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 are the top six rearguards in the competition.
*Denotes a currently injured player
1. Brisbane Lions
Core personnel: Harris Andrews, Brandon Starcevich, Tom Doedee*, Jack Payne, Keidean Coleman, Conor McKenna, Darcy Wilmot, Dayne Zorko, Ryan Lester
Coleman's continued progression this season is a storyline worth monitoring. The second-place finisher in last year's Norm Smith Medal count is poised to transition to bonafide stardom, having already showcased his mesmerising foot skills and speed exiting defensive 50.
Further aiding Brisbane's defensive cause this season โ once he's healthy โ is ex-Adelaide recruit Tom Doedee, who continues his recovery from an ACL rupture. His imminent link-up with Andrews, Starcevich and Payne spells problems for opposing attacks.
Interspersed between are the speedy likes of McKenna and Wilmot, as well as veterans in Zorko and Lester, providing Chris Fagan with a smorgasbord of options behind the ball.
ย
