Continuing our positional rankings ahead of the 2026 season, our focus now turns to those who excel at intercepting, offensive transition and crucial lockdown roles.
This list is not just about pure stats, but also considers overall impact, versatility and the ability to influence games from the backline in this mix of half-back generals and key defender stalwarts.
So, who were the 10 best defenders in the 2025 AFL season? Before we delve into the 10 best defenders, here is a group of players unlucky not to be rewarded with a spot on the list.
Unlucky to miss:
Jack Sinclair - 27.0 disposals, 494.7 metres gained, 4.7 rebound 50s
Nick Blakey - 21.4 disposals, 557.7 metres gained, 6.3 rebound 50s
Lachie Ash - 28.7 disposals, 553.0 metres gained, 6.3 rebound 50s
Lachie Whitfield - 27.0 disposals, 487.6 metres gained, 5.4 rebound 50s
Jacob Weitering - 13.7 disposals, 7.0 marks, 12.7% defensive 1v1 contests lost
Darcy Moore - 10.6 disposals, 4.5 marks, 7.2 spoils
9Josh Worrell
Arguably the league's most underrated defender and most improved player of 2025, Worrell had a stellar campaign that launched Adelaide from a bottom 10 defence to a top two defence in just 12 months.
Worrell's numbers on the surface won't blow anyone away, averaging 21.0 disposals, 3.2 score involvements and 410 metres gained per game, but his effectiveness at kickstarting transition attacks into forward 50 entries is beyond impressive.
Worrell averaged 5.9 rebound 50s per game in 2025, which ranked fifth among defenders, and 1.4 score launches per game, coinciding with many of the game's best.
While not the primary defender in the Crows' back six, when tasked with a one-on-one contest, Worrell typically came out on top, losing just 19.6% of those battles, which ranked second on Adelaide's list behind Max Michalanney. He also ranked second in total intercepts in the AFL with 201 from 25 games, highlighting his dynamic role for the Crows.
