AFL Position Rankings: Carlton second best overall team based on our expert consensus verdict

Six of footy’s best minds have joined forces to rank the all 18 lists. Which team came out on top in our ultimate list rankings for 2024? Plus, have your say.

There are no excuses for the Brisbane Lions in their quest to go one better in 2024.

Runners-up last year, Chris Fagan’s squad is the most complete across the ground, according to our positional rankings.

Led by Charlie Cameron and Joe Daniher, Brisbane’s forward line was voted the best in the business by our six footy experts.

The engine room run by Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage was rated the third-best midfield.

And Harris Andrews’ backline was named as the sixth-best.

Each team was rated for the three areas of the ground, with our six panellists voting from 1-18.

The best team was given 18 votes by each expert, which was then tallied up.

Across all lines, the Lions secured 284 votes, edging out Carlton (265).

The reigning premier Collingwood side finished in third with 262 votes.

Carlton along with Brisbane and Collingwood were the only team to secure at least 80 votes across each third of the field, including Patrick Cripps’ midfield and Charlie Curnow’s forward line. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The Lions, Blues and Pies – who all made the final four in the 2023 season – were the only teams to secure at least 80 votes for each third of the field.

The forward woes that have dogged Melbourne in recent years cost Simon Goodwin’s side a top finish.

The Steven May-Jake Lever Demon defence was the top-ranked backline and the onball brigade that includes Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Max Gawn was voted the best midfield.

But the forward half was ranked 11th, securing just 45 votes.

The Western Bulldogs earned a sixth-placed finish overall, underlining the expectations on Luke Beveridge to return to the finals in what is a crunch year for his coaching tenure.

Our experts weren’t so kind to Ross Lyon’s St Kilda, despite a finals appearance in 2023.

Lyon’s team were written off in most quarters during the season last year but found a way to make it to September.

Yet the Saints were ranked at No. 11 in our poll, having landed in the bottom half in both attack and midfield.

Our voters were also unimpressed with Essendon’s status heading into 2024, with the Dogs finishing down in 15th.

Originally published as AFL Position Rankings: Carlton second best overall team based on our expert consensus verdict