Tom Clurey says Port Adelaide’s no-frills defence is on alert for improved St Kilda attack
Why Tom Clurey backs Port Adelaide’s no-frills defence to get the job done - but sees the dangers lurking in an underrated St Kilda attack.
- Trade HQ: Will Port’s recruiting gamble pay off?
- How Port’s season turned around in Perth
- What are the magic numbers for AFL finals?
- Trengove’s final dream alive
- Bone’s beef: All the way with Port’s DBJ ban
TOM Clurey – the kid with a removable tooth who epitomises Port Adelaide’s no-frills defence – sees the peril in an underrated St Kilda attack hitting its straps.
St Kilda’s triumph against Melbourne last Sunday saw it exceed 100 points for the first time since its season-opening win against Brisbane.
Ken Hinkley trusts Clurey with football’s biggest jobs from Josh Kennedy to Lance Franklin but the 54-game defender notes how St Kilda’s unheralded forwards overwhelmed Melbourne.
“St Kilda have been playing excellent the last couple of weeks. They had a very good win over Melbourne, showed lots of improvement. We will be rocking up with the same intent we have over the last month or so,” said full back Clurey.
Jack Gresham and Tim Membrey booted four each against the Demons while 2014 AFL No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin slotted two in his 12th game this season. Midfielder Jack Billings responded to escaping his VFL exile with 24 touches and nine inside 50 against the Demons.
“A few of those players have been bobbing up, they are a very lively team who can be very dangerous on their day,” said Clurey, who plays with a denture after fainting while exiting a spa and knocking teeth out before drafted by Port.
Clurey has been a constant for Hinkley, missing one game over the past two seasons in a defence that has dealt without Tom Jonas, Jack Hombsch and Jasper Pittard for periods due to injury and suspension.
Kid from Katamatite Clurey has relished a fast tracked AFL apprenticeship while Dougal Howard, Riley Bonner and Dan Houston complete a young-blood backline.
“For me playing on the key forwards, big names is when you learn the most,” said Clurey, grounded by a country upbringing on his family’s wheat and canola farm near Shepparton.
“I think we have held up pretty well this year especially in some big games.
“We have shared the load a bit. I think we have gelled well, a good, tight unit.”
Defensive coach Nathan Bassett deserves enormous credit for the development of a low-profile, high-impact defence says Clurey.
“Before Bass came here I was struggling a bit to find my feet but has been really supportive, understanding, an excellent coach and understands the game so well, a great teacher,” said Clurey with Port’s defence getting ‘massive belief’ out of the round 14 win against Melbourne repelling 69 inside 50s.
Clurey debuted as a 19-year-old in round one, 2014, before watching Port’s slide through 2015 and 2016. Wins against St Kilda, Fremantle, GWS and Western Bulldogs that could cement a top four berth won’t be taken for granted.
“This is when it does start to get real with finals a couple of months away. They next few weeks will be very big for us,” said Clurey.
Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >