Glorifying the AFL's ball-winners and goalkickers is commonplace across the footballing landscape, but as the age-old adage goes: 'defence wins premierships'.
The club that holds the silverware aloft at the end of a season typically boasts a backline consisting of immovable key defenders, eagle-eyed interceptors and attack-minded flankers.
Last year's grand finalists, for example, each possessed stingy, impregnable defensive units, comprising stars such as Darcy Moore, Harris Andrews, Brayden Maynard, Brandon Starcevich, Isaac Quaynor and Keidean Coleman, among others.
So, taking into account last year's performance, current personnel and injuries, where does each club's defence rank as we prepare to embark on the 2024 season?
We've ranked every AFL club's backline from worst to first. Here are the top six rearguards in the competition.
*Denotes a currently injured player
5. GWS Giants
Core personnel: Sam Taylor, Connor Idun, Harry Himmelberg, Jack Buckley, Lachie Whitfield, Lachie Ash, Isaac Cumming, Adam Kennedy*
Despite entering last season with one of the more unassuming units in the competition, GWS' defending contingent stood tall for Adam Kingsley, especially during the club's September sojourn.
In particular, star key defender Taylor was typically prolific, as was Idun, who showcased his physicality in one-on-one contests during a break-out campaign.
Buckley and the re-committed Himmelberg were also instrumental in holding down the Giants' fort.
