The ruckman, when under pressure or losing the hit outs, attempts to direct the ball into the defensive area. If the players in that area win the ball they can kick quickly into the forwardline or if under pressure have the safety of the boundary line to force another throw in. If the opposition win the ball in this area then they are not in a favourable position to open up their forwardline and can be put under pressure and forced out of bounds.
The centreman must not over-commit to the ruck contest and allow the opposition to switch play through the corridor that he should be protecting.
Reproduced from ‘Secrets of the Modern Ruckman’ compiled by Simon Madden and Darren Flanigan
Don’t overplay the metaphor
when you are tired or weak,
Don’t analyse when feelings yet
would give you what you seek.
Question if that’s what you want
but just let life be time,
Don’t always play defensive
Looking at the boundary line.
eleanor j jackson 
surely the creme de menthe of yesterday’s cliches
played hard, done good
I’m glad as hell we aren’t riding. But yes – the menthe.
But a quarter’s a long time in footy. So we’ll see what happens…