Midfields are as star-studded as it gets in the AFL, with even the mid-table teams boasting firepower and genuine All-Australian talent.
It could be on the wing or in the ruck, or simply the classic contested ball-winner, but each AFL club undoubtedly owns a star in the middle of the ground.
So where does your club rank across all teams in the competition? Do they have the depth across all positions to be the best in the league, or have last year's results proven their ability?
TEAMS 18-13: Every AFL team's midfield ranked: Part 1
In the second edition of Zero Hanger's midfield rankings, we've undertaken the challenge of ordering teams placed 12th through seventh, with each club potentially missing just that last piece to be considered one of the best in the competition.
3. (10th) Gold Coast
Similarly to GWS, Gold Coast have firepower in the middle but they lack the depth beyond that to excel.
It does seem unjust to rank Gold Coast 11th despite the superstar trio of Matt Rowell, Touk Miller and Noah Anderson. Rowell ranked first in the league for tackles per game, averaging a whopping eight each match, and third for contested possessions. Anderson ranked third in the league for inside 50s per game, while Miller averaged the 21st most disposals at 26.3 per game.
But beyond the stars, there is a vast void of replacements should one become unavailable during the season. Sam Flanders flourished in 2024 with Touk Miller sidelined through injury, averaging over 30 disposals per game, but past him, there is hardly a strong ready-made option.
Nick Holman will turn 30 halfway through this season, while Bailey Humphrey, Alex Davies and Will Graham have played under 50 games.
Sam Clohesy, Lachie Weller, and Brayden Fiorini are valuable wingmen but have yet to reach or failed to reach the level of a star player, and although Leo Lombard could storm in immediately, the fruits of his potential are unlikely to be on full display in his first year.
Likewise to the Giants, Gold Coast are ineffective ball-users. In the entire AFL, Gold Coast hold the rights to two of the top three turnover players in the competition, with Anderson and Miller ranking second and third.
Additionally, the Suns are a surprisingly poor clearance side, ranked 13th, despite the contested prowess of their star trio.
However, the Suns can hang their hat on their ruck stocks. Jarrod Witts remains the main ruck, and for good reason, but patiently biding his time is Ned Moyle who could become a star in his own right.
With a healthy year for their stars and the emergence of young talent, Gold Coast could transform their mediocre output from 2024 into a surge for a maiden finals berth. Yet, they may have to uncover a diamond in the rough should their trio of weapons fall unavailable.
