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
6. 7th - Port Adelaide
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.ย
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.ย
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.
10th best backline in the AFL ?! lol
Lot of people eating their hats over the Cats this year