AFL news: The big defensive changes that have made GWS AFL’s top ranked backline

The weapons were always there for the Giants defence. It just took a new philosophy, and a bit of trust, to turn them into one of the most dominant backlines in the AFL.

The Giants might be all about the flair in 2023, but it comes from a solid foundation from one of the AFL’s best backlines. Picture: Phil Hillyard Hillyard )

When Adam Kingsley took on the Giants’ coaching role, he had a clear vision of how he wanted his side to play.

First and foremost was bringing back the Orange Tsunami. It was the phrase made famous under Leon Cameron for the Giants’ ability to attack with speed.

It’s returned with ferocity in 2023 with their midfield able to move the ball at pace to get it into the forward 50 as quickly as possible.

That exhilarating game plan has turned their season around, winning 11 of their past 14 games to put them just two victories away from another grand final appearance.

But they’ve only been able to play that way because of the incredible faith they have in their defence who have turned into the competition’s best backline.

Sam Taylor has built on his form as one of the competition’s best key defenders. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“It gives you a lot of trust,” Josh Kelly said.

“The group has grown over the year; they were strong from the start, but they continue to grow and grow every week.”

Since round 13, the Giants have the best record in the AFL for opposition scores per inside 50, points against from turnovers and points against from the defensive half.

That change in profile has been overseen by Brett Montgomery who arrived at GWS in the off-season as one of Kingsley’s first appointments.

After four years at Port Adelaide, he joined the Giants as their defensive line coach and knew immediately the pieces were in place for something special to emerge.

“I was always a fan (of the Giants’ defence) from afar,” Montgomery said.

“When you’ve got an offence that plays a certain way, you’ve got to defend in a manner that really supports it. You can’t have them working in isolation. (That’s) what a modern defence looks like.

“It’s marrying it up with all the other aspects of the game so it’s not just pure defence. This team can be an outstanding pure defence, but it’s what else they offer that is where the gold is.”

Kingsley and Montgomery have worked together to get their defenders playing in a modern way. Picture: Phil Hillyard

It’s telling that while the defensive profile has improved, the Giants have also become the number-one offensive team since round 18 with the fourth-most points from their own half.

Montgomery, Kingsley and the other coaches encouraged their players to have the faith to take the game on if they saw the opportunity. It didn’t take long in pre-season to see the group buying into the philosophy.

“Times gone past, whether it be here or elsewhere, once the ball was won back that was a defender’s job done,” Montgomery said.

“And that’s clearly not what we’re coaching here.

“Every man has got a part to play in the defence and everyone is just as important in offence. It’s a two-sided game we’re playing.

“We have got a very determined and committed 18-man defence at the moment.

“The beauty of this group is their open-mindedness to take on new things, even though they were going well prior to this year. They could see the benefit of slight changes and how they would impact our entire game style.”

Harry Himmelberg has had one of his most consistent years of footy thanks to his new role in the backline. Picture: Michael Klein

One of the first conversations Montgomery had with Kingsley was about Harry Himmelberg and moving him back to defence where he has thrived this season.

The backline was always going to be built around last year’s All-Australian Sam Taylor, but he needed support. Connor Idun and Jack Buckley have both taken that to the next level, emerging as elite company.

“I think the story of the year is almost Jack Buckley,” Montgomery said. “He mirrors what this club has been able to do in the past 12 months.”

In front of them have been the two Lachies, Whitfield and Ash, dashing off the halfback flank. Ash in particular has benefited from a consistent role in defence and the trust being placed in him to play his part.

“You go into each game knowing your role and not having to guess,” Ash said. “My job is a defender. Having the footy isn’t defending, the other stuff comes from that.

“When we aren’t going too well, the coaches back us in to bounce back from that. Previously, the tendency might be to change it rather than stay and let us work our way out of it.

“That’s held us in good stead for those big moments. We know how to get ourselves out of them … rather than make changes.”

Ash had a standout game against St Kilda in the elimination final with 31 touches and nine intercept possessions. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Regardless of when their 2023 season comes to an end, the most exciting part for the Giants is the potential for the future.

Buckley (25), Taylor (24), Harry Perryman (24), Idun (23) and Ash (22) are all 25 and under. The experienced Whitfield (29) and Himmelberg (27) still have plenty of footy to go.

And not one of the group lacks the motivation to know their best is still ahead of them.

“It’s a fantastic foundation,” Montgomery said. “These guys should play a lot of footy together.

“They’re in a real sweet spot with plenty of good times to come.”