Hey MT. Yes - amazing how much things have changed in just 12 months! 
Once again though, we are still not settled in the back six. I think Rance is the only certain starter with Grimes a wonderful prospect but still very raw. With Lids, and now with a strong possibility of Newman, moving out of the backline it leaves many spots open for mine. Just amazing the turn around of ability and responsibility. You could almost turn my list upside down and have our 2012 list. That's an amazing change imo and shows the confidence the club as placed in our young defenders.
I'm going to attempt to re-rank/order the backline again but as you can see with my last analysis, it all just playing blindfolded darts at this stage.
Here is my order based on defenders 'importance' but not necessarily form -
1. Rance - now our best tall defender. Athletic, strong and makes good decision now. Made me eat my words 
2. Houli - best trade of the decade! Our new general in defence. Amazing foot skills and run & carry.
3. Batchelor - an experienced head on young shoulders. A young Newy. Wonderful foot skills. Will only get better.
4. Grimes - our answer to Fletcher. Was amazed by his improvement but still lacks experience and size. Great player.
5. Moore - underrated midsized defender who can play tall and small, one of our most experienced players. We will be lucky to see him in 2012.
6. Post - Naturally skilled with great hands. Needs to step up this year and carve out a spot or its bye bye.
7. McGuane People are going to love this but our backup tall defender is still better atm than those below.
8. Dea - still raw but with a massive upside. Strong taller, quick and should become our shut down 'small' defender
9. Morris - shows amazing skills, size and ability for an unproven player. Will jump straight into the team imo.
10. Ellis - could be challenging Morris/Dea for the running defender spot. Already a great size but inexperienced.
11. Astbury - could be anything but needs a good run with injuries and needs to push into a KP spot.
12. Griffiths - Amazing talent with shoulder problems. Love to see him forward but has the size and speed to make it as a defender if needed. Unproven at present.
13. Connors - I'm uncertain where he will finish up playing and on ability alone he should be much further up the list but his attitude and injuries have handicapped him to date. Could be the big improver (again) in 2012.
It's amazing to see how many defenders we have dropped off this list - Thursfield, Gourdis, ORielly, Farmer and now Lids, Newy and Tuck.
Have a go yourself!
Assuming Newy and Lids move into the midfield/wings, my list isn't too different from yours Stripes. Not an easy thing to put together either. Our backline is still not settled and there's a number of defenders we are still working out if they can play at AFL level to the level required for us to develop into a top side.
1. Rance - Improved greatly last year to gain the No.1 key defender role. Still has areas in his game he needs to iron out IMO but his pros now outweight his cons which is something that wasn't the case 12 months earlier.
2. Houli - with Newy and Lids moving upfield Bachar becomes our best rebounding defender. Disciplined and determined with good footskills.
3. Batchelor - stepped into senior footy without missing a beat. As you say Stripes a mature head on young shoulders. Jake's apparently put on 8kgs over summer so hopefully he and his body can adjust quickly to carrying extra weight/muscle.
4. Grimes - unfortunately had his season ended early in the dreamtime game with that bad hammy when he was one of the finds of 2011. Pre-injury he clearly was good enough. The only question mark now is can his hammy hold up and can he return to that form in 2012.
5. Grigg - not a big fan but his best which we saw in the first third or so of last season lifts him above the unknowns and those on the way out. You'd expect a number of youngsters to go past him in time though for us to become a top side.
6. Post - needs a breakout year in 2012 but his versatility playing in defence and filling in as 2nd ruck/follower has him here.
7. Ellis - going out on a limb in January that barring injury he'll play at least 15-16 games this year and show why he went in the first round to us.
8. Morris - barring injury clearly is set for round 1 as a back-pocket. Effectively thrown in the deep end again the likes of a Garlett or Betts.
9. Moore - would be higher if fully fit, conditioned and injury-free but being on the LTIL with no guarantee of playing again has him here.
10. Astbury - After a promising debut season, 2nd year blues kicked in last year. Dave didn't seem to cope with the added bulk put on last preseason. The kneecap injury finished off a year to forget. Hopefully the 'graph' heads back in the right direction this year.
11. Dea - Jury still out for mine if he can play at this level but the coaches and selection committee are fans of Matty so he'll get games.
12. McGuane - Despite Dimma's promise of no senior guernseys being handed out and games being earned, I can't see Luke playing seniors unless there's injuries to our other key defenders. Just too many brainfades especially for a backman.
13. Connors - needs a lightswitch to turn on above the shoulders and an injury-free run otherwise Dan will spend most of the season at Coburg before getting the chop.
14. Griffiths - unknown as a defender having played forward as a junior and in his first two years of AFL. Most likely just a temporary measure as part of his overall footy education and according to the training thread to protect his body from hard pack collisions while he returns from his shoulder injury.
15. Verrier - rookie. Unlikely to play seniors this year as he's very raw.
