2020 AFL Dream Team: Who is the AFL’s best lockdown defender?
They don’t usually feature in membership campaigns and are best known for shutting down superstars. But lockdown defenders are a key to any successful side. Who is the AFL’s best?
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No AFL team is complete without a lockdown defender, somebody who can quell a hot spot arising in an opposition forward line.
Some are defensively minded, concentrating on taking an opponent completely out of the game, others combine attack with stoppage.
Over the next 18 days in the countdown to the AFL season opener between Carlton and Richmond on March 19 at the MCG, the Herald Sun will nominate 18 players by position as the best of the best in the competition, with our best team to be matched up against yours on March 19.
Yesterday we nominated the game’s top key defenders. Today we present five of the best lockdown defenders in today’s game.
2. LOCKDOWN DEFENDER
Some will be surprised to see a player with such natural attacking instincts listed under the “lockdown” category, but what it highlights is just what a fine all-round defender Saad became in his eighth AFL season. Like defensive greats in Corey Enright and Luke Hodge, Saad has discovered the key as to when to defend and when to attack.
SuperCoach price: $443,500 DEF. 2019 Average: 83.
Champion Data says: Saad recorded a defensive rating of +50 per cent last season – ranked fifth of all general defenders. He kept all of Charlie Cameron, Luke Breust and Eddie Betts goalless.
Jake Kolodjashnij (Geelong)
Lacks the disposal numbers of Saad and doesn’t have the same impact in terms of metres gained, but the quiet achiever in Geelong’s defence has developed into a regular presence who can be relied upon to take his opponent out of the game. His 2019 finals performances on Jack Darling, Jordan De Goey and Jack Riewoldt were career-defining.
SuperCoach Price: $297,600 DEF. 2019 Average: 55.
Champion Data says: Kolodjashnij recorded a defensive rating of plus 30 per cent last season. He also rated above average for intercept marks and spoils.
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Brad Sheppard (West Coast)
After missing the Eagles’ 2018 premiership through injury, Sheppard slotted straight back into defence as both a marking option (a career high 188) or lockdown expert. At 187cm, Sheppard can play small or tall and goes about his work in an understated but extremely effective manner.
SuperCoach price: $455,700 DEF. 2019 average 55
Champion Data says: Sheppard won 38 per cent of his defensive one-on-one contests last season – ranked 10th of the top-50 players to have defended a contest. He also rated above average for intercept marks.
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Brayden Maynard (Collingwood)
The 23-year-old with a penchant for sharp hairstyles took his game to a higher level in 2019, combining his natural hard-nosed defensive work with an average 19 possessions and increased run from the back half. Maynard can play tall (Jack Darling in Round 17) or small (Gary Ablett in a qualifying final).
SuperCoach price: $433,900 DEF. 2019 average: 82.
Champion Data says: Maynard won 40 per cent of his defensive one-on-one contests last season – ranked sixth of the top-50 players to have defended a contest. He also rated elite for pressure points and tackles.
Lachie Plowman (Carlton)
The Blues have long believed they have a pair of defensive beauties from GWS in Caleb Marchbank and Plowman. Injury has held Marchbank back but Plowman flourished in 2019. He can play big or small and has natural poise which allows him to make good decisions both with and without the ball.
SuperCoach price: $392,800 DEF. 2019 average: 72.
Champion Data says: Plowman had the ninth-hardest match-ups of any general defender last season, but still recorded a defensive rating of plus 15 per cent. He also rated elite for intercept marks and spoils.
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Originally published as 2020 AFL Dream Team: Who is the AFL’s best lockdown defender?