracked those who have reigned as the champion ruckman of the AFL. They are all listed below with each defence detailed.
So, how does it work?
Great question… I’m glad I asked.
After a champion was established – best ruck in the 2016 Grand Final – that player goes onto defend the title each week against the best ruckman from his team’s designated opponent. As an example, Tom Boyd, thrown into the ruck in the 2016 Grand Final, became the first-ever champion. His first defence in 2017 came against Collingwood, which means we had Boyd v Brodie Grundy as the match up to decide the title in Round One.
But how do you decide who wins? Well, that’s quite simple – the player on the team that wins has a huge advantage. In order to win the title, you not only have to out-perform the champion, but your team also has to win.
In addition, it must be a clear win in the one-on-one clash. If Boyd collects 15 touches and 20 hitouts in a loss and Grundy has similar stats in a win, that’s simply not good enough in my book. The benefit of the doubt always goes to the reigning champ. The win must be a decisive one for the title to change hands. As such, the champion can retain the belt despite his team being trounced IF he performs well in his personal battle.
Get it?
Of course you do – you’re not silly, right? But just in case you are, here are some bullet-point rules.
– To win the title, your team must win
– You cannot lose the title if your team wins, irrespective of how poorly you play.
– One-on-one wins must be resounding. If there is any doubt, the champion retains.
– The title must be defended every week except for byes. That means if a player is injured… bad luck. If a player is suspended… bad luck, again. If a player holds the title and his team does not make finals… well, that’s when I step in as an evil Vince McMahon-like character (only paying much less for sex) and strip the belt, putting it on the line for someone else to win.
– In the result of injury or suspension, the title will be decided in the game the injured/suspended player would have played.
– In the result of a team not playing finals, the title goes to the best performer on a winning team of the next week of finals, regardless of the game (so in week one of the finals, any ruck from four teams could win it should the champ at the end of the home and away season not make finals.)
And that’s about it. So, we have our history to cover before we get to the current stuff. Let’s jump back to 2017 and work our way to the current day, adding to this each week for our members as the seasons tick by. For now, everyone gets access to the 2022 season in review.
2022 results
ROUND ONE
MAX GAWN RETAINS
Though not dominant by any stretch, Gawn does enough in the Melbourne win to hold onto the title. He registers 14 disposals and 34 hit outs, but is beaten around the ground by Tim English, of all people.
English has 20 touches and six marks, but as per usual, cannot match it with a decent big man in the hitouts, down -16 on the day.
Alas, English’s effort count for naught. The Dees prevail, ensuring Gawn retains the title.
ROUND TWO
MAX GAWN RETAINS
Another win by the Dees ensures that Gawn lives to fight another day, but Jarrod Witts has his way in the ruck contests, with a +20 advantage on Gawn, who deferred to Luke Jackson to do a fair bit of the heavy lifting.
Witts had ten touches, but Gawn had 18 and a goal, indicating he was able to find space and capitalise when Jackson took the reins.
ROUND THREE
MAX GAWN RETAINS
A beatdown… a comprehensive beatdown inflicted by the champ on the up-and-coming Bomber.
Draper was restricted to just two disposals as he was obliterated by Gawn around the ground. The champ finished with 22 touches and was actually challenged more by Andrew Phillips than he was, Draper.
ROUND FOUR
MAX GAWN RETAINS
Next victim… Scott Lycett
The Power big man was unable to match it with Gawn around the ground, with the Dees’ captain racking up 25 touches and a goal to go along with his 33 hit outs.
In response, an injured Lycett managed 22 hit outs, but was soundly beaten around the ground, notching just 10 disposals.
ROUND FIVE
MAX GAWN RETAINS
A surprisingly tough tussle, individually, at least. Matt Flynn worked hard against Gawn to amass 11 touches, 27 hit outs and a goal.
However, the might of Gawn would not be denied, with the champ collecting 21 touches, 25 hit outs and two goals to help power the Dees home.
ROUND SIX
MAX GAWN RETAINS
Another week, another title defence, as Gawn and his Dees accounted for Toby Nankervis and his Tigers.
The two captains’ head-to-head clash was probably the closest aspect of the game, with Gawn +6 in hit outs and Nankervis +2 in disposals.
Still, the Dees win and Gawn retains as a result.
ROUND SEVEN
MAX GAWN RETAINS
A field day. An absolute field day fr the champ, as he monstered young Hawk ruck, Max Lynch en route to collecting 29 disposals, 35 hit outs and two goals.
Though the Hawks were quite valiant in defeat, a win is a win for the Dees, and a title defence is a title defence for Gawn. This is starting to look Grundy-esque in terms of his reign.
