The top 10 defenders of the 2022 AFL season

While less celebrated in the AFL, defenders have continued to do the heavy lifting on the last line for little credit in return.

The last several seasons have seen wave after wave of fresh faces stamp their authority as the leading backmen in the competition, with 2022 being no different.

This year's All-Australian back six saw four players earn their maiden blazers, meaning the last four years have included 20 different defenders in the backline.

Geelong, Melbourne and Fremantle ranked as the leading defensive clubs in 2022, with the former's rearguard proving decisive on their way to premiership glory.

Here we rank the top 10 defenders from the 2022 season.

Brennan Cox

A breakout campaign for the Fremantle defender saw Cox named in the All-Australian squad of 40, a just reward after holding a key role in the Dockers' return to the top eight.

After stepping up in the absence of others last year, the South Australian added another fierce edge to Fremantle's rearguard under Justin Longmuir in 2022, adding to an impressive back six which was also comprised of Hayden Young, Alex Pearce and Griffin Logue.

Cox ranked above average among defenders for his disposal count, spoils and intercept-marking averages from his 23 games in purple this season.

Was an asset that flew under the radar in 2022 and could reach new heights next season as the Dockers become more reliant on their tall backs in the absence of Logue.

Adam Saad

The Carlton running machine capped off a career-best campaign with an All-Australian blazer at half-back.

Saad and Sam Docherty combined to form a lethal one-two punch in defence with their running and disposal efficiency out of the backline, with the latter also having a strong case for All-Australian honours.

To best showcase Saad's running dominance in 2022, the former Sun and Bomber recorded 113 bounces for the year, more than double the next best in the AFL.

He also recorded a career-high 21.86 possessions per game, along with 4.71 rebounds 50s to emerge as a two-way threat for Michael Voss.

With the Blues setting their sights on a finals return for 2023, Saad will play an integral part in their hopes of snapping their September-less streak.

Jack Sinclair

After pairing with Saad on the All-Australian half-back-flanks, Saint Jack Sinclair finds himself one spot ahead of the Carlton star in our rankings.

Another backman who enjoyed a career-best campaign in 2022, with Sinclair offering plenty of exciting ball movement out of defence as he began to share his role with the Saints' engine room ensemble.

Sinclair's ball-winning acumen was on show this year, averaging six more disposals per game compared to 2021 while also ranking fourth among defenders for total touches.

With Ross Lyon returning to Moorabbin, it will be intriguing to see what levels St Kilda's defence can reach next year under their new senior coach, with Sinclair and Cal Wilkie - a name unlucky to miss our top 10 - leading the charge.

Sinclair's nine Brownlow votes also saw the pacey Saints defender poll the most votes among defenders in 2022.

Tom Barrass

While the Eagles had arguably the worst season in their existence, defender Tom Barrass was the glimmer of hope on Adam Simpson's last line.

The big-bodied backman was rock solid for West Coast throughout their difficult year, with Barrass being the club's only All-Australian squad selection thanks to a dazzling campaign down back.

Barrass would end his eighth season in the royal blue and gold as the second-best intercept-marking player in the league, recording 72 intercept marks for the year.

His ability to accurately move the ball out of the back third shouldn't go unnoticed either, with Barrass boasting the second-best kicking efficiency among defenders in 2022, moving the ball by foot at a rate of 87.6% (min. 200 kicks).

While the Eagles are set for another few headache-inducing seasons, Barrass will give them some relief for the years to come.

Brayden Maynard

The fiery Magpie put his stamp on the competition this year as Collingwood sky-rocketed back into premiership contention, with many thanks going to Maynard and the rest of the Magpies' backline.

As a collective, Craig McRae's rearguard stood tall to assist the black and white back into the top four and fall a kick short of a grand final berth.

Among the star names from their season was Maynard, who would be Collingwood's only All-Australian selection after a year that was littered with career highs and highlights.

Maynard's ability to contend with both tall and small targets was on show this season, with the South Australian recording the fourth lowest contested one-on-one losing percentage in the league at 18.9% (min. 50 contested one-one-one contests).

