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.
12. Gold Coast
Defenders: Mac Andrew, John Noble, Bodhi Uwland, Charlie Ballard, Joel Jeffrey, Daniel Rioli, Sam Collins, Wil Powell, Avery Thomas, Oscar Adams
The Suns are such a confusing club, and in particular a bewildering back six.
Looking at the line up of stars in Wil Powell, Daniel Rioli, Mac Andrew, Sam Collins, Bodhi Uwland and John Noble and there is a fully formed mobile, versatile, quick and tough backline already built.
And yet Gold Coast conceded the fifth most points out of any team in 2026.
Given the Suns have the talent, that means the problem is up the ground with the midfield not connecting or working hard to help defend and the general structure of Gold Coast's backline.
Damien Hardwick and the Suns have not yet gelled. That is clear. But he does have the tools at his disposal and he has had these problems before of a talented yet troublesome outfit with Richmond in 2016. We know how that ended.
