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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12. Adelaide
Across town, the engine room was not a strength for the minor premiers either, evidenced by their semi-final loss to the Hawks. The Crows lost clearance by six, and contested possession by 31, resulting in a miserable inside 50 differential for Matthew Nicks' men (-21). Unfortunately for those of a Crows persuasion, these numbers are not the recipe for a finals-winning brand.
In a broader sample size, the Crows were below league average for centre clearances.
It's a disappointing return, especially given the significant investment that has gone into improving this engine room, through the acquisitions of Isaac Cumming, James Peatling and Alex Neal-Bullen.
There is an argument for too many like types occupying prime posts, with Jake Soligo, Sam Berry and the ageing Rory Laird presenting with similar strengths and physical attributes.
The array of hybrid weapons the Crows possess was the envy of the league en route to their minor premiership, with superstars Izak Rankine, Josh Rachele, Jordan Dawson and Ben Keays consistently impacting the scoreboard, if not pinch-hitting at centre bounce. The quartet showed an aptitude for goalkicking, but midfield fundamentals and defensive accountability need work.
