Best key defender: Daniel Talia
15 matches; 24 goals conceded; 1.66 goals conceded every 120 minutes

No surprise that the reigning best and fairest has been the Crows' best key defender this year. He's lost less than a quarter of all one-on-one battles he's engaged in (21.3 per cent) and has been the general in a very young backline. He's conceded more goals than any other Adelaide defender (24) but given he's assigned the opposition's most dangerous key forward each week, conceding fewer than two goals a game is a classy result.

Best mid/small defender: Rory Laird
16 matches; 13 goals conceded; 0.96 goals conceded every 120 minutes

Like Talia, Laird is a standout defender at West Lakes. He has improved his offensive game dramatically this year, leading to high possession numbers and great offensive drive. But he has maintained his defensive reliability too, conceding less than a goal a game. Of Laird's 22 one-on-one contests this year he has lost just five – showcasing why he is being touted as a possible All Australian in 2015.

Click here to read AFL Media's club-by-club 'Department of defence' piece