AFL list analysis: Mick McGuane rates every AFL team’s defence from 1-18Defence wins premierships. So how good is your club’s back six for 2021? Mick McGuane has rated every backline from 1-18.
Mick McGuane
HeraldSun
January 13, 2021Despite the personal distractions the Richmond Tigers are putting business first for preseason.
Richmond lost one of its best defenders in the opening minutes of the Grand Final, and it nearly derailed the Tigers’ premiership campaign.
It took almost two quarters, but Damien Hardwick reorganised his line-up and the backline — minus Nick Vlastuin — was again a key to a flag.
Collingwood premiership player and respected analyst Mick McGuane says the Tigers backline just “continually get the job done”, ranking it the best back half in the competition.
McGuane also states minor premiers Port Adelaide’s defence had “an outstanding year” and Fremantle’s defence under Justin Longmuir was unheralded.
The two-time Copeland Trophy winner has looked at every club’s defensive mix from the 2020 season ahead of the 2021 campaign.
He looked for a defensive group that could be trusted one-on-one, rating intercept markers and intercept possession-winners, their ability to spoil, willingness to win the ground ball, how they use the footy coming out of the backline and even if defenders can win crucial stoppages as oppositions forwards may look to drag their defender in and among the stoppages.
1. RichmondThe top liners: Jayden Short (21 games in 2020, 98 KFC SuperCoach average), Nick Vlastuin (20, 86), Dylan Grimes (20, 69), Liam Baker (20, 76), Noah Balta (17, 67), Bachar Houli (13, 85), David Astbury (9, 70), Nathan Broad (16, 64)
The top-ups: Sydney stack (9, 52), Ryan Garthwaite (0, 0), Ben Miller (0, 0), Bigoa Nyuon (0, 0)
McGuane says: The Tigers continually get it done in big games. Playing a lot of football together creates trust and understanding irrespective of what the opposition throws at them. Their back seven or eight players are aggressive and assertive in everything they do. They force opposition forwards to lead to irrelevant areas and back their judgment and instinct to position themselves where the ball is most likely to land. Two of their best defenders, Dylan Grimes and Nick Vlaustin, are great examples of this and were rightfully chosen in the All-Australian squad. Bachar Houli, Jayden Short and Liam Baker all play with great penetration when they win the ball and set up many attacks for the Tigers. Noah Balta is a superb athlete who will only continue to improve the more footy he plays.
2. Port Adelaide
3. Collingwood
4. Fremantle
5. Geelong
6. West Coast
7. Brisbane
8. Melbourne
9. St Kilda
10. W.Bulldogs
11. GWS
12. Carlton
13. Sydney
14. Gold Coast
15. Essendon
16. Hawthorn
17. North Melbourne
18. Adelaide
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/mick-mcguane/afl-list-analysis-mick-mcguane-rates-every-afl-teams-defence-from-118/news-story/4ca97e84f01d29affe4e04f630cab926
