When looking at the league as a whole this season, the lack of genuine key defenders who are big enough and strong enough to match it with the league’s best forwards is startling.
Some teams are blessed in this regard, whilst others are struggling against the big boys of the AFL.
Below, we will have a look at which teams need a gorilla in the goal square, and which players could make a tidy little living by stepping out of the shadows elsewhere, and into a prime role on another team.
This is just the introduction – the remainder of this article is for our members. They support me, and I provide for them. It’s a good deal.
Oh… a Mongrel paywall… the worst of all paywalls. We’re all in on the 2026 AFL season. Player articles, stats, awards, game coverage. Dump the mainstream lip service and dive into articles like this – you will never look back. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. I consider it your loss as we get into the grind of the season, and you’re stuck with the stuff that’s frustrated you for years.
