Essendon big man Patrick Ryder has continued his rise through the ruck ranks in recent weeks catapulting himself into All Australian contention.

Ryder continues to push his claims for All Australian honours after a stellar season as the club’s first choice ruck man.

The 26-year-old ruck man averages 27 hit outs a game with 17 goals from his 19 games this season.

He said there were many factors that had led to his dominant season in the red and black.

“I suppose a lot of things really – training hard, focusing on a lot of ruck work with Steve Alessio and wanting to get the best out of myself,” Ryder said.

“I have really wanted to influence games and that is what I have been able to do this year.”

With Tom Bellchambers sidelined for the first half of the season Ryder was left to shoulder the majority of the load in the ruck with help from Joe Daniher and Jake Carlisle.

Ryder said he had embraced the extra responsibility since it was thrust upon him in the pre-season.

“It has been unfortunate that Tommy went down in pre-season but I saw that as a role that I had to step up into,” he said.

“I have done that this year and that is what I want to do, be there for the team and provide the best ball use for them out of the ruck during games.”

Ryder has shown his ability to have an impact when moving forward throughout his career and his influence across the forward line has been as evident as ever before this season.

“Every player loves going forward and kicking a goal so I am not going to lie on that one.”

“There is opportunity in games even if you are playing a lot of time in the ruck to push forward.”

“That is what the good ruckman do, they hit the scoreboard and really make their man think about what they are doing so I will be looking at doing that this week as well.”

Into his ninth season Ryder said he was excited about the potential of playing finals this season.

"It is not going to get taken away from us so the boys are excited."

"We don't want to be there to make up the numbers we want to push as deep as we can to come away with something."