We're up to Part II in our 2023 AFL midfield rankings, with the next six teams assessed and ranked ahead of the new season.
Across three instalments we'll rank each AFL club's midfield list, breaking down the competition in thirds.
Here is Part II of our midfield rankings, covering 12th to 7th.
SEE PART I OF OUR MIDFIELD RANKINGS.
6. (7th) Fremantle
Fremantle could leave dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe in the forward line for every minute of the 2023 season and their midfield is still well-placed to lead them back into the finals picture despite losing veteran David Mundy to retirement.
The changing of the guard has been effortless at Cockburn, with the long-standing duo of Fyfe and Mundy now succeeded by star pair Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong.
Brayshaw, who took out the AFLPA MVP Award in 2022, is ready to take the next step in his career as a top-echelon onballer, while Serong is primed to follow a similar path as prepares for his fourth season in purple.
The duo were stellar in leading the way for Justin Longmuir last year, with some plaudits also needing to go toward recruit Will Brodie, who was arguably the pick-up of the year.
Brodie ranked top 10 in the AFL for clearances, disposals and contested possessions in 2022 to be the third prong in Fremantle's midfield group to help steer the WA side to September.
Fyfe will still get a strong run through the middle this year but will find minutes harder to come by as third-club midfielder Jaeger O'Meara joins the depth chart.
The former Hawk and Sun is a shred pickup for the Dockers and will bring some formidable midfield traits to Longmuir's planning for 2023.
The Dockers also have a handful of young names looking to make the leap this year, with Nathan O'Driscoll, Neil Erasmus and Matt Johnson also pressing their cases heading into 2023.
All three neophytes will be fighting for the wing vacancy made by Blake Acres' departure, while James Aish is likely to command the other wing spot.
Liam Henry will also have an eye on more impact through the middle, as will fellow forward Sam Switkowski.
Despite losing Rory Lobb and Lloyd Meek, the Dockers' ruck plans won't be hindered too significantly after the club added Luke Jackson from Melbourne.
Set to assist Sean Darcy while also rotating in attack, Jackson is yet another star on the rise that will pull on purple this year. It just so happens he'll assist Darcy, who could be in for a breakout campaign of his own in 2023.
