Best Key Defenders of 2014

[Deanos]

AA, B&F and you don't see stupid brain fade skill errors from Thompson

Sure you do, he's conceded two goals by whacking blokes in the head. A basic skill is to fist the ball not someone's head in a marking contest.

Of Coarse Thompson's been better over his career and so he should be, he is 4 years older.

The only real dispute was Rance not being included in the poll, when he has had clearly had a better year than a lot of the blokes you did include shown by all the stats above.

 

[Turly]

Kyle Cheney.

 

[benbanjo]

Kyle Cheney.

Might aswell since someone is saying Rance should be in the Argument.

Anyway this year i would have

Thompson
Talia
Hooker
Taylor
Mackenzie

in no order.....

 

[eth-dog]

Hooker
MacKenzie
Talia
Carlile
Taylor

 

[juss]

If you asked every AFL club who they'd take out of Scott Thompson and Alex Rance, it'd be Thompson for every club including Richmond.

Right now probably. But 28 years old vs 24 years old, 1 AA for Thompson in his career. Reckon Rance will have equalled that at a minimum in another four seasons.

 

[Skippos]

LOOK AT THOSE STATS. He regularly beats his opponents in a 1 on 1 contest. And the thing is if you are playing in a side where the ball is mostly in your backline then yeah, you are going to get goals kicked on you. Lance Franklin is the only player that has kicked 4+ on him but none of his goals came from a marking contest, and by some people Rance still won that contest. He also kept Nick and Hawkins to 1 and 0

There's a lot more to defending than 1 v 1 though, plenty of subtle things that the best do that people who aren't looking for it miss. Simple things like guiding the forward to lead to zones which their scoring rates are unfavourable even - but moreso spoiling contests, closing down leads and preventing/corralling the forward from winning ground level balls. 1 v 1 is only one facet of key defence.

 

[Donakebab]

There's a lot more to defending than 1 v 1 though, plenty of subtle things that the best do that people who aren't looking for it miss. Simple things like guiding the forward to lead to zones which their scoring rates are unfavourable even - but moreso spoiling contests, closing down leads and preventing/corralling the forward from winning ground level balls. 1 v 1 is only one facet of key defence.

It also doesn't include simple things like turn overs that directly result in goals, such as this doosey.

 

[kade]

It also doesn't include simple things like turn overs that directly result in goals, such as this doosey.

i assume your gonna put hookers kick against Sydney that grubbered along the ground that led directly to a sydney goal? Every player makes mistakes. Or jimmy bartels in the 2013 preliminary final?

 

[Donakebab]

i assume your gonna put hookers kick against Sydney that grubbered along the ground that led directly to a sydney goal? Every player makes mistakes. Or jimmy bartels in the 2013 preliminary final?

I'm not the one posting stats and claiming they are gospel.

 

[Big Bad Buddy]

Love him or hate him, Rance is a quality player. He holds the Richmond defence together, and would have to be one of the better key defenders in the competition.

Every player makes mistakes at times.

Talia, Hooker, Carlile and Mackenzie have all been fantastic this year also.

 

[Deanos]

I'm not the one posting stats and claiming they are gospel.

No one claimed them as gospel. They provide evidence to back up an argument to why a player should at least make the poll. Instead of just posting a bias opinion or video or gif. Anyone can do that.

..............

 

[Shaneprice97]

Frost has been a revelation for Collingwood this season, and his form is one of the reasons we are currently top 8. But he wouldnt quite be top 5, maybe top 10, he'd be top 5 from our players this season, could go as far as finishing top 3 in our B & F.

 

[TheWhiteRhino]

How is Ted Richards not in anyone's list? Criminally underrated.

Harry Taylor on the other hand is fast rivalling Cyril Rioli in the overrated stakes.

 

[iBeng]

Where's Troy Chaplin?

Isnt he a forward now?

 

[Quinz]

Have seen the most of Mackenzie so I'm putting him number one, has had a phenomenal year- after making the AA squad last season has been better this time around.

Hooker and Talia next, before a bit of a gap to Taylor, Richards and May.

 

[Sprout]

Been good but behind quite a few others, McDonald has been better from his team

No he hasn't.

T Mac has been better in recent weeks, but Dunn has had the better year overall.

 

[Upgrayedd]

Eric Mackenzie>Harry Taylor>Daniel Talia

 

[Tippaz]

Lynden Dunn and Cale Hooker would be in my AA at this stage, and so would Michael Johnson as a 3rd tall

hmmm... i acidentally voted for Jamison thinking it was Johnson

 

[Robbo92]

Rance definitely needs to be in the conversation considering he's been better than the majority of that list. Anyone who thinks Rance hasn't had a good year needs to put their anti Richmond agenda aside, or perhaps watch some footy.

 

[Bailey01]

Rance definitely needs to be in the conversation considering he's been better than the majority of that list. Anyone who thinks Rance hasn't had a good year needs to put their anti Richmond agenda aside, or perhaps watch some footy.

Who has he been better than?

 

[lmach]

Mackenzie is clear number one. Hooker and Talia are equal second.

 

[Ambrosia]

Mackenzie is clear number one. Hooker and Talia are equal second.

Don't see how any of Hooker/Talia/Mackenzie are clear number 1.

 

[Bailey01]

Mackenzie is clear number one. Hooker and Talia are equal second.

Nah not clear number 1. Didn't Roughead kick 8 on him?

 

[lmach]

Nah not clear number 1. Didn't Roughead kick 8 on him?

Kicked 3, the rest were on Brown and Glass. Roughead always towels us up.

He's been the best performed key defender this year.

 

[Bailey01]

Kicked 3, the rest were on Brown and Glass. Roughead always towels us up.

He's been the best performed key defender this year.

He's been one of the best but it's debatable what you are saying