RUCKMAN Mark Jamar says it will be “pretty special” representing Melbourne in the Anzac Day eve clash against Richmond at the MCG.

In the club’s only Friday night game for the year, Jamar said the players were “pumped” for the important match.  

“Melbourne and Richmond have had a lot of good battles over the years and I reckon there is a genuine rivalry there,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“It’ll be good to go out there and have a red hot crack on Friday night.”

Jamar, who has started the season in good form, said he was simply playing his part for the team.

“I’ve just been doing my job,” he said.

“I’ve been trying to play the way the team needs me to play.

“That could vary game to game, but I’m just trying to go out there and carry out Roosy’s instructions, along with giving the boys first use in the middle – that’s my priority.”

Jamar said the combination of one ruck with a tall forward/pinch-hitting ruckman was working well early in the year.

The club has the likes of Jake Spencer and Max Gawn waiting in the wings, plus talls such as Sam Frost, Chris Dawes and Cam Pedersen capable of pinch-hitting in the ruck.  

Jamar said it crucial to have a mixture of ruckmen and versatile talls capable of competing in the ruck.

“Sam Frost went down in the game early last week and that’s when Dawesy (Chris Dawes) had to step in and do a bit more in the ruck than he would’ve liked, but to his credit, he did a fantastic job,” he said.

“It’s testament to our ruck coach Greg Stafford, who has done a lot of work with the rucks and the forward line guys as well, who know they have to pinch-hit in the ruck as well.

“Dawesy did a lot of ruck technique [practice] over the pre-season and the early part of this year, so if someone goes down or isn’t available to play – then there are guys who can give us a chop out in the ruck. It’s a great position to be in.

“The ruckmen we’ve got can also go forward, so we’ve got some versatility there now, which is good.”