Forwards win memberships and defenders win Premierships, the old adage goes.

The men at the back are not only integral in keeping opposition scores down, they also provide the first line of attack.

In the AFL era, 1990 until the present day, plenty of players have called the defensive fifty home. Many of this aforementioned group have also retired champions of the game, or at least look set to.

With the off-season slowly creeping to a close, we here at Zero Hanger have attempted to create a list of every club's best three defenders that never played together.

However, there are four rules to this exercise.

1. Three players must be selected from each club.
2. Even if they have played for multiple clubs, no player can be selected on the list of two teams.
3. All players must have played at least a portion of their careers from 1990 onwards.
4. As mentioned, no player can have played an in-season match with any of their colleagues.

For example, should Glenn Archer be selected for North Melbourne, then all of his backline buddies between 1992 and 2007 become ineligible.

With that in mind, here is our best stab.

Let us know how we have gone and which clubs you feel have fared best.

Back
Next

Collingwood

Craig Kelly – 1989-1996 (122 games)

After 121 games in the SANFL, Craig ‘Ned' Kelly crossed over to Collingwood for the 1989 season.

Renowned for his rough and tumble play, it did not take Kelly long to stamp his authority when he decked Dermott Brereton in his first game in black and white – an unofficial exhibition game in Canada.

Standing at 190 centimetres and tipping the scales at 100 kilograms, Kelly was an imposing presence at full back across his eight seasons in the big league.

James Clement – 2001-2007 (146 games)

To many, James Clement often flew under the radar. To his Collingwood teammates and their parochial fanbase, he was a key defensive pillar in an era that almost brought Grand Final glory.

After shipping out from the Dockers after the 2000 season, Clement landed in Collingwood's back fifty and stayed there for seven years.

Despite standing shorter than some of his opponents, Clement's intercept marking, in tandem with his elite rebounding and foot skills, saw him twice named and All-Australian and as the Magpies' best and fairest player.

Darcy Moore – 2015-Present (89 games)

Despite initially being selected as a forward with a top ten Draft pick, Moore has more than made a name for himself in defense.

The son of a gun's annus mirabilis came just last season having averaged 8.1 kicks, 4.8 marks and 3.6 rebound 50s.

Due to this standout stat line, Moore was named at centre half-back in the 2020 All-Australian team.

With the aforementioned representative selection and his ability to rack up intercept marks, like Andrews, we have yet to see the best of Moore.

Back
Next