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.
13. Melbourne
Midfielders: Kysaiah Pickett, Jack Steele, Tom Sparrow, Caleb Windsor, Kade Chandler, Ed Langdon, Harvey Langford, Joel Fitzgerald, Jai Culley.
There's no denying Max Gawn's ruck dominance helps the Demons midfield immensely, ranking them second for centre clearances in 2026.
Gawn topped the Demons list for most clearances (81), while Sparrow (68) and Steele (62) came in just behind.
Sparrow averaged 5.4 clearances a game and was certainly the best clearance winner outside of Gawn; however, the X-factor Pickett can bring to every game makes this Dees midfield ever so dangerous.
Add to this Steven King's game plan of a 'fun and dangerous' free-flowing style of football, where the best form of defence is offence, allows these Demons to explore different midfield combinations.
The emergence of Fitzgerald and Windsor as midfielders has added depth to King's side as veteran Jack Viney makes his way out west, and the club will look to secure a top four spot instead of again falling into a Wildcard round position in 2027.
