Glorifying theย 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 asย Darcy Moore,ย Harris Andrews,ย Brayden Maynard,ย Brandon Starcevich,ย Isaac Quaynorย andย 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 everyย AFL club's backline from worst to first. Here's 12 through 7.

PART I: BACKLINE RANKINGS 18-13

5. 8th - St Kilda

Core personnel: Callum Wilkie, Josh Battle, Zaine Cordy, Dougal Howard, Jack Sinclair, Hunter Clark*, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Liam Stocker, Jimmy Webster

Callum โ€˜The Accountant' Wilkie has been a defending revelation since stamping his Moorabbin arrival, while Battle and Cordy have provided ample key-position support.ย 

Last off-season's Liam Stocker acquisition has also proved a recruiting success, while Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera continues his ascension.ย 

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.

Jack Sinclair during the 2022 AFL Round 1 match between St Kilda and Collingwood (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

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.ย 

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.

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