GWS winger Lachie Whitfield makes successful start in new role as a defender

FOR a novice defender Lachie Whitfield is doing an amazing impersonation of what a real one looks like as her challenged for best-on-ground honours in the Giants’ demolition of the Western Bulldogs.

Lachie Whitfield has stepped up in his new role as a defender. Picture: Getty Images

FOR a novice defender Lachie Whitfield is doing an amazing impersonation of what a seasoned one looks like.

His 34 disposals including 11 contested and 10 intercept in Sunday’s challenged Jeremy Cameron for best-on-ground honours in the Giants’ 82-point demolition of the Western Bulldogs.

It was as good as it gets for a player who is learning on the job and had never played as a defender until four weeks ago.

The loss of Nathan Wilson to Fremantle and Zac Williams’ achilles injury put a massive hole in the GWS set-up down back and forced Leon Cameron to think outside the square to fill the gaps.

Cameron’s first choice to do the job were young talents Isaac Cumming and Harry Perryman but they both ran into injury concerns themselves.

“I was pretty much the last option,” Whitfield told the Daily Telegraph.

“I’d done the majority of the pre-season playing on the wing. I had a quick chat with Leon and Mark McVeigh about the chance of me playing there and I’m still learning a lot.”

Lachie Whitfield is learning on the job playing in defence. Picture: Getty Images

While he might still be in primary school for backline players,Whitfield has two teammates at the PhD level in Phil Davis and Heath Shaw.

“I reckon I’ve got two of the smartest defenders in the competition to work alongside in Phil and Heath.

“The little tricks they’ve got, their bodywork and when to push up and when to defend is great.

“They are both very vocal in the way they teach but have different styles in terms of getting the message across. It makes life a lot easier for me having those two blokes there.”

Lachie Whitfield about to tackle Bulldogs opponent Mitch Honeychurch. Picture: AAP

While he might be new to the stopping caper, Whitfield is a No.1 draft pick and has an impressive footy IQ himself.

“You still have to defend on the wing but it’s a very different sort of defence,” Whitfield said.

“As a winger I’m used to guarding space instead of opponents. Now I need to be winning one on ones and playing off the back shoulder of my opponents. It’s straightened me up.

“You have the whole field in front of you and you aren’t co-ordinating with just half of the field. There’s more opportunities to get involved and more opportunities to drive the ball forward.”

One of the skills the 23-year-old has carried over from attack to defence is the ability to read the play.

In his sixth season and with 91 games under his belt, Whitfield is also developing a body of work to draw on.

“I still defend as if I’m a winger,” Whitfield said.

“I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do but I cut angles and try to intercept or make it harder for opposition midfielders who are bringing the ball forward. If they look up and see a wall of Giants defenders it makes it harder for them.”

Originally published as GWS winger Lachie Whitfield makes successful start in new role as a defender