The midfield is home to the AFL's most recognised names. This line receives the most individual recognition, sweeping the league's suite of awards most years. Those in the engine room shoulder the responsibility of galvanising their side through winning possession and determining field position.
Midfield groups are usually emblematic of a given team - good teams have good midfields, and bad teams do not.
Here's Zero Hanger's ranking of the league's 18 midfield corps for 2025.
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4. Geelong
In his first year in the hoops, and first year back from a serious knee injury, Bailey Smith worked in devastating tandem with running man, Max Holmes. The positional moves their prowess allowed, including a more stay-home forward role for statesman Patrick Dangerfield, powered the Cats to a second grand final berth in four seasons.
Tom Atkins and his workmanlike approach drew acclaim this season, while a suite of lesser lights saw midfield opportunity, too.
The Cats finished second for scores from stoppage, and second for centre bounce clearances. Strangely, Chris Scott's men finished just below league average for around the ground stoppage clearances - something they'd desperately like to address, given they lost stoppage clearances by 12, and were outscored in scores from stoppage by 44, in their 47-point grand final loss at the hands of the Brisbane Lions.
Still, the Cats midfield was well within the league's top echelon in 2025.
