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...
3. (3rd) Western Bulldogs
The margins between the next three clubs get even tighter as we hit the teams with the greatest depth.
Beginning with the Bulldogs, beyond the stardom of Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore and Adam Treloar are role players surrounding the poster men of the club who contribute significantly and are heavily appreciated inside the club's four walls.
Let's not quickly brush past the core trio though. Bontempelli is one of the AFL's outright best midfielders, with his ability to hit the scoreboard as well as dictate play with his possessions. He may not average over 30 disposals week in, week out, but each possession he has is effective and influences the game.
Treloar took his career to new heights in 2024 with a maiden All-Australian selection after averaging 31.5 disposals and punting 16 goals, while Liberatore averaged the second-most clearances in the entire league.
In addition, following the three stars is a brigade of reliable sources to rotate through the middle.
Ed Richards increased his influence despite averaging identical disposal figures, recording three more inside 50s, two more tackles and two more contested possessions per game as he transitioned into more midfield minutes. He finished the season fifth for centre bounce attendances at the Bulldogs, behind only the main trio and ruckman Tim English.
Bailey Williams is another welcome addition to the lineup, playing in every game and owning a spot on the wing in 2024.
First-year midfielder Ryley Sanders presented as an early Rising Star candidate and played consistently in his debut season, while Caleb Poulter, Harvey Gallagher, Oskar Baker and draftee Cooper Hynes are all solid depth options currently.
The ruck stocks are plentiful at the Kennel too, with English holding the main spot, but the 27-year-old has the ability to rotate with the likes of Sam Darcy and Rory Lobb throughout matches.
While the Bulldogs did let Bailey Smith and Jack Macrae walk in the trade period, Matthew Kennedy's inclusion assists in ensuring their depth remains, with Kennedy able to play inside the centre square or station down in the forward line.
The Bulldogs were one of the strongest midfield sides in 2024, ranked second for clearances and first for inside 50s. The Dogs also ranked second for scores from stoppages, indicating how damaging their midfielders are.
One factor that sees the Bulldogs fall just short of the number one ranking is their inability to capitalise on their talent with on-field performances, as they head into yet another season with pressure to achieve the potential of their pre-season hype.
