Tuck initially played as a full forward and the understudy to the great Peter Hudson, kicking 63 goals in the VFL Reserves in 1971.
In the following years Tuck was tried as a winger and defender before in 1974 finding his true niche as a ruck-rover and firmly establishing himself in the Hawthorn senior side.
With Don Scott and Leigh Matthews, Tuck came to form a following combination feared by every other VFL club and a crucial role in Hawthorn's 1976 and 1978 premierships.
Depending on the viewpoint taken: As of 2022, Tuck's total of 437 career senior games (using the AFL/VFL's total) ranks seventh behind Bradley (501), Peter Carey (467), Greg Phillips (447), Russell Ebert (446), Harvey (445) and Burgoyne (438), while the overall total of 466 career senior games ranks fourth (if International Rules matches are excluded) behind Bradley (519), Harvey (480) and Carey, or fifth (if International Rules matches are included) behind Bradley (528), Harvey (491) and Carey and Burgoyne (equal on 467).
Team Individual Tuck was a skinny ruck-rover with great stamina as evidenced by the length of his career.
Tuck briefly served as a reserves coach at Geelong, under former Hawks teammate Gary Ayres.