From leaping spoils to saving goals, the defensive roles aren't as flashy as further up the field.
The backline is the last group to receive recognition, but that doesn't mean its significance is diminished. More often than not, it's the stoppers, the restrictors and the defenders who win flags, and this list accurately reflects that.
Clubs that stormed into premiership contention were off the back of defensive improvement, while others doubled down on their standing in the competition.
At Zero Hanger, we've undertaken the challenge of ranking every club's backline from 1-18 for 2025.
9Western Bulldogs
The Bulldogs have the best scoring profile from defensive 50, but at times, struggled to limit the opposition.
A significant focus on the forward line, coach Luke Beveridge essentially robbed Peter to pay Paul from the previous year, resulting in a mediocre backline.
Despite the rebounders and half-backs settled in the form of Bailey Dale, Lachie Bramble, Joel Freijah, Bailey Williams and Luke Cleary, the talls were an issue.
Beveridge threw around cricket convert James O'Donnell, albeit to good effect, as well as Rory Lobb, Liam Jones, Buku Khamis and Jedd Busslinger.
The club went hard to secure Callum Wilkie from St Kilda, indicating their desire to bolster their key defensive stocks, but failed.
In the end, they ranked eighth for points against.
