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
3Bailey Dale
Dale continued to star in his 11th season at the Bulldogs since being drafted in 2014, averaging a career-high 27.0 disposals per game at an incredible 81.4 per cent efficiency.
The 29-year-old has emerged as one of the AFL's most damaging players off half-back, ranking eighth in the league for metres gained (545.2 per game), and made history with a 49-disposal, 1016 metres gained effort against Essendon in Round 10 this year.
Similarly to Tom Stewart, Dale was one of the three defenders to average at least two score launches per game, but also proved his ability to impact the Dogs' attack further down the ground, with his 5.5 score involvements per game leading all listed defenders this year.
