Following the nine-part series ranking each AFL club's positional lines, it is time to review each AFL team's list in its entirety and determine which sides can enter 2025 with full confidence in the talent on their list.
While some clubs may be star-studded in one spot, this list will take the entire squad into account, looking into the depth, firepower, and performances in 2024 across all three areas of the field.
Those who have been consistently at the top of the rankings throughout our series will undoubtedly find themselves at the top of the board once again, but those who popped into the top six just once, or those who had a starkly low ranking in comparison to their other results, may find themselves dropped to midtable or below.
RELATED: FORWARD LINE RANKINGS, MIDFIELD RANKINGS, & BACKLINE RANKINGS
So, here is the concluding chapter to Zero Hanger's pre-season list rankings, signifying the best and worst teams on paper for the year ahead.
5. GWS
(Backline ranking: sixth; Midfield ranking: 11th; Forward line ranking: first)
The Giants boast a formidable forward line that alone would push them into the elite rungs of the league.
Multiple All-Australian talents coupled with rising youngsters has GWS positioned to lead the league in scoring in 2025.
The backline is another scary prospect for oppositions, headed by Sam Taylor and a suite of trustworthy defenders.
The midfield's original ranking can be misleading, as it is not regarded as poor. The Giants have stars in Finn Callaghan and Tom Green in the middle, but their depth is lacking ready-made fill-ins. They rather own a host of uncapped talent, as more experienced players Harry Perryman and James Peatling departed the club in the off-season.
However, if the midfield can stay relatively injury-free, the Giants should be able to push past their lack of depth in that line and capitalise on their star-studded backs and forwards.
