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.

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Fremantle

Stephen O'Reilly โ€“ 1995-1999 (98 games)

After a brief stint as a Cat, O'Reilly returned home across the Nullarbor for Fremantle's inaugural season.

At 195 centimetres and an even 100 kilograms, O'Reilly's measurements befitted that of a prototypical full back.

Tasked with leading a severely inexperienced backline in the club's early days, O'Reilly was named the Fremantle's best and fairest in 1996.

Despite this early success, injury hampered the defender's remaining days as a Docker before he eventually finished his career with Carlton in acrimonious circumstances.

Luke McPharlin โ€“ 2002-2015 (244 games)

Should you make a case for Luke McPharlin being named as Fremantle's best defender in their short history, you are unlikely to hear much logical rebuttal.

After being traded to Fremantle, along with Trent Croad, as part of the deal that saw Luke Hodge become a Hawk, McPharlin's early days in Perth were injury plagued.

When he did eventually get on the park, he never looked back and became the purple haze's main stopper for the next 14 seasons.

The no frills defender's career highlights included an All-Australian selection, Fremantle life membership and a car for his 2005 Mark of the Year.

Luke Ryan โ€“ 2017-Present (51 games)

Of the current day crop of Freo stoppers, Luke Ryan's name has to be top of the list.

After failing to be drafted as an 18-year-old, Ryan spent time in the VFL with Coburg before finally being recruited as a mature ager.

Like Moore at Collingwood, 2020 proved to be Ryan's break out year, with the renowned interceptor being named as Fremantle's best and fairest player, as well as in the back pocket of the All-Australian team.

Having averaged 18.5 disposals, 6.5 rebound 50s and 5.1 marks per game, both awards were well and truly deserved.

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