AFL 2022: Collingwood defender Darcy Moore backs defence to tame star-studded Geelong forward line

A three-pronged Geelong forward attack has kicked 154 goals this year, but the Collingwood defence is ready.

They’ve kicked 108 goals between them in 2022 and Geelong forwards Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron have been labelled an “extraordinary combination” ahead of Saturday’s qualifying final showdown at the MCG.

But star Collingwood defender Darcy Moore also declared the “nimble and versatile” Magpie back six, which includes newly minted All-Australian Brayden Maynard, had the weapons and confidence to both shut them down and make them work, with a spot in the preliminary final up for grabs.

Geelong powered to the minor premiership on the back of a trio of all All-Australian seasons from Hawkins and Cameron, who both booted 59 goals, as well as another 46 from livewire forward Tyson Stengle, who earnt his first selection.

When the two teams met for the only time in 2022 in round 3, Cameron booted six goals to help Geelong turn a 30-point three-quarter-time deficit into a 13-point win.

Hawkins also kicked three that night as an early treat at what their partnership would become and Moore is under no illusions what he and his fellow defenders are up against.

“They are an extraordinary combination of forwards. They have had an incredible year,” he said on Monday.

“Their chemistry has developed as the year has gone on and it’s become such a powerful one-two punch, we are going to have to be on.

Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins have been unstoppable. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“But our young defence is nimble and versatile and we’ve shown over the last three or four months we have lots of different options to go to defensively. We are going to have bring all of our strengths to take them on.”

That’s what Moore said the well-drilled Magpies back six would do as well.

The Magpies haven’t given up more than 89 points in any of the past 13 games, 12 of which were wins, and have perfected the art of knowing when to defend and when to attack.

Moore said they wouldn’t be holstering any weapons on Saturday night despite knowing the calibre of the attacking guns they are facing.

“That’s been something our defence has done really well over the past few months, being able to recognise when we are conceding a lot of insides 50s and getting beaten around the ball and when we’ve got to hold up and stop scores,” he said.

“But we are No.1 in the league for intercepts and that is a massive strength of ours.

Brayden Maynard is stepping up in the big moments. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“We are going to bring it and take the game on and that’s what our best footy looks like.

“We are definitely going to try and chew gum and walk at the same time in that respect.”

Moore said the capacity shown by the Collingwood defence to hold up in big moments had been on display in the staggering run of close wins this season, and that experience could be crucial on Saturday night.

“We’ve got some experience with myself and Jeremy Howe and then we’ve got that core group of younger guys who are really taking agency in those big moments, guys like Jon Noble and Isaac Quaynor and Nick Daicos and Brayden Maynard,” he said.

“To be able to perform in as many close games as we have you need everyone in those moments being able to recognise that stuff.

“We’re just enjoying the ride. It’s something you have to enjoy. You do a lot of hard work from November to now to be ready for it.”

Originally published as AFL 2022: Collingwood defender Darcy Moore backs defence to tame star-studded Geelong forward line