This title may appear on the surface as an oxymoron, however the defenders in our game are cruelly ignored when it comes to the awards season. In reality it is impossible to be a successful side without a strong defence to blanket quality forwards and launch attacks.

I recently wrote a piece on AFL players with high IQ which turned out to be predominantly midfielders (which goes without saying let’s face it). Footy Almanac regular Micky Randall suggested doing the same for defenders which is a great idea but I think requires slightly different measures.

I’ve tried to mention a ‘stopper’ or two here but have highlighted the defenders who have turned defence into attack more often than not. Anyway, as usual it’s hugely debatable but I’ve put together a list from my limited knowledge.

St Kilda – Danny ‘Spud’ Frawley. The king of the spoil and heart and soul of the club. Austin Jones. He spent time on the wing but I remember his early days and his electrifying runs from defence. Sam Fisher. Could stop big forwards and create forward thrusts. Sam Gilbert. I recently bumped into him on the street and apologised for screaming “don’t think Dilbert” on a regular basis from the cheap seats. He was very generous and agreed that sometimes he didn’t like having too much time to dispose of the ball. Having said that ‘Gilbo’ was capable of breathtaking acts that were often extremely brave so for sheer entertainment value, he’s in.

GWS – Phil Davis and Nick Haynes have been outstanding stalwarts for the club but for me Sam Taylor may well be the best tall defender in the competition right now and for the next ten years.

Adelaide – Tyson Edwards was a brilliant midfielder who selflessly spent a lot of time in defence helping out, but I couldn’t go past Ben Hart. Disciplined, athletic and looking to attack at all times.

Fremantle – Because the art of tagging is seemingly dead these days I have to mention Ryan Crowley and Matt De Boer (more-so at GWS) who were awesome but Luke McPharlin played a huge part in Freo’s best years around 2013.

West Coast –  So many champion defenders in those 92/94/2006 premierships but I’ve gone for a couple of lesser appreciated. David Hart did a long apprenticeship and ended up an All Australian with his creativity and Ashley McIntosh rarely made an error. Both men were incredibly reliable.

Port Adelaide – It’s all about now for Port. They are readying themselves for a successful few years ahead and it will contain Kane Farrell, Dan Houston, Aliir Aliir and a little known defender and one to watch in Dylan Williams. All have excellent skills and read the play well beyond their years.

Gold Coast – Steven May. Has had his moments off the field but his talent can’t be denied.

Sydney –  I loved Rod ‘Tilt’ Carter and Sydney have had some of the most dour defenders that I can remember. One who was probably underestimated perhaps because of his rugby union background was Lewis Roberts-Thomson. A tremendous athlete and fearless, he along with his other unorthodox team mate Tadhg Kennelly, relished rebounding attacks from the opposition.

North Melbourne – I loved David Dench as a kid and Mick Martyn certainly played in a similar vein, but I can’t go past Ross Glendinning. A star in WA and then in the VFL, he had the size to be a swingman when needed but was one of the best creative centre half backs to play the game.

Carlton – Geoff Southby was a classic full back and Ken Hunter was breathtaking running off half back and forever winning mark of the year awards, however it can only ever be ‘The Flying Doormat’ Bruce Doull. Class personified, Bruce could easily have played in the modern era.

Essendon – Apologies to Terry Daniher, Garry Foulds, Bomber Thompson and Gavin Wanganeen but I couldn’t go past Dustin Fletcher. I never understood the criticism he received regarding the fact that he didn’t always take the best forward. I think Kevin Sheedy enjoyed using Fletcher as an attacking defender when his other match ups were set. Often Fletcher would be left to take out a small forward, which must have been a nightmare. He was the most flexible tall defender I saw and had Inspector Gadget arms along with superb closing speed. He could also kick a decent torp!

Collingwood – My partner Lynda would kill me if I didn’t mention Billy Picken. Never a great kick but for sheer will and passion, absolutely. Other than Billy I’m going straight to the now. Quaynor, Murphy and Moore. They have a license to attack and they maximise it to the hilt. Exciting times ahead for the Pies.

Melbourne – Jake Lever along with May have delivered on what the team needed but Christian Salem is a great decision maker and often slips under the radar.

Geelong – Gary Malarkey was the consummate stopper for East Perth and The Cats and my favourite through the 80s and 90s was Andrew Bews. Tough and very skilful, ‘The Rat’ was the ultimate competitor. The 2007/09/11 premiership teams were full of gifted defenders. Darren Milburn was a junkyard dog who bled blue and white but my favourite (except in 2009) was Cory Enright. Described by fellow six time All Australian Matthew Scarlett as the best player he ever saw, Enright was silky smooth and regularly made his opponents look stupid in comparison.

Richmond – The Richmond teams of the 70s must have been hard to play against but I’m going with Bachar Houli and Alex Rance. Stars in Richmond’s resurgence in 2017, Rance was an athletic freak who had incredible closing speed and could take on the strongest forwards in the game one on one. Houli was a running machine with that unique ability to go from zero to a hundred in no time.

Footscray – I always got Matthew Boyd and Dale Morris mixed up when they played. They were similar in their effort and skill and I’m sure are adored by Doggies supporters. Having said that, my favourite was Chris Grant. The prototype of the modern footballer these days, Grant’s game was not unlike Glendinning except the great Kangaroo wasn’t denied a Brownlow like Grant. Put simply, Grant was the complete player, physically and mentally.

Brisbane – So many champions during their reign in the early 2000’s but for me it was Chris Johnson. Clever, conniving and brilliantly skilled, Johnson was a natural defender although had the Lions not had such a legendary midfield, he could have easily ended up in there.

Hawthorn – I loved Chris Mew because he was so humble and dependable and his mate Chris Langford at full back was rarely beaten. I will however go with arguably the one defender who revolutionised the way defenders like to play today, and that’s Gary Ayres. Apologies to fellow dual Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge, but the sight of ‘Conan’ beating his opponent on the ground or in the air then charging down the ground, mullet flapping gloriously in the breeze, is unforgettable.  Ayres would go on to coach Geelong and Adelaide but my strongest memories of him will be as a dual premiership coach in the VFL with Port Melbourne. The style of play he achieved with those standalone teams was outstanding and I’m confused as to why he never got another chance in the AFL.

One thing you don’t see so much on TV or from the bleachers at a game is the level of communication that great defenders provide. They have the best view of the game and are constantly setting up the team structures when the ball is neutral or at a stoppage.

Luke Hodge was one of the more animated and most organised defenders in the AFL.  Bruce Doull famously never spoke. According to his champion team mate Rod Ashman, the most he heard Bruce say after a game was, “whose shout?”  It was quite the opposite on the ground when Ashman and his fellow midfielders were being ordered around and organised by the great man.

As a player I had centre half backs such as Frank Lesiputty and Kevin O’Keefe terrorising me for years if I dropped off in intensity or needed to pick up an opponent. Frankly they never shut up.

Defenders are like mobile phones. They’re a pain in the neck but you can’t live without them.