Noted to be where the game is won or lost, the midfield is a crucial element in the AFL that each side will look to perfect.
In search of finding the right balance of offensive flourish and defensive accountability, each side's engine room is often where the star names and key players ply their trade.
The middle of the field is often the birthplace for Brownlow Medal winners, with the best accumulators going toe-to-toe when the ball hits the deck.
With all 18 AFL clubs having planned to perfect their midfield across the past months, we put each club's central contingent under the microscope and rank them from 18th best down to 1st.
Here is Part I of our midfield rankings, covering 18th to 13th.
1. (18th) Hawthorn
It may only be a matter of years until we see Hawthorn's engine room humming to the tune of a top-tier ensemble within midfield, but for Sam Mitchell's earliest years as senior coach he'll be leading a youthful and inexperienced contingent in the centre of the field.
Made evident by the reliance on headlining ball-winner and 21-year-old Jai Newcombe, Hawthorn's midfield pack is equally exciting and underdone, with their potential and promise arguably among the highest in the AFL,
Joining Newcombe in midfield will be top 10 draft selections Cameron Mackenzie and Josh Ward, two players that still have the world at their feet and high ceilings, but with the former still uncapped there is plenty left to be understood.
Add sixth-year onballer James Worpel - Hawthorn's most senior midfielder - into the inside mix and the combined games tally for Sam Mitchell's leading four names spits out a total of 122 games between them.
Irishman Conor Nash, outside lockdown threat Finn Maginness and new recruit Karl Amon offer plenty on the periphery of the coalface, while second-year midfield-forward Connor MacDonald will also slot onto a wing as a conduit for Mitchell to consider.
Defender Will Day will also add new life to the Hawks' midfield rotations this year, while Cat-turned-Hawk Cooper Stephens will be looking to flex his pedigree as a former first-round pick.
Like their roving pack, Hawthorn's ruck options are still fledgeling, with Ned Reeves looking to lead the way alongside former fringe Fremantle tall Lloyd Meek in the middle.
The duo are likely to work in tandem as the Hawks meddle with a two-ruck system following Ben McEvoy's retirement.
