While the defence of AFL teams can go unheralded at times, it often remains the crucial difference in premiership-winning sides.
Flying under the radar of the casual fan, and irregular winners of the AFL's top awards, the Australian Rules backman epitomises selflessness and playing your role for the team.
There are hardly eye-catching stat sheets or highlight reel-worthy goals, but their fundamental ability to spoil and negate opposition forward lines is central for success.
In addition, the growing trend of speedy, skilful kickers off half-back are often underrated components that set the attack into motion.
Atย Zero Hanger, we've undertaken the challenge of ranking each positional line from 18-1. In the final category of this series, each club's defence is under the microscope to determine which team has the best defence heading into the 2025 season.
In part one, we've revealed the bottom six teams, ranked 18th through 13th...
1. (18th) North Melbourne
The Kangaroos lack star talent in their defence, save for the odd young midfielder who is being eased into AFL level off half-back.
Charlie Comben presents as the Roos' best key tall, but he has been likened to continue spending time in the forward line in a swingman role, leaving North Melbourne with thin key stocks to replace Comben when he pushes ahead of the ball.
Aidan Corr is serviceable but is reaching the latter stages of his career, set to turn 31 in 2025.
Josh Goater and Griffin Logue will both be keen to put their injury history behind them in 2025, each kept off the park for all but one and two respective appearances last season.
The addition of Caleb Daniel provides valuable experience for the young Roos to learn from, and is still able to contribute solidly himself.
Jackson Archer performed impressively in 2024 and tallied a career-best 15 appearances. With plenty of promise shown, the 22-year-old should be a regular selection in 2025.
Former co-captain Luke McDonald should also be expected to feature, as could Darcy Tucker who featured in all 23 games last year.
Colby McKercher, Harry Sheezel and Finn O'Sullivan could all potentially rotate through the halfback flanks when stationed outside of the midfield, a regular tactic employed by Alastair Clarkson on his top draftees in their first couple of seasons.
Then there's the fairly untried brigade of defenders as depth options, including draftee Matt Whitlock, Brayden George, three-gamers Riley Hardeman and Wil Dawson, and 16-gamers Kallan Dawson and Miller Bergman.
The lack of experience and star power saw the Kangaroos rank last for points against in 2024, allowing a tick under 111 points per game on average.
While expected to improve their win-loss ratio in 2025, maintaining the same lacklustre defence next season will make a year of improvement difficult to achieve for North Melbourne.