The Rise of a New Ruck Talent
Harry Van Hattum is emerging as one of the most promising prospects in the Australian Football League (AFL) landscape. With his unique combination of athleticism, strength, and on-ball skills, he has the potential to redefine the role of rucks in the game. Over the past decade, the position has evolved significantly, shifting from height-first, skill-second players who primarily served midfielders to a more athletic and versatile type of player. This transformation has been further accelerated by recent rule changes.
Van Hattum has consistently emphasized his desire to prove that rucks can be impactful beyond just contesting marks. “I just want to show that I can impact after a ruck contest,” he said. “I can become another on-baller so I want to show my ability to do that and my follow-up.”
His development in this area has been notable over the past few years, with improvements in his follow-up and kicking abilities. He hopes these traits will continue to develop as he progresses through the ranks.
Changing Trends in Draft Selection
In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in how clubs approach the draft. Last year’s National Draft saw no pure rucks selected, and rucks have tended to fall down the order in recent times. Instead, teams have favored ball-winning midfielders, small forwards, and key-position talents, as these roles have proven to be effective in securing premierships.
However, Van Hattum’s skillset is compelling enough to suggest he could be picked in the top five, potentially becoming the first open pool player selected. His physicality, combined with his athleticism and versatility, sets him apart from many of his peers.
A Strategic Move for Richmond
Richmond is expected to hold the number one pick, and they may look to target Van Hattum after placing bids on club-tied talents like Cody Walker and Dougie Cochrane. With Toby Nankervis likely to retire after the 2027 season, and neither Samson Ryan nor Ollie Hayes-Brown inspiring confidence as long-term ruck options, the Tigers are in need of a reliable replacement.
The team has already built a strong core of young midfielders, including Sam Grlj, Sam Lalor, Sam Cumming, Taj Hotton, and Josh Smillie. However, they still lack a ruck in a similar age demographic, making Van Hattum an attractive prospect.
Athletic Ability and Coaching Influence
Van Hattum’s physical attributes are impressive, with the best running vertical jump of any Victorian prospect this year at 103cm. This, combined with his strength, allows him to gain first-hand possession in ruck contests and marking situations.
Coached by Anthony Rocca at the Northern Knights, Van Hattum has learned to harness his tools effectively. “Having ‘Pebs’ (Anthony Rocca) there for our forward craft and ruck work has been unreal for me,” he said. “I’m fortunate to have learned off him in the last three or four years.”
He has also benefited from coaching by Chad Wingard, Joel Selwood, and Tarkyn Lockyer at the AFL Academy. His teammates have praised his humility and dedication to improvement throughout the program, which included a camp in New Zealand.
Role Models and Adaptability
Van Hattum models his ruck craft after Melbourne legend Max Gawn and his forward craft on Western Bulldogs star Sam Darcy. His reach and leap make him well-suited to the new ruck rule changes, which emphasize versatility and adaptability.
“I’ve been working on my gut-running and with the new rules, there will be less boundary throw-ins so you have to be more versatile as a ruck with these new rules,” he explained. “My running ability is developing well and my style of ruck is to run and jump so I’ve loved the new rules.”
Performance and Future Prospects
Van Hattum had a standout performance in his first game of 2026, combining 19 disposals with 20 hitouts and two goals. However, a minor quad injury sustained during training sidelined him for a fortnight before the AFL Academy game.
Despite this setback, he remains one of the top open-pool prospects in the first AFL Draft Power Rankings of 2025. He is widely regarded as one of the top talents in the crop, alongside Geelong’s Noah Williams, Sandringham pair Gus Teixeira and Arki Butler, South Australian Gabriel Patterson, and Gippslander Marlon Neocleous.
Van Hattum was one of four rucks in the AFL Academy and enjoyed the opportunity to exchange notes with his contemporaries. “I definitely want to go as high as possible,” he said. “There is a lot of boys like Ethan Herbert and Benji (Van Rooyen) that have been good to learn off and having Lewis at Northern Knights is awesome.”
