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 12 through 7.
PART I: BACKLINE RANKINGS 18-13
Core personnel: Jordan Ridley, Ben McKay, Mason Redman, Zach Reid, Jayden Laverde, Jake Kelly, Dyson Heppell, Andrew McGrath, Nic Martin, Nick Hind
The Bombers have chopped and changed their defensive structure ahead of the 2024 season, with their off-season headline by the acquisition of restricted free agent Ben McKay from North Melbourne.
McKay's move to Tullamarine came in the same window as Brandon Zerk-Thatcher's departure to Port Adelaide, with key defensive duo Jayden Laverde and Jordan Ridley set to hold down their roles as supporting lockdown and intercept options respectively.
The senior trio will be hoping to find some competition at selection from former top ten draft selection Zach Reid this season, with the young Bombers backman looking to get a clean run in 2024 after a few seasons mostly spent on the sidelines.
Fiery stopper Mason Redman can also play tall, but it's his explosiveness and long-range accuracy that he prides himself on. Nick Hind can also provide some dash out of defence, with Andrew McGrath and Dyson Heppell looking to be the cool heads on the last line.
Wingman Nic Martin has been floated as a defensive option for the year ahead, with the attacking Western Australian emerging as a potential game changer for Brad Scott.
The Bombers conceded the fourth most inside 50s in 2023, seeing them sit equally as high in the league for opponent goals scored. With their defensive efforts a key point of discussion this pre-season, we'll see what Scott is able to turn in his favour.
Core personnel: Liam Jones, James O'Donnell, Ryan Gardner, Alex Keath, Bailey Dale, Caleb Daniel, Ed Richards, Bailey Williams, Jason Johannisen, Taylor Duryea
The return of Liam Jones in 2023 went a long way in the Dogs remaining in the finals chase until the end of last season, with his dual ability to lockdown star forwards and intercept across packs a much-needed addition to Luke Beveridge's side.
The Bulldogs have struggled to narrow down their key defensive options in recent years, with Alex Keath, Ryan Gardner, James O'Donnell, Josh Bruce, Tim O'Brien, Buku Khamis and Sam Darcy all utilised in the backline.
Gardner has strengthened his case with each passing season, only for injuries to interrupt his second chance in the AFL so far, but it's category B rookie O'Donnell who has taken significant steps in a short time at the Kennel.
The athletic backman looks to have plenty of upside as a bargain recruit, slotting in nicely with Jones and potentially a third piece in one of Gardner, Keath or Darcy.
The Dogs aren't short on their attacking options, with forward-turned-defender Bailey Dale has developed nicely into his rebounding role and could find himself further up the field, much like Caleb Daniel or Ed Richards.
Core personnel: Tom Stewart, Sam De Koning, Jack Henry, Zach Guthrie, Jake Kolodjashnij, Mitch Duncan, Mark O'Connor, Jed Bews, Jack Bowes
Tom Stewart and Jack Henry, aided by burgeoning pair Sam De Koning and Zach Guthrie, will hold the Cats in fine stead going forward.
The 2022 premiers can rely on a number of flexible field options as part of Chris Scott's rearguard, with All-Australian Mark Blicavs able to drift across all three lines while Henry is a viable swingman and aerial threat at either end.
They have solid ground-ball defenders in Jed Bews, Mark O'Connor and veteran Zach Tuohy, while senior midfielder Mitch Duncan and second-year Cat Jack Bowes can both drift into the defensive third to give their side the need depth.
However, it wasn't smooth sailing for Geelong defensively last year. The Cats ranked second-worst last season in conceding shots at goal per inside 50, allowing an attempt at the big sticks 50.4 per cent of times the ball went inside; a figure that rated marginally better than West Coast's 56.4.
Core personnel: Dane Rampe, Tom McCartin, Aaron Francis, Lewis Melican, Joel Hamling, Nick Blakey, Jake Lloyd, Oliver Florent, Harry Cunningham, Braeden Campbell
Perhaps the weaker of the Swans' thirds of the field, John Longmire's defence has long battled with undersized and undermanned options - through either list limits or injuries.
The unfortunate departure of Paddy McCartin re-opens a void deep in the Swans' backline - one that was filled by the brilliant addition of the former No.1 pick.
His brother, Tom, is emerging into one of the premier lockdown defenders in the game, but support around him hasn't been present on a consistent basis.
Veteran Dane Rampe has helped to hold down the fort for the past decade, but further help from either Lewis Melican, Joel Hamling, Aaron Francis or free agency recruit Joel Hamling will be needed in 2024.
Nick Blakey can play tall but is better suited to his run and kicking game that placed him in All-Australian contention last year, while more dash can be found with incumbents Jake Lloyd, Harry Cunningham, Ollie Florent and part-time midfielder Braeden Campbell.
Core personnel: Callum Wilkie, Josh Battle, Zaine Cordy, Dougal Howard, Jack Sinclair, Hunter Clark*, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Liam Stocker, Jimmy Webster
Callum ‘The Accountant' Wilkie has been a defending revelation since stamping his Moorabbin arrival, while Battle and Cordy have provided ample key-position support.
Last off-season's Liam Stocker acquisition has also proved a recruiting success, while Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera continues his ascension.
Josh Battle has continued to thrive as a backman after slotting into lockdown role, while the services of Dougal Howard, Hunter Clark and Jimmy Webster all come as great support.
It would be remiss of us not to mention two-time best and fairest Jack Sinclair, who finds himself as arguably the best half-back accumulator in the league, banking on his smart decision making and link-breaking to benefit his side.
The Saints ranked third-best in the AFL last season in average goals allowed (10.4) and fourth-best in scoring shots conceded per inside-50 rate (46.0 per cent), demonstrating their stinginess as a unit in 2023.
They were also one of the worst clubs for opposition disposals, however the stingy defence under Ross Lyon still saw the Saints concede the fewest points for the home and away season.
Core personnel: Aliir Aliir, Daniel Houston, Esava Ratugolea, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Trent McKenzie, Dylan Williams, Miles Bergman, Ryan Burton, Lachlan Jones, Kane Farrell
A period of adjustment should be the expectation at Alberton early in the year as Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher ingratiate themselves.
Success likely won't be immediate as the club aims to cultivate a winning formula, with mainstays Aliir Aliir, Dan Houston and Miles Bergman likely to lead from the front for Ken Hinkley's brigade as the aforementioned pair find their feet.
Hinkley will be buoyed by the youthful exuberance that comes from the likes of Bergman, Lachie Jones, Ryan Burton, Kane Farrell and Dylan Williams, who are set to shape the Power's backline for the years to come.
With their attacking until made up with a nice balance of both young and old key pieces, and their midfield brimming with star midfield talent, if the Power's backline can hold its own in 2024 then the South Australian club will be a feature late into September.