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...
2. (17th) Richmond
Richmond's backline suffered the consequence of the Tigers' 2024 injury plague, with a weakened outfit allowing for carnage on the opposition scoreboard.
The Tigers recorded the second-most points allowed each game, conceding over 102 points on average.
The backline was the first to fall victim to Richmond's injury woes, with promising tall Josh Gibcus heartbreakingly tearing his ACL.
Nick Vlastuin was a pillar in defence as his troops fell around the ground, while Nathan Broad was serviceable across his 22 appearances.
Liam Baker and Daniel Rioli will be sorely missed in 2025, with the latter playing every game in 2024 and winning the Jack Dyer Medal.
However, Tom Brown emerged as a diamond in the rough and was allotted a spot down back through the injury crisis, becoming recognised as a damaging kick.
Jayden Short should remain a staple to the back six in 2025, as should Noah Balta following his return from suspension. In the meantime, Ben Miller should fill the void while Balta is enduring his sentence, and potentially hold a spot of his own this season.
More youngsters round out Richmond's depth options, with the likes of James Trezise, Tylar Young and Jacob Blight all live chances of forging a spot in the backline for Round 1.
Yet, their rising youth is also Richmond's downfall. A lack of ready-made talent to partner with the ageing Vlastuin and Broad leaves the Tigers' defence precariously set up in 2025.
