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.
6. (13th) North Melbourne
Is this the year the Kangaroos take the leap?
North drafted yet another midfielder first up in Finn O'Sullivan, adding to their plethora of talent in the middle.
Although the midfield crop is young and raw, the likes of Harry Sheezel and George Wardlaw have gained valuable experience as teenagers and have the potential to explode in 2025.
Luke Davies-Uniacke may be the oldest of the lot but even he is just 25, playing an instrumental role in guiding the youth through the midfield contest. Colby McKercher and Bailey Scott are two more weapons that can play along the wing too, and Jy Simpkin can also filter in and play a role.
Lastly, factor in the breakout season of ruckman Tristan Xerri who earned an All-Australian squad nomination, and the Roos' team on paper is frightening.
The Kangaroos saw their potential begin to come to fruition in 2024 as they sat tenth for clearances per game, however, their last-placed inside 50s per game ranking indicated their efficiency in the midfield following the clearance was subpar.
The Roos midfield contains a multitude of untapped potential and a breakout season from a couple of young stars may be the key to ascending the ladder in 2025.
