Every AFL club's squad for the 2027 season is coming together, so how does each team's back, midfield and forward line stack up with their rivals?
We at Zero Hanger will be going through all 18 clubs analysing and ranking them 1-18 across all three thirds of the ground, starting with the backline.
While the draft, delisted free agent signing period and trial spots remain for clubs to recruit players, the majority of each team's starting 23 are in place.
Focusing on the players at their disposal, their style of football in 2026, and with a look forward to Round 1, 2027, this is how we ranked every club 1-18 for its defence.
3. Geelong
Defenders: Tom Stewart, Sam De Koning, Jack Henry, Connor O'Sullivan, Lawson Humphries, Jordan Ridley, Tanner Bruhn, Jhye Clark, Lennox Hofmann, Cillian Burke, Zach Guthrie, Mark O'Connor, Mark Blicavs
The Cats are defensively sound year upon year. They like to slow down their opposition up the field and then force them to kick long, intercept and repeat.
Geelong has a tall backline with plenty of mobile and contested marking key backs.
Tom Stewart has patrolled the skies for more than a decade and will go down as a legend of the football club.
Connor O'Sullivan is fast emerging as one of the premier key defenders in the game. New recruit Jordan Ridley will slot in perfectly as another interceptor for Chris Scott.
The Cats also have the luxury of trying to fit Sam De Koning, Jack Henry, Zach Guthrie, Mark O'Connor and occasionally Mark Blicavs into the backline.
The only cause for concern for Geelong is when the ball hits the deck. The Cats are one of the worst teams at collecting the ball when it hits the ground in defensive 50, leaving them open to small forward threats.
Lawson Humphries is a gem, but beyond him there are not too many Cats defenders who can specialise in stopping a star opposition goal sneak.
