Geelong utility Sam De Koning has built a strong case to remain in defence under Chris Scott given his efforts as a one-on-one backman this year, with Port Adelaide's Lachie Jones another who has managed a faultless record this year as a matchup stopper.
Both De Koning and Jones are yet to register a contested defensive one-on-one loss in 2025 from their 15 and 10 contests respectively.
De Koning has returned to Scott's rearguard after starting the season as the Cats' first-string ruck option, with Geelong going with Rhys Stanley or Mark Blicavs since Round 4.
Since Round 5, De Koning has recorded nine of his 15 contested defensive one-on-ones, continuing a perfect record after his opening six contests were either negated or won by the premiership Cat.
Jones has recorded at least one contested defensive one-on-one contest in six of his eight games this year, with a season-high four coming in Round 2 against Richmond. Like De Koning, Jones hasn't lost a single one of those contests to start 2025.
Renowned GWS stopper Sam Taylor sits just behind Jones and De Koning, having only lost one of his 24 contested defensive one-on-ones, good for a rating of 4.2%.
Of the players to have recorded at least 10 contested defensive one-on-one contests this year, Carlton's Jack Silvagni, Brisbane's Ryan Lester and Richmond ruckman Toby Nankervis are the next best, all tied at 9.1%.
Nankervis is the only full-time ruckman to feature on the list, showing his value as an asset who can position himself behind the ball as a lockdown or intercept option.
Among those to have recorded a minimum of 10 contested defensive one-on-one contests, Melbourne's Tom McDonald has recorded the most at 31 for the year, however has a loss rating of 22.6%.
His teammate Harrison Petty has the highest loss rating at 54.5%, with Fremantle's Luke Ryan (53.8) and Essendon's Jaxon Prior (50.0) also among the worst-rated defenders, having lost at least half of their contests.
AFL's best defensive one-on-one stoppers
| Contested Defensive 1v1s | Contested Defensive 1v1 Losses |
Contested Defensive 1v1 Loss %
|
|
| Sam De Koning | 15 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Lachlan Jones | 10 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Sam Taylor | 24 | 1 | 4.2 |
| Jack Silvagni | 22 | 2 | 9.1 |
| Ryan Lester | 11 | 1 | 9.1 |
| Toby Nankervis | 11 | 1 | 9.1 |
| Jack Henry | 10 | 1 | 10.0 |
| Darcy Moore | 28 | 3 | 10.7 |
| Jacob Weitering | 18 | 2 | 11.1 |
| Jack Buckley | 25 | 3 | 12.0 |
| James Sicily | 24 | 3 | 12.5 |
| Zach Reid | 21 | 3 | 14.3 |
| Miles Bergman | 14 | 2 | 14.3 |
| Charlie Comben | 26 | 4 | 15.4 |
| Jack Payne | 26 | 4 | 15.4 |
| Jeremy Howe | 13 | 2 | 15.4 |
| Callum Wilkie | 24 | 4 | 16.7 |
| Dane Rampe | 12 | 2 | 16.7 |
| Mac Andrew | 17 | 3 | 17.6 |
| Andrew McGrath | 11 | 2 | 18.2 |
| Ben McKay | 25 | 5 | 20.0 |
| Tom Barrass | 15 | 3 | 20.0 |
| Josh Battle | 15 | 3 | 20.0 |
| Rory Lobb | 15 | 3 | 20.0 |
| Ben Miller | 29 | 6 | 20.7 |
| Josh Worrell | 19 | 4 | 21.1 |
| Esava Ratugolea | 28 | 6 | 21.4 |
| Brennan Cox | 23 | 5 | 21.7 |
| Connor Idun | 18 | 4 | 22.2 |
| Tom McDonald | 31 | 7 | 22.6 |
| Nick Haynes | 13 | 3 | 23.1 |
| Jeremy McGovern | 13 | 3 | 23.1 |
| Sam Collins | 21 | 5 | 23.8 |
| Wil Powell | 12 | 3 | 25.0 |
| Harris Andrews | 27 | 7 | 25.9 |
| Nathan Broad | 19 | 5 | 26.3 |
| Nick Blakey | 11 | 3 | 27.3 |
| Harrison Himmelberg | 17 | 5 | 29.4 |
| Luke McDonald | 13 | 4 | 30.8 |
| Tom McCartin | 16 | 5 | 31.3 |
| Joel Hamling | 19 | 6 | 31.6 |
| Steven May | 19 | 6 | 31.6 |
| Bodhi Uwland | 19 | 6 | 31.6 |
| Mark Keane | 22 | 7 | 31.8 |
| Connor O'Sullivan | 22 | 7 | 31.8 |
| Aliir Aliir | 28 | 9 | 32.1 |
| Zach Guthrie | 15 | 5 | 33.3 |
| Alex Pearce | 23 | 8 | 34.8 |
| Reuben Ginbey | 17 | 6 | 35.3 |
| James O'Donnell | 13 | 5 | 38.5 |
| Harry Edwards | 23 | 9 | 39.1 |
| Luke Cleary | 10 | 4 | 40.0 |
| Aidan Corr | 17 | 7 | 41.2 |
| Billy Frampton | 11 | 5 | 45.5 |
| Jaxon Prior | 10 | 5 | 50.0 |
| Luke Ryan | 13 | 7 | 53.8 |
| Harrison Petty | 11 | 6 | 54.5 |
Players ranked by best contested defensive loss rating in 2025 (minimum 10 contested recorded).
