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 against 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 midfield.
8. Gold Coast
Midfielders: Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell, Christian Petracca, Touk Miller, Wil Powell, Alex Davies, Bailey Humphrey, Scott Pendlebury, Lachie Weller, Zeke Uwland, Sam Clohesy, Jai Murray, Zak Evans, Koby Coulson, Ben Jepson, Will Graham, Sam Butler, Beau Addinsall.
Reading these names, the Suns' midfield should be challenging against the best in the competition; however, their 2026 season demonstrates their lack of midfield cohesion.
The Suns ranked 13th at centre clearances and remarkably finished second last for stoppage clearances, averaging just 21.7, finishing narrowly above Essendon.
Teams were able to outscore them significantly from the middle, and Damien Hardwick needs to find a way to get Anderson, Rowell, Petracca and Miller the right mixture of midfield time together.
The Suns went on a ten-game losing streak, which forced Hardwick to give Humphrey and Addinsall more midfield time alongside Davies and Powell.
The on-field incoming guidance from ex-Collingwood champion Pendlebury should help boost this ranking; meanwhile, Hawthorn's Sam Butler also enters the club.
Gold Coast's 2027 midfield group will want to improve quickly and get back into finals contention, but their form from last season places them at 8th on this ranking.
