Best Lockdown Small Defender in 2025 Season?

[Wiggle Room]

I have been constructing my AA team for 2025 and I want to have a position to reward the best lockdown small in the competition, I am less concerned with their offensive output. This is to reflect what a real AFL team looks like and not the AFL's version of 5 half backs and 12 inside midfielders.

Contenders that have stood out in no order;
Maynard, Idun, Andrew McGrath

1

Andrew Mcgrath

Age

27

Ht

180cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

11.1

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

6.4

5star

MG

252.9

4star

D

22.7

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

11.1

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

6.4

5star

MG

252.9

4star

D

22.0

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

11.0

5star

M

1.2

2star

T

6.4

5star

MG

219.0

4star

, Uwland, Michalanney, Lachie Jones, O'Connor

 

[HeHateMe]

Buckley was saying last night on commentary he believes Blake Hardwick

15

Blake Hardwick

Age

28

Ht

183cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.8

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

6.1

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.7

4star

MG

264.7

4star

D

13.8

3star

K

9.8

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.2

3star

T

1.7

3star

MG

264.7

4star

D

15.0

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

6.2

4star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.4

4star

is the best Small Lockdown Defender in the comp. So should probably throw his name in the mix.

He spent a third of the season as a Small sudo forward so AA might be tough but since being moved back full-time he has been amazing. Not alot of fan fair due to this level of play being expected of him as a Lockdown.

 

[StillAtLarge]

Best lockdown defender? Gotta be dan andrews surely

 

[giantsully]

Sam Wicks has had an outstanding year as the Swans small defender, a remarkable role reinvention.

 

[ImCheatingToWin]

Begins and ends with Dimma this discussion

 

[ImCheatingToWin]

I have been constructing my AA team for 2025 and I want to have a position to reward the best lockdown small in the competition, I am less concerned with their offensive output. This is to reflect what a real AFL team looks like and not the AFL's version of 5 half backs and 12 inside midfielders.

Contenders that have stood out in no order;
Maynard, Idun, Andrew McGrath, Uwland, Michalanney, Lachie Jones, O'Connor

No mention of Blake Hardwick makes for a very embarrassing list

 

[SSSSSS]

Blake Hardwick

15

Blake Hardwick

Age

28

Ht

183cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.8

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

6.1

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.7

4star

MG

264.7

4star

D

13.8

3star

K

9.8

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.2

3star

T

1.7

3star

MG

264.7

4star

D

15.0

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

6.2

4star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.4

4star

is the one.

 

[Wiggle Room]

No mention of Blake Hardwick makes for a very embarrassing list

Definitely missed him he’s up there, who would you pick for the season if you could only have 1

 

[HeHateMe]

Definitely missed him he’s up there, who would you pick for the season if you could only have 1

Michalanney for sure, first name that pops in my head. But hes missed a few games so maybe ends up in the same category as Hardwick where when playing as a lockdown has been great but that role has been interrupted for a portion of the season.

On some of the other names you mentioned has Idun been as good this year as he has previously/last year same with Maynard. Think Lachie Jones is a good shout out for this year but honestly I don't rate him that highly, has had a good season though. Wicks another in the Jones camp wait and see if he backs it up.

But if I was putting a lockdown into a mock AA team the player would need to be playing at the Hardwick/Michalanney level or high for the season. So I'd just go with Hardwick/Michalanney tbh as I don't think we should punish versatility or missing a few games as long as they still have the body of work in the role.