The season edges closer, the Match Sims are underway, and we’re getting a peak into who will be lining up where in 2026.
And as we get a little closer to the actual season, it is a good time to have a look forward and see who the projected best defenders in teh league will be this season.
Yep, it’s The Mongrel Punt Defensive Player of the Year seedings for 2026.
Using the year-end rankings in our DPOY ove the last three seasons, the seedings are based on continued performance in the roles, as well as taking into consideration any mooted positional changes.
Let’s get stuck in. 2025 rank in parentheses.
1 – HARRIS ANDREWS (1)
The undisputed champ. The only two-time winner of the award, and the man who holds the Brisbane defence together like he spilled super-glue on his fingers.
Had a discussion with a fellow writer who rated Sam Taylor over him.
Here’s a little food for thought. In the last three years, Harris has played a total of 79 games. Taylor has managed 56. And he is injured again to start 2026.
That’s why Harris Andrews starts as favourite to make it three DPOY awards.
2 – NICK BLAKEY (12)
Not quite sure how this sits with me, as when it comes to a one-on-one isolation, Nick can be taken advantage of. That said, his last three placings in this award have seen him rank 11th in 2023, 3rd in 2024, and 11th in 2025.
If he stays fit, and the Swans can manage to keep him away from being matched up against gorillas, he is going to have a great year again. I’d lock him in for a top-ten finish.
3 – CALLUM WILKIE (26)
The Saints should be better, and with Jack Silvagni adding a little more grunt, Wilkie should be freed up to operate a little more loosely in his role.
His 2023 rank was 9th, before he slipped to 13th in 2024. At 26th in 2025, he appears to be on the wrong trajectory, but I have a bit of faith, and I can see him finding another level in 2026.
4 – JORDAN CLARK (2)
Has found his groove in the Freo back half, collecting the footy at will for the Dockers. Now has a bit of help in that department, with Judd McVee coming onboard, and that could work either way.
It either offers Clark more freedom, or puts him in a position where he shares the load more.
I am backing it to be the first option.
5 – JACK SINCLAIR (10)
Nasiah’s move into the guts saw an uptick in production from the reliable Sinclair. Whilst he did have his fair share of midfield minutes, I expect him to revert to his role as the number one distributor from half-back for the Saints this season.
Has been incredibly consistent for the club, finishing 5th in 2023, 16th in 2024, and 10th in 2025.
Without Nas dominating possession back there, I think Sinclair hits the top ten again this season.
6 – DARCY MOORE (8)
Gets a heap of crap, but that is mainly because he is the highest-profile defender in the highest-profile club. When the Pies fall down, fingers point at Moore.
He is a fantastic help defender, so if the Pies can enlist Billy Frampton to play the lockdown role, keep Jeremy Howe fit enough to consistently contribute, and give Moore the option to zone off here and there, do not be surprised to be eating your words about him as a defender by about Round Seven.
He has been third, sixth, and eighth in the past three years. Pre-season injury is a bit of a worry, though.
7 – LACHIE ASH (5)
Coming of a BOG game in the State of Origin, I reckon Lachie has now opened up a few sets of eyes, if his 2025 season didn’t do that, already.
Has now assumed the number one rebounding role over Lachie Whitfield, as the two make a potent one-two punch in the GWS defence.
Given the way that club is handling the pre-season, I expect him to fall in a heap any day now.
At one point in 2025, he looked like the only legitimate threat to Harris Andrews in this award.
8 – LACHIE WHITFIELD (14)
The second of the one-two GWS punch, I would normally have him a little higher, considering he is a former winner (co-winner with Sam Collins in 2024) and has a history of high performance as a running half-back.
That said, I get the feeling GWS may be tempted to throw him into the midfield to add some firepower in the first part of the season, so I am a little cautious.
Has been top 20 in each of the past three seasons.
9 – BAILEY DALE (12)
Another with three-straight top-20 finishes, Dale is always a threat to be the best player on the park. His hard run, long kicking, and rebound work see him consistently rack up good scores within our formula.
As the Dogs continue to struggle for key position depth, Dale’s ability to chop off opposition forward forays emphasises his value to the team.
Lock him in for a top-15 finish.
10 – SAM COLLINS (15)
The other co-winner in 2024, Collins’ only downfall is that he has missed games here and there. Nothing too significant, but enough to cause him to miss the top ten last year.
That said, as a one-on-one defender, there are not many who are better.
Ranked second in intercepts in 2025, and added a 20th-placed finish in one-percenters. A consummate defender.
11 – JACOB WEITERING (19)
Speaking of consummate defenders, Jacob Weitering won our award in 2021, and although he has not reached those heights again, he remains the centrepiece of a Carlton defence that seriously needs a good second defender to give him a hand.
Escaping serious injury from his State of Origin clash, Weitering is touch and go to line up on Charlie Curnow in Round Zero, which may set the tone for the Carlton season.
