The midfield is the engine room of a football club, where star players will their team to victory and where most accolades are won.
Midfielders Nick Daicos, Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli, and Lachie Neale are the poster men for the competition, with their video game stats each week taking the AFL world by storm.
Ordering each club 18-1 is a difficult task given each club's midfield is littered with talent, with numerous players vying for an All-Australian selection each year despite only three traditional midfield spots up for grabs for the entire competition.
Yet, here at Zero Hanger, we've attempted the challenge of ranking the best midfields in the league, with this first instalment revealing the bottom six clubs, 18th through 13th.
5. (14th) Adelaide
While the Crows were a top eight clearance side in 2024, the shovelling efforts by their leading clearance-getters Matt Crouch and Rory Laird did not lead to a finals berth.
The Crows may now look for a different dynamic in 2025 to climb into the eight for the first time since 2017.
Izak Rankine could add the X-factor needed to provide a late-game spark, while Jordan Dawson is a reliable source for accurate kicks inside 50.
Jake Soligo could jump into the mix full-time too, presenting a younger and livelier alternative for the Crows, while GWS recruit James Peatling comes in ready-made.
Mitch Hinge and Lachie Sholl are two that could slot in the wings after solid 2024 seasons, while Reilly O'Brien is tipped to hold his ruck spot again after garnering the most hitouts last year.
Of course, Laird and Crouch could still assume positions in the midfield too, indicating Adelaide's midfield depth and the opportunity for Matthew Nicks to move the magnets and find a winning formula.
The begging question remains on whether Adelaide's clearance strength can be capitalised on in 2025, and until that progress is evident the Crows will rank inside the bottom six.
