As we sit just weeks away from pre-season action, and almost one month away from the 2025 AFL season officially beginning, coaches will be looking to finalise their first selection of backmen for their opening clash of the year.
Defence is critical for success in the AFL, and in the final instalment of our backline rankings, we've determined the top six teams with the calibre to help push their club for premiership glory in 2025.
Boasting bonafide stars, a deep pool of talent, and a well-structured game plan, the top six sides in our rankings will likely be the toughest to score against this season.
TEAMS 18-13: Every AFL team's backline ranked: Part 1
TEAMS 12-7: Every AFL team's backline ranked: Part 2
Without further ado, here are Zero Hanger's final backline rankings...
2. (2nd) Hawthorn
The fact Hawthorn's best defender could potentially see a permanent move to the forward line speaks volumes about the Hawks' defensive depth for 2025.
James Sicily, Hawthorn's leader and defensive general, has been relied on heavily since Sam Mitchell took the reins, but now has an enticing prospect of full-roam freedom in 2025.
The inclusions of Tom Barrass, a 29-year-old defensive terror for oppositions, and Josh Battle, a 26-year-old third-man defender who has only missed two games in his last three seasons, have propelled the Hawks towards premiership contention. The Hawks now have serious firepower in their key positions, which will allow James Sicily to float as an interceptor in defence or swing forward and hit the scoreboard, which was seen on a couple of occasions in 2024.
Blake Hardwick will be anticipated to spend time forward too, but if he is squeezed out by the likes of Jack Ginnivan, Dylan Moore and Nick Watson, there is a spot back home in defence for the unheralded Hawk.
Josh Weddle and Jarman Impey offer dash and dare from half-back, but can also be stationed on the wing if more lockdown defender types are required in the defensive arc. This versatile depth allows the two pacey defenders to hold a spot on the field while also allowing players such as Hardwick, Karl Amon, and Jack Scrimshaw to maintain their presence in defence.
Sam Frost will now become a dependable depth option despite having a career-best season, while James Blanck and Jai Serong are expected to be on the fringe again. More fringe options include Seamus Mitchell, untried trio Will McCabe, Bodie Ryan and Noah Mraz, and two-gamer Bailey MacDonald.
Not only are the Hawks extremely deep and talented on paper, they have a sound defensive structure up there with the best. Hawthorn ranked sixth for points against in 2024 despite their ordinary 1-6 start to the season, attributable to their ruthless rise up the ladder where they dismantled top-eight teams and the reigning premiers.
The Hawks' backline also ranked second for defensive one-on-one contests won, winning 78.6 per cent of those battles.
Now with the additions of two legitimate stars, the Hawks will undoubtedly be one of the best defensive units in 2025.
