Dixie Flatline
Moderator
- Jun 3, 2005
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- Hawthorn
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- Moderator
- #76
Need to remember both Frawley (140 games at Demons) and Lake (200 games at Western) had a heap of experience BEFORE they even landed at Hawthorn. Put another 50 matches into Brand and I bet he would find his way around the team defense a hell of a lot better!!
I thought he did well most weeks when he played last year - abit of mongrel defending his team mates, and ball use solid for someone his size. There were a few quarters he looked vulnerable/isolated, and it is true at times we have seen him panic and grab jumpers. But he has shown enough to suggest he can get over that.
Clarkson pioneered the team defence that all 17 other clubs have now copied.
Therefore, when you're looking at how a particular defender plays, you need to take into account how he's operating in the context of his teammates around him.
If he's playing his role in the team, then he'll get selected; if he's not, and he's weakening the team defence Clarkson wants and requiring other players to cover for him, then he'll not get selected.
I think it's fair to say that while Brand is probably of an acceptable standard in one v one defending, he isn't quite the necessary standard to play in Clarkson's team defence when he's too similar to an older and more experienced player (Frawley).