Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon has questioned if the Demons have a better defensive unit than Richmond, in the wake of Champion Data’s 2019 AFL list rankings.
The league’s stats gurus have ranked the Tigers as the AFL’s sixth best defence, with the Demons second.
CHAMPION DATA REVEALS 2019 AFL LIST RANKINGS
“My question is who has a better defence?” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
“Richmond with Dylan Grimes, Alex Rance, David Astbury, Bachar Houli, Nick Vlaustin, Jayden Short. For me, that defence for most of 2018, I remember looking at it going, that’s just incredible. They’ve been ranked number six.
“It’s a subjective thing and they’ve got a formula, but I would take Richmond’s defence over Melbourne’s, yet Melbourne’s been ranked at two and Richmond’s been ranked at six.
“Maybe it’s the Steven May factor.”
SEN Breakfast with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson can be heard Monday-Friday 6-9am, and you can subscribe to the podcast here.
Adelaide has been given the crown as the competition’s best defensive unit.
Tim Watson said an “oddity” he found in the list rankings was Collingwood’s forward line being slotted in at 12th.