The Magpies' backman would also record the second most tackles among defenders, flexing his ability to also cause headaches once the ball hit the deck.

Tom Stewart

An up-and-down season was capped off with a premiership medallion in September for the Cats defender, an honour that adds to a decorated, yet short, career to date for Tom Stewart.

Now a household name at Kardinia Park in just six seasons in the AFL, Stewart adds the premiership crown to his 2021 Carji Greeves Medal and four All-Australian selections, having added another blazer this year.

Stewart again proved to be one of the most lethal defensive players in the AFL on either side of possession, averaging 23.3 disposals, 7.3 marks, 2.8 intercept marks and 4.1 score involvements per game.

The South Barwon product's year was marred by a four-game suspension for a high hit on Tiger Dion Prestia midway through the season. Stewart would eventually put the incident behind him on his way to the premiership.

Stewart firms as a leading option for Geelong to consider for their vacant captaincy from 2023 following the retirement of champion midfielder Joel Selwood.

Darcy Moore

Stunningly, Moore was not considered for even an All-Australian squad selection let alone a place in the final 22.

Across 24 games for Collingwood, Moore was a consistent brick wall in defence after taking on the brunt of the workload in the absence of fellow tall defender Jordan Roughead.

Like the aforementioned Maynard, Moore's role in the defensive third would go a long way in Collingwood's stunning attempt at the flag, with the father-son gun again proving to be a revelation for the Magpies after beginning his career as a forward.

Moore recorded the second-lowest contested one-on-one loss rate in the AFL this year, getting beaten in just 13.3% of his 90 direct contests.

The Oakleigh Chargers product would also record the most intercept marks in the AFL in 2022 with 75 to his name.

James Sicily

Another All-Australian squad member, it's amazing to think Sicily's most recent game before this season came in Round 12, 2020.

After overcoming an ACL injury that saw him miss the entirety of last year, Sicily returned in style to claim his maiden Peter Crimmins Medal as a key piece in Sam Mitchell's first year at the helm.

Sicily would end the year with the most rebounds 50s in the AFL and with the most marks in the league among defenders, recording 179 and 190 respectively.

With the Hawks diving into a deep list rebuild, Sicily will be the loud, instrumental voice on the last line that will help steer the brown and gold back into premiership contention.

With Ben McEvoy announcing his retirement at the cessation of the 2022 season, Sicily will be in the frame to take over the role as captain of the club ahead of the Hawks' new campaign.

Sam Taylor

Perhaps a surprising option to land second overall in our list, but I can assure you Taylor's spot on the podium is well warranted.

The decision to place Taylor might've come as no shock had he perhaps played for a Victorian club, likely gaining greater attention league-wide and from a fan's perspective. But as he continues to pull on the orange and charcoal, Taylor does so as one of the best backmen in the AFL.

Sorting through the numbers that place Taylor in the top echelon, the GWS backman ended the year with the most contested marks among defenders in 2022. He also ranked fourth in the AFL for intercept marks, and fifth in the league for spoils this year.

Adding to his strong case, Taylor recorded a contested one-on-one loss rate of just 13.9% - the third lowest in the AFL (min. 50 contested one-on-one contests).

The stellar season saw Taylor recognised as an All-Australian centre-half-back in what was just his third full season in the league, having suffered a serious illness that sidelined him for the majority of the 2020 season.

Like Sicily, Taylor is set to step into a leading role for his club as they undergo a rebuild in what will be a long pathway back towards premiership contention.

Steven May

The pinnacle defender of the AFL, premiership Demon Steven May secured his second successive All-Australian selection after another dominant year in the red and blue.

May entered the year off the back of a career-best campaign in what was a glorious year for the Demons, and while 2022 failed to bear the same fruit, May went about his business.

The former Suns skipper recorded the lowest contested one-on-one loss rate in the AFL by some margin, losing just nine of his 85 direct contests for a rate of 10.6%.

Pairing with fellow star defender Jake Lever for their premiership defence, May showed little reason to suggest any other player has claimed his throne as the most reliable key defender in the competition.