Glorifying the AFL's ball-winners and goalkickers is commonplace across the footballing landscape, but as the age-old adage goes: 'defence wins premierships'.
The club that holds the silverware aloft at the end of a season typically boasts a backline consisting of immovable key defenders, eagle-eyed interceptors and attack-minded flankers.
Last year's grand finalists, for example, each possessed stingy, impregnable defensive units, comprising stars such as Darcy Moore, Harris Andrews, Brayden Maynard, Brandon Starcevich, Isaac Quaynor and Keidean Coleman, among others.
So, taking into account last year's performance, current personnel and injuries, where does each club's defence rank as we prepare to embark on the 2024 season?
We've ranked every AFL club's backline from worst to first. Here's 18 through 13.
*Asterisk denotes a current injury to the player.
5. (14th) Richmond
Core personnel: Dylan Grimes, Tylar Young, Josh Gibcus, Nick Vlastuin, Nathan Broad, Ben Miller, Daniel Rioli, Jayden Short, Sam Banks
Even in its continued decline, this backline still has premiership credentials, as Vlastuin, Grimes, Broad, Rioli and Short remain valuable assets.ย
The long-term outlook for Richmond's defence, though, rests largely on the shoulders of Gibcus โ whose availability this season will be critical in his development after his hamstring ailment cost him all of last season โ and Young, who displayed admirable composure and one-on-one nous during his 19-game maiden campaign.ย
Then there's the predicament regarding Noah Balta, whose apparent transition back to the forward line leaves a substantial opening in defence.ย
Further, Grimes is likely embarking on his final AFL campaign, and Vlastuin and Broad are each a year older.