12 – JOSH WORRELL (17)
He became the “it” defender for the Crows in 2025, with many calling for him to be named an All-Australian. If he continues to play at that level, I have little doubt his consistency will be rewarded.
His 17th placing last season was his first crack at the top 20, but you can see his career trajectory unfolding in real time. Will be a handful for any team to combat in 2026.
13 – LUKE RYAN (23)
A perennial contender, Ryan was the inaugural winner of our award in 2020 – one of the only good things to come out of that horrible year.
He combines all aspects of the modern defender – intercepts, spoils, rebounds, tackling… he is the type of bloke that looks like he plays country footy, but continually produces.
Is coming off shoulder surgery, and only recently commenced contact drills.
14 – SAM TAYLOR (20)
Get the hell out, HB… how can you have the bloke who ranked first in intercepts marks so low?
Well, because he keeps getting hurt, mate. Pretty consistently.
At his best, he is close to the level of Harris Andrews, but we just don’t see it enough. Already, he has pulled up with a hamstring injury from the State of Origin, and it is now at the point that when he is good, he is very, very good, but when he is injured… well, he doesn’t score any points.
If fit, he is an easy top-five finish. But he missed four last year, six the year before, and six the year before that. You’re not winning anything with that occurring. Otherwise, his seeding would be very high.
15 – TOM BARRASS (39)
12 months into his Hawthorn career, I expect Barrass to make the defence his own this season.
Often playing behind Jeremy McGovern, I felt that Barrass always had a bigger impact when Gov wasn’t out there for West Coast. Well, the Hawks are going to need him to have that impact this season if they’re to go a step further than 2025.
Like Taylor, up until last year, his body prevented him from playing more than 18 games. With 25 last year, his switch to the Hawks looks to have reinvigorated him. If he can remain fit, the Hawks have a tower of defence in their back six.
A massive season coming up for the former Eagle.
16 – TOM STEWART (64)
Has slipped down the list, as he is starting to hit that point where little niggles become something to be of concern. Not that it is a worry for the Cats – they tend to find great replacements.
Finished in his lowest-ever position last season, as others took the stage in the Cats’ defence.
Is there a renaissance on the horizon? Or does Stewart now prepare to pass the torch to the next generation of Geelong defenders?
17 – JAMES SICILY (28)
A shoulder injury hampered him in 2025, but our 2022 winner should be a better version of himself in 2026.
Is that enough to push his way back into the top ten?
At 31, Sic is now looking at one, maybe two years of footy at a very high level. If he gets an injury-free run, he might do great things again, but the Hawks now have a much more balanced defence than when he won it all.
18 – DAYNE ZORKO (3)
He’s got to slow down at some point, doesn’t he?
Zorko had a second-straight top ten finish in 2025, as he picked up the slack left behind by the Keidean Coleman injury, and made the half-back role his own.
At 37, he is still one of the best, and most courageous, kicks of the footy in the league, breaking games open with his precision. Does he near the edge of the cliff in 2026?
19 – JAMES JORDON (18)
The best tagger in the game needs to play that role every week to have a look in here. If he doesn’t play defensive mid, then a defensive half-forward is the next best option.
When it came to shutting down a marquee player, nobody was as adept as Jordon in 2025, and if the Swans are smart, they’ll identify someone each and every week to find themselves with Jordon’s company.
Could be a top-ten finish if he gets the stopping role on a weekly basis, but will score no points if allocated just a regular half-forward role.
20 – KARL AMON (9)
His role at Hawthorn is completely unsung, as is the transition he made from the best wingman in the game (2022 at Port) to a running half-back at Hawthorn.
After a 20th-place finish in 2024, he made the big move into the top ten in 2025, and all things going well, should be right there, again. Makes a wonderful duo with Jarman Impey in the role.
SOME NAMES MISSING
So, this is the part where I nip some of your complaints in the bud.
I have not added Josh Daicos to the rankings, despite a very strong 2025 campaign in defence. Rumours that he will be inserted into the midfield rotation have impacted this, and with Dan Houston having 12 months in black and white under his belt,. I expect the Pies to make a bit of a change.
John Noble ranked 13th in 2025, but without sounding like an ass, I don’t rate him under pressure.
Nasiah is now an on-baller.
Mark Keane had a great 2025 and I thought he was worthy of an AA selection. His broken leg sets him back a couple of months, and whilst he may be able to play well enough to crack the top 20 by year’s end, he won’t be a threat to the leaders.
Connor Rozee is one I think we might see back in the midfield. No use having him in the defenders seedings if I believe he is headed into the guts, right?
Nick Vlastuin’s interrupted pre-season puts him a bit behind the eight-ball, as well. He finished 27th in 2025.
Unlucky not to make the cut are Joel Jeffrey, Anthony Caminiti, Josh Battle, and Aliir Aliir.
Any more complaints? Let’s have ‘em!
As always, massive thanks to those who support this work. You can see the amount of care that goes into it. I love footy, I love writing about it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. Without you, this whole thing falls over. Sincerely… thank you – HB
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