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
6. Jeremy McGovern
Jeremy McGovern turned back the clock in 2024 with one of the best seasons of his career, transforming his game to become a prolific rebound defender beyond being a pure interceptor.
He averaged a career-high 20.6 disposals and ranked second in the AFL for rebound 50s.
Fighting through his banged-up 32-year-old body, McGovern earned a fifth All-Australian blazer and claimed his first club best & fairest.
With Tom Barrass departing to Hawthorn, McGovern may take on an even larger defensive load while mentoring the next crop of West Coast defenders in 2025 onwards.