ROUND EIGHT
MAX GAWN RETAINS
For the first time this season, Gawn was arguably beaten in the ruck. Only marginally, with Paddy Ryder matching him for disposals, but being +3 in hit outs and adding a goal to his totals.
However, the Dees came to the rescue by beating the Saints, and given a title can only change hands when you win, the narrow win from Ryder was like picking up a count out win over the champ… Gawn retains.
ROUND NINE
MAX GAWN RETAINS
Almost a walkover.
With Nic Naitanui out of action, Gawn deferred largely to Luke Jackson to handle the bulk of the ruck work. Even when dividing his time between ruck and forward, Gawn was able to rack up a game-high 26 hit outs and added 17 touches.
His opponent, Bailey Williams, managed eight touches and seven hit outs, but he did manage to squeeze home a goal.
ROUND TEN
MAX GAWN RETAINS
A surprising tussle with the combination of Todd Goldstein and Tristan Xerri stretched Gawn and Jackson a little, but with the Dees running away with the game in the last quarter, any thoughts of a surprise title switch were snuffed out.
Gawn had 15 touches, snagged a goal, and added 24 ht outs in defence number 14.
ROUND 11
MAX GAWN RETAINS IN A LOSS
It was tight, with the Dockers running over the top of the Dees and Sean Darcy pressing his case with 16 touches, a goal, and 32 hit outs, but I have always said the win must be decisive.
And with 20 touches, eight marks and 20 hit outs, Gawn did enough to escape with his title intact… just
ROUND 12
MAX GAWN RETAINS IN A LOSS
The Dees were beaten, but not so the champ.
Matched against Peter Ladhams, Gawn was the single best player on the ground, notching 28 touches, nine marks, 30 hit outs and three booming goals to keep his team in the game.
Ladhams, amazingly, was not terrible, but his 13 touches and 16 hit outs do not go close to matching the champ.
ROUND 13
MAX GAWN RETAINS IN LOSS
Contentious…
Mason Cox and Darcy Cameron tag-teamed Gawn in a manner I have not witnessed since I found an old VHS tape I hid years ago and… well, I am sure you know what happened on that tape.
Gawn had 13 touches and 15 hit outs – down on his regular output as he was hurt in the third quarter. Cameron added 15 touches and 19 hit outs to take the points decision – equivalent to a count out win, and despite being in the best two players on the ground, with 21 touches and eight marks, Mason Cox had only nine hit outs, so once again, but the skin of his teeth, Gawn manages to retain in a very cowardly-heel type way.
Not that I am saying Gawn was a coward – if you think that, you don’t get it. I more meant that he found a way to retain the title despite not being the best ruck on the ground.
ROUND 14 – BYE
It was revealed during the week that Gawn will be missing 3-5 weeks due to an ankle injury sustained in the Collingwood game. Sorry Max… your reign is at an end.
ROUND 15
*** DARCY CAMERON WINS THE TITLE ***
With Max Gawn on the sidelines, the merciless HB Meyers stripped him of the belt, announcing that the best ruck on a winning team would become the new champ in R15.
Luke Jackson was solid, but Oscar McInerney was just as good opposite him.
Toby Nankervis had a 20/20 games with 22 disposals and 25 hit outs, but did so in a losing cause, ruling him out, and Rowan Marshall’s dominant 23 touches and 42 taps was wasted in a losing side, as well.
That left Darcy Cameron.
Working in tandem with Mason Cox, he notched 17 touches, eight marks, 23 taps and two goals to hold the title aloft and claim his first Mongrel Ruck Championship.
ROUND 16
DARCY CAMERON RETAINS
Cameron had an enthralling battle with Jarrod Witts, with the Suns ruck perhaps slightly ahead, but nowhere near enough to claim the belt.
Cameron’s Pies won the match, ensuring the belt stayed with the champ, but Cameron was able to present as an excellent marking target and walked away with his title intact.
ROUND 17
DARCY CAMERON RETAINS
A bit of a battle of the giants both in the midfield, and in front of goals, with Cameron and Todd Goldstein combining for five goals for the afternoon – not a bad day’s work for the big fellas.
The Pies got up by eight points, with Cameron’s three goals pivotal in the wash up. Goldy finished with 2.2 and accurate kicking may have seen him have a red hot go at claiming the belt. Alas, the Roos went down, Cameron retained and went on his merry way, with title defence number two.
ROUND 18
DARCY CAMERON RETAINS
A narrow win for the Pies secures the successful defence for Cameron, but his performance against Reilly O’Brien would have got him over the line even had the Crows fund one extra goal to pinch the win.
Cameron had 17 disposals and 31 hit outs to go with a goal as he battled hard in a tag team effort against the Crows. Mason Cox was a solid backup, notching 27 taps of his own.
