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.
6. (13th) Adelaide
The Crows' top line of midfielders is desirable, with Rory Laird, Jordan Dawson, Ben Keays and Sam Berry each bringing their own unique traits and strengths to the centre of the field.
For the umpteenth season, Laird will be the workhorse in midfield for Adelaide as he continues to solidify himself as a premier ball-winner in the competition.
Keays has emerged as a valuable asset alongside Laird across the past two seasons, while Berry has adopted Laird's old role as the defensive juggernaut among the roving pack.
Dawson looks likely to be used on the wing if he's not positioned at half-back, with the former Swan also able to slot into the centre with ease if required.
From there though Adelaide's midfield depth chart does descend sharply, with senior pair Rory Sloane and Matt Crouch not seen as certain starters for Matthew Nicks heading into 2023.
In their place will be a bevy of players still honing their craft at the elite level in Jake Soligo and Harry Schoenberg, while Jackson Hately and Lachlan Sholl will be wanting to show their value this year.
SSP recruit and ex-Collingwood father-son pick Tyler Brown will be looking to redeem himself after being cut from the Magpies, potentially slotting into the wing void made absent by Paul Seedsman for this year.
Mitch Hinge will be in his way for an outside midfielder role - a position the likes of Patrick Parnell and Ned McHenry could also be in contention for.
You can also expect forward pair Josh Rachele and Izak Rankine to be run through midfield to form a lethal one-two punch across the attacking half of the field.
Reilly O'Brien is likely to continue in his position as the leading ruck option but will be feeling the heat from former Pick 2 selection Riley Thilthorpe this year.
Those two could combine to form a nice rotation for Matthew Nicks between the middle and his attacking 50 plans.
