Following the nine-part series ranking each AFL club's positional lines, it is time to review each AFL team's list in its entirety and determine which sides can enter 2025 with full confidence in the talent on their list.
While some clubs may be star-studded in one spot, this list will take the entire squad into account, looking into the depth, firepower, and performances in 2024 across all three areas of the field.
Those who have been consistently at the top of the rankings throughout our series will undoubtedly find themselves at the top of the board once again, but those who popped into the top six just once, or those who had a starkly low ranking in comparison to their other results, may find themselves dropped to midtable or below.
RELATED: FORWARD LINE RANKINGS, MIDFIELD RANKINGS, & BACKLINE RANKINGS
So, here is the concluding chapter to Zero Hanger's pre-season list rankings, signifying the best and worst teams on paper for the year ahead.
13. Adelaide
(Backline ranking: 11th; Midfield Ranking: 14th; Forward line ranking: 10th)
The Crows have an up-and-coming list that could put their ranking to shame come the end of the season. However, last year suggested we may have to wait until we buy into the Adelaide hype after a disappointing bottom-four finish.
There are exciting prospects across all three lines: An Izak Rankine move to the midfield, an instant impact from Pick 4 Sid Draper, a breakout year for Riley Thilthorpe, and a coming-of-age backline including Max Michalanney, Luke Nankervis and Nick Murray are all tantalising thoughts for Adelaide fans.
Although, all of these thoughts were promising indicators that suggested Adelaide would be in the top eight last year (bar Draper, of course, as he had not been drafted).
The West Lakes club ended up finishing 15th, instead of ascending into September action for the first time since 2017.
Their draft and trade haul will be influential, however, with James Peatling, Isaac Cumming and Alex Neal-Bullen sure to make an immediate impact. So while buying into the Crows hype is risky, their list additions could be the key to seeing their potential come to fruition in 2025.
