Zero Hanger's final rankings of every AFL team's midfield are here, revealing the top six clubs in the competition.
Each club listed has an abundance of talent across all positions in the centre square, with game-breaking stars who can lift their team to victory when the moment calls as well as role players who play their part to perfection.
In the toughest rankings yet, we've undertaken the challenge of ordering the league's best midfield groups sixth through first.
TEAMS 18-13:ย Every AFL team's midfield ranked: Part 1
TEAMS 12-7: Every AFL team's midfield ranked: Part 2
So who should your club be afraid of seeing at the first bounce this season? Here are Zero Hanger's top midfield sides in the AFL...
4. (4th) Carlton
Carlton slightly edges out Fremantle in the rankings purely off 2024's ladder position, as both clubs had near identical clearances and inside 50s per game to go along with their stacked midfield.
Of course, Carlton boasts perhaps the best midfielder in the competition in Patrick Cripps. A record-setting Brownlow medal win made him just the 13th dual winner in V/AFL history last season, whilst averaging the most clearances and contested possessions.
Joining him at the centre bounce is a star in his own right Sam Walsh, whose full potential is still yet to be seen due to unfortunate injury setbacks. The 24-year-old has averaged over 28 disposals per game for the last four seasons and recorded a career-high tackle average in 2024 with 6.8 per game.
Fresh off a five-year deal, Adam Cerra will be hoping to avoid any more injury and hold a consistent spot in the midfield too, while Sam Docherty, Blake Acres and Elijah Hollands can all run through the wing.
Cooper Lord and George Hewett add extra depth in case one of the aforementioned becomes unavailable too.
And then there's the fact Carlton bargained their way to landing Pick 3 in the National Draft, which turned into a formerly-touted Pick 1 prospect Jagga Smith, who should almost immediately become a key part of the Blues' midfield.
The question remains, as it has for a number of years, if Carlton can turn their superstar list into on-field results.
On paper, Carlton's midfield is formidable, and arguably the best, but we'll have to wait and see if the Blues can turn their "pre-season premiers" stereotype into AFL premiers in September.