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.
2Adelaide
The minor premiers were defensively dominant throughout the home and away season, but failed to stand up in the crucial moments in September.
Mark Keane and Josh Worrell were intercept kings; Mitch Hinge and Wayne Milera provided the bounce off half-back, as did Rory Laird.
There was little to fault in Adelaide's backline group, which was highlighted by their incredible durability and selflessness, which is the hallmark of successful teams.
But the two finals in front of the group yielded their worst outputs of the year, which have a greater weighting behind them.
They struggled to contain Collingwood's largely misfiring forward group, especially given their previous two months.
Then a rampaging Hawks outfit dismantled the once-solid defence, piling on 14 goals from 31 scores, ultimately ending their season.
