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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2. Gold Coast
Damien Hardwick's midfield is powerful, and fuelled the previously irrelevant Suns to a maiden finals berth in 2025.
It's a group underpinned by the newly minted Brownlow Medallist, and former number one pick, Victorian Matt Rowell. His best mate, Noah Anderson, went to another level this season, with the club's captaincy suiting him down to the ground. Touk Miller provides a steely veteran presence as one of the league's best two-way runners, and is a former AFL Coach's Association Champion Player of the Year recipient in his own right. Jarrod Witts provided clean and classy first use, registering the most hitouts to advantage in the league.
This brigade powered the Suns to a fourth-placed finish for total clearance differential, a second-placed finish for first possession to clearance rate, and the third-most points from stoppage in the league. It's a daunting profile, especially given this side has still only experienced two 'Dimma' pre-seasons, and welcomes Norm Smith Medal winner Christian Petracca from Melbourne.
