Usually we have had a third wing type who plays back behind centre and is nothing more than an outlet player. Jayden Short comes to mind.
Bottom line is Broad is an integral part of the back line and really is a part of the old school back 6.
A utility player is a player who can and does play in all areas of the ground. Broad plays defense almost exclusively. Broad is a flexable defender in that he can play on tall fwds medium and small fwds and provide run with it. He does all that as a defender.
Sorry to say he should be named in the team where he plays and in some ways be shown the respect he deserves for the job he does.I know its a bit petty but it does irk me that we cannot accurately pick players where they play.
He's a three-time premiership player, so I'd doubt he would care where he is named on the teamsheet as long as he is in the team.
Who would name as your back six and who would you leave out for Broad, Claw?
Mine would be:
B: Vlastuin Tarrant Grimes
HB: D.Rioli Balta Baker
7th defender: Broad
You could argue Baker can and does at times play elsewhere but Broad isn't a running rebounding half-back flanker. Grimes is probably the closest to Broad in terms of roles (difference would be Broad can push higher up to the wing whereas Grimes plays deep defence) but Grimes has been a staple in our backline for a decade.
I would argue strongly that Broad very much provides both run and rebound and also defends all types of opposition players both deep in defence and further up the ground. Like Grimes Broad has been a staple in our backline ever since 2016.
Last year Broad had 120 rebounds more than any other tiger. He took 140 marks more than any other tiger and he was third for 1% ers
Behind only key backs in Tarrant and Gibcus. On that alone he would be the first bloke picked every week in the back half.
I dont view either Baker or Short as defenders but outlet players especially Short.
My back 6 is
Vlastuin - Tarrant - Grimes
Broad - Balta - Rioli
7TH Defender Short if thats what you want to call him.
Edit: quoting tags fixed.