The AFL’s best one-on-one defenders revealed

2024 could be the year Carlton defender Jacob Weitering's measurements for an All-Australian blazer are finally sorted, with the Blues stopper currently the game's No.1 backman for one-on-one contests.

Among the top 50 defenders for contested defensive one-on-one (CDOOOs) matchups faced this season, the four-time All-Australian squad member has the lowest losing rate - going at just 7.5%.

Weitering has lost just four of his 53 CDOOOs in 2024, being one of just three defenders who have faced at least 24 contests to have fewer than five defeats.

The Blues vice-captain had the lowest CDOOO loss rate (10.9%) last year among the top 50 for recorded contests but fell short of an All-Australian selection, with his increased efforts this season potentially bearing more fruit.

GWS defender Connor Idun has equalled Weitering's tally of losses with four but has faced nine fewer CDOOOs to have a loss rate of 9.5%, placing him second behind the Blues star. Like Weitering's reign last year, Idun finished 2023 with the second-lowest loss rate, coming in at 12.1%.

St Kilda's Dougal Howard has lost just four of his 24 contests, equating to a loss rate of 16.7%, which is the eighth lowest among the top 50.

Idun sits second to Weitering for CDOO loss rate, with Howard's teammate Callum Wilkie rounding out the podium on 12.5% - having lost six of his 48 one-on-one contests so far this season.

Melbourne veteran Steven May (13.5%, 5 losses/37 contests), Gold Coast backman Sam Collins (13.8%, 9/65) and Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews (14.7%, 11/75) make up the rest of the top six.

Only GWS-tall Jack Buckley has faced more CDOOOs than Andrews in 2024, recording a total of 76 and 24 defeats for a loss rate of 31.6%. Buckley faced the most in 2023 also, going up against his direct opponent on 126 occasions last year.

Richmond's Ben Miller (64 CDOOOs) and Essendon recruit Ben McKay (55) rank in the top five for the most contests faced, with Miller also ranking in the top 10 for lowest loss rates with 15.6%.

North Melbourne makeshift defender Charlie Comben ranks last for loss rate among the top 50 for CDOOOs faced, managing to prevent his opponent from winning 13 of his 28 contests for a rate of 46.4%.

Essendon's Jake Kelly and Tiger Tylar Young feature alongside Comben as the bottom three names, with the duo both losing 10 of their 24 CDOOOs this season, a rate of 41.7%.