We've reached the third and final instalment of our AFL midfield rankings ahead of Round 1, with the top six midfield groups revealed to round out our rankings.

Here we identify the best midfield packs from 6th to 1st heading into the 2023 season following the first two parts of our rankings series.

SEE: PART I AND PART II OF OUR MIDFIELD RANKINGS

4. Carlton

The Blues have built a star-studded midfield group over the years after looking to find greater support for skipper Patrick Cripps.

The selection of former No.1 pick Sam Walsh was among the first steps the Blues took in their pursuit to aid Cripps' workload, with the Geelong Falcons jet quickly emerging as a star that may very well rival his skipper as the club's best ball winner.

Working in tandem, Cripps and Walsh both bring two halves of the perfect onballer, with the pair's respective strength and endurance giving Carlton a tantalising two-headed dragon.

2021's off-season was very profitable for the Blues too, with the arrivals George Hewett and Adam Cerra immediately adding further layers to Carlton's midfield plans.

Hewett was a standout in his first season with Carlton last year, proving to be an elite inside midfielder that offers plenty on the defensive end.

Cerra's first year back in Victoria was hampered by injury, but the ex-Docker has plenty of time on his side to reach his full potential as a top five draft pick.

Matt Kennedy is in a similar boat and looked to gain the most from some extra competition last year, seeing his key midfield metrics take a big leap in 2022.

Blake Acres, another ex-Fremantle midfielder, utilised the recent trade window to seek a move to Princes Park, with Michael Voss able to add some much-needed run on the outside of his engine room.

Acres enjoyed a career-best season in 2022 and will slot onto one wing spot, while the other flank position remains up for grabs. Both Lochie O'Brien and Matt Cottrell did enough last year to prove themselves as formidable options, while first-round draftee Oliver Hollands will be in the mix to pair with Acres.

Carlton do face a selection conundrum when it comes to their ruck system too, with senior big man Marc Pittonet gaining more and more competition from developing tall Tom De Konning ahead of the new season.

De Koning has continued to work on his development as a ruck-forward utility and could look to take on the first-string ruck duties from Pittonet, a move that was required last year given the latter's battle with injury.