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.
16. North Melbourne
Defenders: Aidan Corr, Caleb Daniel, Luke McDonald, Riley Hardeman, Griffin Logue, Toby Pink, Charlie Comben, Nick Blakey, Blake Thredgold, Luke Parker, Hugo Mikunda, Lachy Brewer, Cam Zurhaar, Jackson Archer
Defence looms as the one area of the ground holding North Melbourne back from finding success.
The Roos have a young and passionate coach, a talent-laden midfield and a good mix of key, mid-sized and smalls in the forward line.
It is just the lack of key defenders that hurts North Melbourne and will keep the Roos from beating the top teams again in 2027.
The addition of star Nick Blakey obviously helps, but that is more around fast transition of football and setting up scores - an equally important element to a game plan.
But North Melbourne just does not have the defensive cover to stop the game's best forwards.
Riley Hardeman and Blake Thredgold will be two emerging Roos the club will hope can carry North Melbourne forward.
The clearest example of the Roos' defensive deficiencies was during the horror 124-point loss to the Dockers in Round 13. Key forwards Josh Treacy, Patrick Voss, Jye Amiss and Luke Jackson kicked 13 goals between them that day, with 189cm Luke McDonald at times set the arduous task of keeping Treacy at bay.
