Western Bulldogs captain Easton Wood says the 6-6-6 rule removes sneaky strategies that make life hell for defenders

Western Bulldogs captain Easton Wood believes the new 6-6-6 rule doesn’t present a problem for defenders, instead he’s confident the simplified approach will help the league’s backmen.

Western Bulldogs captain Easton Wood believes the AFL’s new starting positions rule will help defenders. Picture: Michael Klein

Western Bulldogs captain Easton Wood has dismissed concerns the new 6-6-6 rule spells doom for defenders.

The commonly-held belief is that the introduction of set positions at centre bounces will thrust backmen into more one-on-one situations and therefore make them vulnerable.

Hawthorn stopper James Sicily this week said his job had become more difficult due to “so much space”.

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Western Bulldogs captain Easton Wood believes the AFL’s new starting positions rule will help defenders. Picture: Michael Klein

But Wood believed the new rule would actually simplify things.

“Initially, at each centre bounce I think it makes it easier so I’m quite excited,” Wood told the Herald Sun.

“It’s great cause it’s always going to be six versus six.”

Wood has spent the pre-season preparing for life in defence after last year’s forward line experiment gone wrong.

He said the complex strategies in the modern game meant a 6-6-6 rule stripped it all back.

“Normally, teams are playing tricks like playing ‘push throughs’ or wingers are sliding down or whatever, so when you go out there as a defender you’re always counting the numbers,” Wood said.

“You’re constantly trying to figure out where the forward’s are going because normally the highest forward can push in and join the midfield or they go the whole way around and rip through.

“So this isn’t going to make too much difference. Right at the start it makes it easier for us, I believe.”

James Sicily fears defenders will have to change their games to survive the new rules. Picture: Getty Images

Speaking after this week’s Hawthorn practice match, Sicily said he would have to change his approach.

“We’re going to have to figure out ways where we can still execute our team defence because we are so spread out. But we’ll keep working on it and have a look at vision and see ways that we can use it to our advantage,” he said.

“It (my role) is going to change a little bit so we’ll just have to adapt to it.”

North Melbourne star Shaun Higgins has predicted higher scoring and faster scoring would be seen regularly.

“With the 6-6-6 from centre bounces … once you break that first line of the midfielders, you haven’t got that extra coming off the back of the square — there’s no protection at all,” Higgins said.

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