Bailey, ‘Kozzy’ and ‘the Wizard’ have made it, but the strength of this side is in who misses out |
Bailey, ‘Kozzy’ and ‘the Wizard’ have made it, but the strength of this side is in who misses out
June 7, 2026 — 5:00am
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The game’s best defender over the past four years, Harris Andrews, has not produced at his premium level this year, while the AFL’s highest-paid player, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, has been curtailed by injury.
Hawthorn’s Josh Battle has been better than solid, but not All-Australian standard. Ditto Bulldogs playmaker Bailey Dale and Fremantle’s Jordan Clark. Giant Sam Taylor, whose aerial prowess rivals that of Andrews, has barely played.
Not one defender from the AFL’s official team of the year in 2025 has performed at a level sufficient to make this All-Australian team at the season’s mid-point.
Carlton’s Jacob Weitering, a constant contender for a berth in the AFL’s best side, is another tall defender whose output has been below his standard.
Maybe the rule changes and the quicker ball movement and greater space have made it harder for the AFL’s defenders as scoring has risen. Or, in Andrews’ and Weitering’s case, are they predominantly victims of downturns of their teams’ midfields?
Whatever the cause, gun defenders – be they tall backs or runners who set up play – haven’t stood out as they did in the previous decade. Up to his injury, Wanganeen-Milera had been deployed everywhere; he wasn’t a half-back any longer.
The only absolute standout tall defender isn’t a genuine key-position player, St Kilda’s co-captain Callum Wilkie, who often finds himself matched to taller opponents, and yet finds a way to stymie the behemoths and........