Opinion Who is your club's best defender of the 21st century?

May 29, 2016
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Lip Gallagher

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Nov 11, 2020
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Collingwood
This may not be a popular view, but I don't reckon Presti was far behind him.

You listen to the full forwards of that era, and many rate Presti as their most difficult opponent.
Could throw Heater into the mix as well.
 

RAPPA

Brownlow Medallist
Feb 20, 2008
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Carlton
Says a lot for Carlton's century to date when Kade Simpson is rated their #1.

Understand you've got to acknowledge longevity; and yes he was heart and soul of Carlton. But as a true defender?!?

incorrect. It says a lot about the team at AFL.com.au who have undertaken this exercise.
 

RAPPA

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Probably says a lot about both.

Who would be Carlton's best if not Simpson?

most certainly it’s both.

firstly, and only a personal opinion, I don’t believe half back flankers should be included in the conversation. Simpson rotated between midfield and half back, in the same vein as Scotland. Both were in the more important category of players for the team in their time, but I wouldn’t regard them as a defender for this task. Also, I think their respective successful experiences in the midfield can skew opinions.

For a long time, Carlton’s back six was never stable. So often there were swing players who played decent periods in the back - Whitnall, Waite, Henderson, Walker. But no way in hell would they come into consideration.

I’d say Jamison was Carlton’s best, but he’ll be trumped by Weitering.
 
Aug 11, 2006
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Perth
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James Frawley was an AA full back so, at his peak, he'd be our best.

For consistency over a long period, probably Neville Jetta. He's been one of the premiere lockdown small defenders in the league for the past few years, with only last year showing his age.
Would of been AA if he played in a better side, Ripper player
 
Sep 30, 2014
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Adelaide
The article has Andrew McLeod for us.

I mean, he did play in defence, but that doesn't mean he was a defender. He played there for his attacking attributes.

I would have Daniel Talia as our best defender of the 21st century.
 
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PJays

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Nov 2, 2020
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St Kilda
Sam Fisher was St.Kilda's obvious choice.

Sean Dempster and Max Hudghton were great too. Hudghton never made any AA teams but was an elite stopper. In his prime was near impossible to kick goals against.

Geary not the most talented footballer, but deserves a mention for his 200+ games and going into his 5th year of captaincy.
 

Genghis Tron

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Apr 28, 2008
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I think you'd have to pick Glass for the Eagles. Anything else is false. McGov & Mackenzie (briefly) might reach some greater heights in individual seasons, but Glass put in a full career with us. McGov only really became a regular defender in 2015 during the injury crisis down back, so he only has a couple seasons down there.

Glass - 270 games
Emac - 147 games
McGov - 138* games

No contest for now, and I'd have concerns over McGov's long-term durability. McGov is a great pure footballer, a star of the game, but Glass and protege Emac had that dark arts man-on-man tentacled defending within keen awareness of their limitations that enthralls. McGov is a little more preemptive and able to beat forwards on their own terms, more in the style of a loose defender swingman which the others couldn't really excel in.
 
Last edited:
Nov 26, 2012
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Brisbane Lions
Leppich over Johnson makes sense for us. But Harris Andrews looks to be on the trajectory to over take them sooner than later
 

BronCrow

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Sep 20, 2019
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The article has Andrew McLeod for us.

I mean, he did play in defence, but that doesn't mean he was a defender. He played there for his attacking attributes.

I would have Daniel Talia as our best defender of the 21st century.

Would personally have Rutten ahead of Talia, as good as Talia is. Also an honourable mention to Nathan Bassett.


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The Dougster

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Dec 12, 2020
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Robbie Tarrant has been our best. Arch was the man in the 90's. Scott Thompson gets an honourable mention
 
Let's rank the top 18 defenders of the 21st Century (so far):

1. Scarlett
2. Rance
3. Fletcher
4. McLeod
5. Lake
6. Gibson
7. Leppitsch
8. McGovern
9. Fisher
10. McPharlin
11. Clement
12. Bolton
13. Davis
14. Tarrant
15. Frawley
16. Wakelin
17. Simpson
18. May
 
Nov 9, 2007
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The honorable loss factory
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Carlton
most certainly it’s both.

firstly, and only a personal opinion, I don’t believe half back flankers should be included in the conversation. Simpson rotated between midfield and half back, in the same vein as Scotland. Both were in the more important category of players for the team in their time, but I wouldn’t regard them as a defender for this task. Also, I think their respective successful experiences in the midfield can skew opinions.

For a long time, Carlton’s back six was never stable. So often there were swing players who played decent periods in the back - Whitnall, Waite, Henderson, Walker. But no way in hell would they come into consideration.

I’d say Jamison was Carlton’s best, but he’ll be trumped by Weitering.
was going to say the same, simpson and scotland remarkably consistent over long periods but for pure defensive talent, sadly ruined by injury, Michael Jamison.
 
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