ROUND 19
DARCY CAMERON RETAINS
The Pies sneak home again, on an end-to-end play, culminating with an after-the-siren goal from Jamie Elliott to pinch the win from the Bombers.
The late flurry saves Cameron from losing the titl to Sam Draper, who was +12 on Cameron in disposals and +6 in hit outs.
Just one defensive effort from the Bombers could have snatched the title for Draper. Instead, Cameron continues his reign.
ROUND 20
DARCY CAMERON RETAINS
The Pies and close wins… name a more iconic pair.
The Power were without a legitimate ruck, throwing Jeremy Finlayson into the position, which created an interesting scenario. Cameron had 16 touches, 26 taps, and a goal, whilst Finlayson played more as an additional mid, notching 20 disposals, 13 taps, and a goal.
Amazingly, Champion Data started rating Finlayson as an “elite” ruck. Kind of like I am an elite sportswriter, I guess.
In the grand scheme of it, easy title defence for DC.
ROUND 21
DARCY CAMERON RETAINS
Talk about the team coming together to save the champ… Max Gawn was looking at regaining the title he lost to Cameron earlier in the season, and man… he delivered a monster performance.
31 disposals, 27 hit outs, and ten marks punctuated a dominant Gawn effort, and he left DC in his wake, as the champ finished with just six disposals and 21 hit outs.
Buuuuuut, the champion’s advantage worked well for Cameron, here, as his Pies were able to tough out a seven-point win against the Dees and afford him the luxury of a successful defence despite being outplayed.
The champ was definitely on the ropes by this stage.
ROUND 22
*** TOM HICKEY WINS THE TITLE ***
Ruck Jesus!!!
The Swans brought the Collingwood win-streak to an abrupt halt with a convincing 27-point win, and the battle for the title was a tough one.
DC actually had more hit outs, +4 on the day, whilst Hickey had a +4 advantage in disposals.
So, how could Hickey win the title?
Because I am a bit of an ass?
Maybe – Hickey had 18 contested touches in this game, which were invaluable to the Swans when the footy was there to be won. He was a powerhouse in the clinches and made a huge difference to the result. It was enough for me to be swayed, particularly as DC put +4 on the hit outs in the last quarter, which several of them coming very late. The game was toast by then.
ROUND 23
TOM HICKEY RETAINS
I expect better from Rowan Marshall. I’ve expected better for a couple of years, now, actually.
Not only did the Swans win this one, but the Ruck Jesus beat out Marshall in both disposals and hit outs, doing more than enough to ensure that the title remained around his waist.
As for Marshall, eight disposals and no marks from a big man of his ability… very disappointing.
FINALS WEEK ONE
TOM HICKEY RETAINS
Another chance for Big Max to regain his belt went to waste, as the Dees fell to the Swans and Hickey more than kept pace with the big fella.
Gawn was +2 in disposals and +6 in hit outs, but Hickey gained a +2 advantage in clearances.
Alas, Gawn’s efforts were again for naught, as the Swans won and Hickey retained.
FINALS WEEK TWO – SYDNEY BYE
FINALS WEEK THREE
TOM HICKEY RETAINS
A strong challenge from former champ, Darcy Cameron fell short, just as the Collingwood challenge did in the end.
The Pies lost by a point, robbing DC of his chance to pinch the title back. The question as to whether he did enough to take it, had the Pies won, is an interesting one. Hickey was +13 in hit outs, but DC added a goal to his +2 advantage in disposals.
I doubt that would have been good enough.
Hickey walks the title into the Grand Final.
2022 AFL GRAND FINAL
*** MARK BLICAVS WINS THE TITLE ***
The backup ruck… the guy who can do a bit of everything. The dual Geelong B&F winner, and on the last Saturday in September, he became the reigning Mongrel Punt Ruckman Champion.
Blicavs attended 26 centre bounces (enough for me, and just one fewer than Rhys Stanley) as he collected 23 touches, eight tackles, a goal, and 15 hit outs.
The champ battled hard, but his entire team struggled, and he was no different. Blicavs had impact. Hickey had none.
As a result, Geelong – the team whose ruck stocks have been lambasted for years, has the Mongrel Punt Ruckman Champion heading into the 2023 season.
Damn you, Geelong… you glorious bastards.
MONGREL RUCKMAN CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE HOLDERS – 2022
MAX GAWN – 17 DEFENCES (Includes four defences from 2021 in his streak.
DARCY CAMERON – SIX DEFENCES
TOM HICKEY – THREE DEFENCES
MARK BLICAVS – NO DEFENCES (YET)
Below s the title history and records for the Mongrel Ruckman Title from 2017 onwards. It is members content and will remain so. Want to join us and be part of it as the history of the Mongrel Ruck Title grows?
