Key defenders are the backbone of any successful AFL team, providing the critical resistance needed to thwart opposition attacks and set up offensive transition.
As we turn away from the 2024 season, the competition boasts an impressive array of tall backs who excel at intercepting, contested marking and one-on-one contests.
This list highlights the top 10 key defenders in the AFL, celebrating those who have consistently demonstrated elite capabilities, as well as some stars on the rise poised to leave their mark.
Let's dive into who made the cut and who narrowly missed out as we rank the game's best tall defenders, beginning with the following players who just missed out:
Snubs
9. Jack Buckley
In 2024, Buckley quietly solidified himself as one of the most effective, yet unheralded, stoppers in the league.
Playing alongside the highly acclaimed Sam Taylor, Buckley's contributions were often overshadowed but equally critical. He formed one-half of what was arguably the most formidable tall defensive duo in the AFL.
His ability to neutralise opposition forwards with his aerial prowess and tactical nous was evident in his ranking as fifth in the league for one percenters.
He was also on the receiving end of what many considered the Mark of the Year by Isaac Heeney, but his quick-thinking intervention to ensure Heeney's safe landing garnered widespread praise.
As a key defender who combines strength, skill, and sportsmanship, Buckley has firmly established himself as an integral part of the Giants' spine and one of the most respected defenders in the AFL.
