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.
At 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...
6. (13th) Collingwood
Ranked equal-12th for points against in 2024, the Pies played a shell of their former, premiership-winning selves.
Darcy Moore was questioned for his form slump, Brayden Maynard and Isaac Quaynor were half the players seen in 2023, while the hole left by Nathan Murphy was evident. Of course, we can't mention Collingwood without referring to their staggering age profile, with Jeremy Howe still a shoo-in to the side at 34 years of age.
The upside of Collingwood's defence in 2025 looks promising however with the inclusions of Harry Perryman and Dan Houston. Both penetrating punters from halfback, the Pies should anticipate deeper inside 50 entries and be more well-equipped to transition from defence to offence in 2025.
Although, both new recruits can be utilised in the midfield which may weaken the Magpies' defensive line should either player swing further down the field.
There is some decent depth for Collingwood though, who may be able to hold their own and help suppress any opposition attack. Harry DeMattia, Tew Jiath, Jakob Ryan, Charlie Dean and draftee Joel Cochran are all young talent with under 10 games to their name or have yet to debut.
Endurance machine Oleg Markov can also add to the roster, however, his status in the side has fallen out of favour since his inclusion in the premiership team.
Collingwood can be one of the best defensive sides in the league, as in just 2023 they restricted their opposition to just 73 points per game. A season later it has ballooned out to 84 points, and unsurprisingly, the Pies' results have fallen with it.
If Collingwood are to reclaim their position on top of the AFL mountain, the core defenders that won them a premiership just 16 months ago will need to find the hunger to achieve their best form again, with new inclusions adding some extra spark after an uninspired 2024 campaign.
