AFL Cairns: How Crocs’ staunch defence powered a premiership
Defenders win premierships, the old adage says. Dylan Winton dissects how Port Douglas’ unique mix of talent, built a defensive wall in 2023.
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Pre-season is underway in Port Douglas, just seven weeks after Crocs tasted premiership glory, as they begin their assault on the 2024 season.
Crocs were the best team in the competition all year, and a major factor behind their success has been their backline, led by Brett Mckeown and Dylan Winton.
With seven flags in 10 years, Crocs’ pillars in defence have stood up time and time again, and this year’s grand final was no different.
They conceded only six goals in the grand final decider against Saints in a dominant defensive performance.
Centre-half backman Dylan Winton said that the mix of the group and their consistency has been a significant part of Crocs’ success.
“We see ourselves as a (defensive) team within a team,” Winton said.
“We work hard for each other and have a great balance between running half-backs and those who perform lockdown roles.
“Mckeown, Matthew Foy and Dillon Coates are the lockdown defenders in our side who can wear players down like a glove.
“Harvey Moore and I are the talls who play on the key forwards, but we also like to get across and help our teammates out.”
Howard Kennedy Medallist (grand final best on ground) Jared Petrenko and Daniel Davidson are instrumental to the Crocs’ set-up and dynamic ball movement.
Winton, Mckeown and Moore performed selfless roles with the aim to give Petrenko and Davidson the freedom to use their running power and skills to drive the ball out of the backline.
Petrenko’s role in the team is particularly intriguing, with his free rein to break the lines and venture deep into the forward line, epitomised by his two goals in the grand final.
“I think Jared does his best work at half-back, but his desire to win can put him in positions to be a goal threat,” Winton said.
“He can play pretty much anywhere.”
Former coach Brad Cooper implemented a rigid team-defensive structure during his highly successful coaching tenure at Crocs.
Jared Petrenko was appointed coach at the beginning of last season and introduced a more freedom-based approach to the team.
“Last season had definitely been less strict on positioning than the season before,” Winton said.
“Jared gave us freedom to play how we were comfortable playing, but most importantly beating our opponent one-on-one, whether we were a forward, back or midfielder.
Although their was loosened approach, Winton said their was still a team-defence in place.
“We like to press up the field and generate turnovers up the ground,” he said.
“We would get our midfielders, wings and ruckman to drop back and help us out in the back line.
“Our captain, Ben Mcphee, leads from the front in that regard.
“Ruckman Ethan McCullough, spends more time defensively than offensively and he likes to take intercept marks.”
Saints star Zac Straker is one of the most dangerous players in the league, but Mckeown was able to limit his impact on the final day of last season.
“Mckeown always gets the job done, no matter who he’s playing on, he always gives it a solid crack.” Winton said.
Crocs will aim to secure back-to-back premierships in 2024.
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Originally published as AFL Cairns: How Crocs’ staunch defence powered a premiership
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