The midfield is arguably the most important position group in footy as they're tasked with being present at most contests and all stoppages while serving as the link between their defence and offence.
Without a strong ensemble of on-ballers, teams are destined to fall apart as middling play in this area results in catastrophic consequences to the outcome of a contest on a given day.
Not all midfields are alike as some prioritise a physical ball-winning style, while others emphasise a run-and-gun outside game and then there are sides that prefer a healthy balance of the two.
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Each club has its own formula for constructing the ideal midfield but not all team's engine room can perform at the highest level.
With this in mind, let's have a look at the league's best midfield groups heading into 2022, starting from sixth down to first.
Every AFL club's midfield ranked: Part I
Every AFL club's midfield ranked: Part II
Despite fielding the reigning Brownlow medallist in Ollie Wines, Port Adelaide lacks depth in the centre.
The aforementioned Wines isn't prone to playing second fiddle to Power stalwart Travis Boak, who himself is a beast in congestion, while the emergence of winger Karl Amon rounds out the club's top tier midfielders.
Ports trio of highly touted youngsters Xavier Duursma, Zak Butters and Connor Rozee all spend portions of games playing through the middle but haven't been able to successfully cement a spot in the guts. They all possess high footy IQs and silky ball skills but are disadvantaged when competing with the bigger bodies most other clubs play in the centre.
The Powers midfield is then completed by ruckman Scott Lycett and defensive-minded onballer Willem Drew, while others, like their dashing half-back Dan Houston and tough nut Sam Powell-Pepper, get runs when needed.
Lycett is very average in the hit out game and struggles to position the ball effectively for his teammates, hence Port Adelaide ranking ninth in total clearances per game. Drew is an excellent tagger but lacks an element of polish that his contemporaries display with ease.
However, the amalgamation of Port Adelaide’s entire midfield group results in an imposing style of play where they tackle hard to win back possession if they fail to outright win the contest, which is evident by them ranking fourth in tackles per game.
Once in control of the ball, the Power’s aggressive nature translates into a barrage of forward entries which sees them ranked fourth for shots on goal per game and fifth for inside 50’s per game.
For Port to take the proverbial ‘next step’ their less established onballers must rely less on their natural talents and figure out how to mimic the aggressive nature of their current leaders in Wines and Boak.
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1. Melbourne
The reigning premiers had to take top billing.
Melbourne have the best midfield in the competition, boasting a tremendous balance between contested freaks, running machines and elite ruck play.
Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca are the best midfield tandem in football and while you can slow one down you certainly can't stop both of them. 'Clarry's propensity to fight for possession and tackle hard make him dangerous even when he's having a slow day at the office, courtesy of a well-played tag. Conversely, when 'Trac' is on, well, good luck.
As you make your way through the remainder of the Demons midfield they boast electric speed with Ed Langdon on the wing and tremendous ball skills and smarts with Angus Brayshaw opposite him, not to mention the leadership derived from the efforts of Jack Viney.
Melbourne also field the best ruck duo in the comp as Max Gawn continues showing us why he's a top-three player in the position, while the younger Luke Jackson continues his ascension into superstardom. The Dees rank first for hit-outs per game and it's honestly no surprise.
Speaking of stats, the Demons also rank first for contested possessions per game, tackles per game and shots at goal per game, while also being ranked second for inside 50's per game and fourth in total clearances per game.
The numbers back the eye test with Melbourne and it doesn't appear that they'll relinquish their stranglehold atop of the AFL's midfield packs as they look to go back-to-back in 2022.
