Toast The defensive unit

[Quicky]

Malcolm Blight made an interesting comment during the telecast that our defensive unit "was the most mobile" in the AFL.

Giving it some thought I think this is probably not true although not far off the mark (Swans and Bulldogs spring to mind).

What struck me though is just how well balanced, well rounded, and versatile it is.

We have a mix of players that can adapt to any forward structure with little disruption and you'd expect them to do the job.

Presti always takes the best tall forward but all of Reid, O'Brien, Shaw, Maxwell, Toovey and Goldsack can play on a range of forward types. All of them are more than able to defend and all have decent rebounding games too. It makes for such a versatile mix defensively, and difficult to totally shut down offensively. Most teams have some strictly offensive types that you can look to exploit but we don't seem to have that issue.

I think it's a great credit that we've been able to mould such a strong unit out of largely late draft/rookie unfashionable types (Reid aside).

I'm looking forward to see how they handle themelves versus Geelong. It's their biggest test for the year to date.

 

[Zahki]

Yep, I'd say it's the strongest part of our side. Reid has been nothing short of fantastic this year, Toovey has been solid doing his job week in week out, Shaw has kicked it up a notch and Goldsack took his opportunity with both hands. It's going to be very interesting to see who makes it in for the finals side, any of them would be very stiff to miss to fit Shaw back in.

Toughest test so far coming up this week might determine that though. Geelong have enormous scoring power, they've got to prove they can handle it before the inevitable meeting in finals.

 

[robertg22]

Agreed, as I said in my review full credits to Scott Watters & Mick for putting the group together and instilling the confidence in them to take the game on whilst not compromising the defensive side of their games.
Players just slot in and have immediate impacts - it's making it bloody hard for the match committee to pick the team I reckon! Goldy has came in and been incredibly solid, N Brown came in yesterday and did his job well, Johno has dropped back and helped out with great effect also. Presti and Heater will come back for sure which is unfortunate for the guys they replace, but it's an incredibly healthy situation to be in!

 

[Frankie23]

The fact that the core players (Shaw, Presti, maxy and Harry) have had a good 3 years together is a big plus. When watching you can tell they are a close knit group and have full trust in each other. They would have to be one of the most efficient units in the league

 

[JOELY]

It feels like Reid is the final piece of the puzzle. Our backline group was already strong, but to add another good player, who is a different type to the others is such a bonus. It's such a great mix.

 

[robertg22]

Reid is becoming the new Clement.

Ok - I am getting a bit far ahead of myself but he is great overhead and field kicking is magnificent!!

 

[mattys123]

Reid is becoming the new Clement.

Ok - I am getting a bit far ahead of myself but he is great overhead and field kicking is magnificent!!

I don't think your getting ahead of yourself at all.

Yes, Reid has a long way to got to be as consistently good as Clement was, but you also have to remember the comparison of how good Reid is at 21/22 compared to Clement at the same age.

Reid is our CHB for the next 10 years, that can not be argued against, and even Ben himself admitted the other day that he is surprised he has flourished as a defender.

Add the other "youngens" in Toovey, Harry, Goldsack and Nathan Brown, and we have a ready made defense for the best part of the next decade, with supporting roles from Maxwell, Shaw, Presti and Johnson for a while to come yet.

MM has always said defenses win flags, and apart from Hawthorn in 08, this is almost always the case.

 

[The Panther]

It can be improved, as hard as that seems. Blight IMO is destined for inclusion next year, he'll be a player at a much higher level. It allows a Harry or a Shaw to be released to the midfield, van damage.

 

[Optimax]

Jimmy could play on smalls as well, chopper is doing very well but he isn't quite Clement in that regard (Jimmy was one of the best players I've seen in black and white)

 

[robertg22]

Jimmy could play on smalls as well, chopper is doing very well but he isn't quite Clement in that regard (Jimmy was one of the best players I've seen in black and white)

Agreed. I was a massive Jimmy fan also, I think the comparison I was trying to make is his penetrating kicking coming off half back

 

[Optimax]

Agreed. I was a massive Jimmy fan also, I think the comparison I was trying to make is his penetrating kicking coming off half back

Yes his kicking is laser like

 

[Pie eyed]

I really miss having Jimmy running around.
Terrible sense of loss when he retired.

Genuinely great bloke regardless of footy talent and an example to the young blokes.
Reid and Brown would have benefited so much from another year or two with JC as a mentor.

 

[shawthing09]

I think one of the best things about the defensive unit is much like Geelong and St Kilda is we have a wealth of defenders who will if given the freedom (and often even when not) really hurt the opposition by zoning off their man and being the third man up, most of them very good overhead marks too which means we get a lot of marks from opposition I50 to set up our rebound. On top of that most are very good at running and setting up the other way.

Due to the weight of options it means we are almost always going to have a guy with a match up who allows it, or even almost always have a guy in a position to do so. So our defensive strength becomes a real offensive spring board.

 

[Old Spice]

The thing I think that's great is we have 3 genuine attacking, rebounding defenders in Heath, Harry and now Reid. Goldy's not to shabby either.

Makes it extremely difficult to shut down that defensive drive, especially when players like Dale are playing cameos down back.

 

[Thommo 42]

The thing I love about Toovey is that he is a genuine spoiler/stopper, but as also added a bit of run and dash to his game.

He has the basic arts of defence down pat and is adding a bit of rebound to complete the package. Due to his speed and agility, his ability to genuinely stop a small and also match up on 3rd talls is priceless.

Obviously this stopping ability comes from being an AA fullback at junior level, his body just never developed.

 

[doggiesin08]

Bad call on the telecast to say its the quickest, similarly I thought of Dogs and Swans. It is though the most versatile.

With there being every chance that we see a Pies v Dogs match first week of the finals I was wondering if people think there's room for Ben Reid. I'm a massive fan of him (wish we could've nabbed him Father/Son), but just not sure where he fits in to match-ups. Presti takes Hall and I would've thought Maxwell and O'brien would match up on Grant and a resting ruck if down there?

How would you guys match up on:

HF Resting Mid Grant Higgins
F Giansiracusa Hall Johnson

 

[robertg22]

Reid is definitely in the team, his rebounding is crucial to us now also. He would take Grant yeah.
Shaw on Johno
Presti on Hall
O'Brien on Gia
Toovey on Higgins
Johnson on resting mid (whoever it is)
Maxwell loose

 

[Quicky]

Reid is definitely in the team, his rebounding is crucial to us now also. He would take Grant yeah.
Shaw on Johno
Presti on Hall
O'Brien on Gia
Toovey on Higgins
Johnson on resting mid (whoever it is)
Maxwell loose

This. Reid despite being massive is also a pretty good match up on medium forwards as he has that mobility and ground game. Doggies have a few guys like this > Hill and Hahn off the top of my head. But he'd go to Grant like last time you'd think.