Finding the formula to winning an AFL premiership is securing ball-winning defenders

MIDFIELDERS and forwards put up winning scores but defenders are the key to winning AFL premierships, writes Hall of Fame Legend Malcolm Blight.

Tom Jonas shows some desperation in defence against Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott. Picture: Sarah Reed

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AFL House must be rocking. Just one undefeated team (Port Adelaide) and only two sides (Carlton and Brisbane) without victory.

And - true to the AFL’s dream of an even competition with every fan base starting the weekend believing their team is a chance - the unbeaten Power was taken to the line, right to the goal-line at home, against the winless Lions at the weekend.

So, as Richmond premiership coach Damien Hardwick notes in the documentary on the Tigers’ remarkable 2017 season, every club (well, almost) is thinking: “Is this going to be our year?”

There can be only one winner. And the profile of an AFL premiership team is well defined by looking at the winners during the past two decades.

In the past 20 years the pointers to an AFL club being in the “premiership window” are having a player list with an average age of 25 years, nine months and the average game count being 120 matches.

As with every rule, there are the exceptions. The Western Bulldogs in that “different” season of 2016 - when the bye before the finals was so critical - Luke Beveridge’s premiership team had an average game count of 82.

And in the Port Adelaide (2004), Geelong (2011) and Hawthorn (2015) flags, the average age of the playing group was more than 27 years.

But this clearly defined profile of an AFL premiership team does not mean every list manager and recruiting chief should be working to a premiership recipe of starting the season with 25-year-old players who have just reached their 100-game milestone.

The key to winning an AFL flag is having key defenders. And Crows defender Daniel Talia and Port Adelaide counterpart Tom Jonas are the pointers to why the SA-based AFL teams are primed to more than compete for a premiership.

Too often - far too often - when AFL clubs speak of building their premiership model, there is not enough focus (nor credit) given to the need for a great defender. Sydney bought key forward Lance Franklin by free agency, but has not won a flag. Geelong has loaded up its midfield this season, but the most telling note from its games this season - particularly against West Coast on Sunday - is the absence of key defender Harry Taylor.

Key defenders stand out when profiling the great premiership campaigns of this century.

Brisbane (2001-03) had Mal Michael and Justin Leppitsch. Port Adelaide (2004) had Darryl Wakelin and Chad Cornes. Geelong built its dynasty with the defensive work of the Cats’ full back of the century Matthew Scarlett and Taylor.

Daniel Talia and Rory Laird are mainstays of the Crows defence.

The Bulldogs in 2016 had their defence built on the unpassable Easton Wood, the premiership captain in fellow defender Robert Murphy’s absence by injury.

Richmond last year ended a 37-year premiership drought with All-Australian captain and full back Alex Rance being a key part of its line-up.

And of all the strategic recruiting that made for Hawthorn’s phenomenal success - with premierships in 2008, 2013-15 - the most important signings were defenders.

The Hawks chased Josh Gibson from North Melbourne to make him an integral part of their premiership defence. They lured Trent Croad back from Fremantle for the same need. And they took advantage of Brian Lake’s impasse at the Bulldogs to not only win three premierships (2013, 2014 and 2015) but also have him stand up as the best player in a grand final as the Norm Smith Medallist in 2013.

So it is no surprise that the sharp list managers want to secure defenders today - Melbourne with Jake Lever from Adelaide last year and many teams with Jeremy McGovern from West Coast today.

Some coaches are typecast as “attacking” - and I have worn that badge. But I have never underestimated the importance of key defenders and certainly live with great memories from the work of Ben Hart and Peter Caven in the 1998 grand final against North Melbourne.

Defenders who beat their opponents and also win the ball - and make good use of the ball out of defence - are the key to the premiership profile.

Great midfields and productive forward lines must regularly deliver scores of 15.12 (102) - the winning score of the past 20 years. But premiership teams also need great defenders, particularly those who can win the ball.

At the weekend, the Crows had this feature with Talia and Port Adelaide again noted how Jonas can set the agenda for a young defence.

Forwards win Coleman Medals. Midfielders win Brownlow Medals. But do not underestimate the importance of defenders in winning premiership medals.