Former GWS captain and defender Phil Davis has listed his top 10 key defenders in the AFL.
Davis discussed his list with Damian Barrett and Josh Jenkins on AFL Trade Radio’s The Late Trade, highlighting that the list is purely key defenders and not just any backman in general.
“It is key backs, so I am not including hybrids which sometimes gets a little bit lost in the definitions by various people,” he said.
“I’m going to be very clear - (James) Sicily, Tom Stewart, (Callum) Wilkie, Luke Ryan, Harry Himmelberg, Jake Lever, Jordan Ridley, to me don’t consistently play on the back.
“This (list) will get picked at full-back or centre half-back in the All-Australian team, they’re not going to be back pocket. That’s basically one way to look at it.”
Davis also gave an honourable mention to one key defender who missed the Grand Final for the Brisbane Lions with injury.
“I’m going to throw out an unlucky,” Davis said.
“He’s unlucky on multiple fronts, I just want to mention Jack Payne. I really like what you’re doing.”
Read the list below:
10 – Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)
“He would obviously be higher, but injuries have hurt him,” Davis said.
“To me, when I watch him play, I still see the Jeremy McGovern that I’ve loved over the last eight, nine, 10 years.”
9 – Tom McCartin (Sydney)
“Particular comment on his final against Charlie Curnow. Well done Tom.”
8 – Tom Barrass (West Coast)
“I am a big Tom Barrass fan.”
7 – Sam Collins (Gold Coast
“Probably didn’t have the same year as he had the year before, but he’s still a very good player.”
6 – Jack Buckley (GWS)
“He just beats players, he just doesn’t lose.
“He got done once this year by Max King, he had four shots at goal and that was the most he gave up in a game.”
5 – Harris Andrews (Brisbane)
4 – Darcy Moore (Collingwood)
3 – Steven May (Melbourne)
2 – Jacob Weitering (Carlton)
1 – Sam Taylor (GWS)