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.
12Melbourne
The Demons threw some names around in defence, including Harrison Petty, whose experiment up forward fell flat.
Premiership pair Jake Lever and Steven May were absent for various reasons, opening up the door for Daniel Turner, Blake Howes and Tom McDonald.
Judd McVee was a key player in Melbourne's defensive transition, which Fremantle will benefit from in 2026 after securing a trade.
Christian Salem put his injury woes aside and featured in every match, as did Jake Bowey, who has become important to the Demons' defensive structure.
Trent Rivers also proved his worth as a plug-and-play prospect, spending large amounts of time in defence before moving into the midfield when needed, which could be a more prominent option going forward.
However, all the above could be thrown out the window as new coach Steven King attempts to rebrand the club ahead of 2026.
