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.
17. Richmond
Midfielders: Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto, Sam Lalor, Jack Ross, Sam Cumming, Sam Grlj, Taj Hotton, Seth Campbell, Josh Smillie, Hugo Ralphsmith, Judson Clarke, Kane McAuliffe, Patrick Retschko.
Much like the Bombers, the Tigers also have a very young midfield and side in general.
They have now lost triple-premiership midfielder Dion Prestia to lower their average age but did pick up experienced winger Nathan O'Driscoll from Fremantle, who would want to get more midfield minutes in this young team.
It was pretty tight between Richmond and Essendon for the 18th spot; however, the upside of Lalor, Smillie, Grlj, and Cumming alongside the experience of Hopper, Taranto and Ross helps boost their ranking.
If Lalor can remain uninjured, he will attend more centre bounces and be a key midfielder in 2027 and beyond, but Hopper and Taranto still look as though they will do most of the hard yards.
Yze's side is still being built up and is in a full-scale rebuild, and although they have some very good inside midfield talent, they will still struggle going up against the best sides.
