The thing is, he's not exactly a defender though. He's playing like a utility. Has a run on the ball, has a roam around forward and then spends majority of his time lurking around defensive fifty.
You look at the Dogs, they have Easton Wood, Dale Morris who are the very epitome of gun defenders. Bartel is like a Luke Hodge at the moment. Terrific footballer but be honest, when teams are on the breakaway and you have Kersten, Motlop, Menzel or whoever else 1-on-1 with Hodge, you love your chances right? I know I do because I would prefer Hodge down there opposed to Issac Smith, Josh Gibson, Ben Stratton or Shaun Burgoyne.
Mitchell is another one. Great player who spends a lot of time at half back but overall, he's an average defender.
This is what Bartel is in my eyes. He's no Enright or Guthrie but you guys are making him out to be based solely on his overall game as a utility/Mr fix it.
If Bartel is playing there in a final, we're stuffed. His body has declined to the point he barely gets off the ground and he literally has no gears or a turn of speed.