Darcy Moore during the 2022 AFL Round 1 match between St Kilda and Collingwood (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)
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
Core personnel: Nick Murray*, Jordon Butts, Mitchell Hinge, Brodie Smith, Max Michalanney, Josh Worrell, Daniel Curtin, Mark Keane, Elliott Himmelberg, Wayne Milera
Key defender Murray, who suffered an ACL rupture last season, will be absent for the early portion of Adelaide's season in a significant loss.
However, the Crows possess depth in defence, with the likes of Keane, Himmelberg and Borlase presenting as ample replacements.
As a whole, the upside of this youthful defensive brigade – particularly the mid-sized Michalanney, promising draftee Curtin and versatile utility Worrell – is enough to have them highly placed entering the new season.
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.
Core personnel: Jacob Weitering*, Mitch McGovern, Brodie Kemp, Caleb Marchbank, Adam Saad, Sam Docherty, Nic Newman, Zac Williams
Weitering's early absence hurts the Blues, particularly as they prepare to combat Joe Daniher and Tom Lynch across their opening pair of games.
They will, however, be buoyed by the return of a healthy Williams, who hasn't played more than 14 senior games in a season since 2019.
Further, Kemp's emergence as a taller stopper last season paid dividends, and the club's match committee will hope the 22-year-old resumes his ascension in 2024.
Around them, the likes of Saad, Newman and Docherty, when down back, will add plenty, and if Marchbank and McGovern can stay fit or in form, Michael Voss will have plenty of weapons at his disposal.
Core personnel: Steven May, Jake Lever, Adam Tomlinson, Trent Rivers, Christian Salem, Judd McVee, Jake Bowey
In May and Lever, Melbourne has access to one of the league's finest full-backs, as well as one of its most potent interceptors.
With aerial threats covered, the likes of McVee and, when selected, Bowey can get to work sending the footy forward, with the ever-impressive Rivers providing aid in the air and on the ground.
When needed, Tomlinson can perform a role admirably, with the former Giant holding no fear when it comes to wrangling the game's biggest goalsquare gorillas.
Core personnel: Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard, Isaac Quaynor, Nathan Murphy*, Jeremy Howe, Oleg Markov, John Noble
In the air, on the ground, flying backward or sending the footy forward, Collingwood is served by a near-complete unit of players who know their roles to a tee.
With skipper Darcy Moore leading the line, the Pies are routinely in good shape, and with the likes of Murphy, Maynard, Quaynor and high-flyer Jeremy Howe around him, opposition sides are better served moving the ball inside 50 by hand rather than just bombing it long.
When it does eventually hit the deck, the Woods have deadly options, with each of Noble and Markov adept at riffing with teammates, as well as moving it forward at pace.
Core personnel: Harris Andrews, Brandon Starcevich, Tom Doedee*, Jack Payne, Keidean Coleman, Conor McKenna, Darcy Wilmot, Dayne Zorko, Ryan Lester
Coleman's continued progression this season is a storyline worth monitoring. The second-place finisher in last year's Norm Smith Medal count is poised to transition to bonafide stardom, having already showcased his mesmerising foot skills and speed exiting defensive 50.
Further aiding Brisbane's defensive cause this season – once he's healthy – is ex-Adelaide recruit Tom Doedee, who continues his recovery from an ACL rupture. His imminent link-up with Andrews, Starcevich and Payne spells problems for opposing attacks.
Interspersed between are the speedy likes of McKenna and Wilmot, as well as veterans in Zorko and Lester, providing Chris Fagan with a smorgasbord of options behind the ball.