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The 2021 Backline

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in Melbourne Demons

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4 hours ago, Grapeviney said:

Did what they’ve done all year - kept the opposition to 10 goals.

We win the game.

Rinse. Repeat. 

Exactly - defence isn't always pretty however it wins flags.  So happy for them, especially Hibbo. Came out of the Essendon saga and at one point this year I thought he might miss out.  Well done all

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    5 minutes ago, Waltham33 said:

    Exactly - defence isn't always pretty however it wins flags.  So happy for them, especially Hibbo. Came out of the Essendon saga and at one point this year I thought he might miss out.  Well done all

    And when you add that he lost his brother last year he was one of the players I was happiest for. Great story.

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    This is the best backline since the 1950's and they proved the old saying used by Norm Smith that defence saves games and attack from defence wins games.

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    7 minutes ago, durango said:

    This is the best backline since the 1950's and they proved the old saying used by Norm Smith that defence saves games and attack from defence wins games.

    100% agreed.

    I posted after our win over Sydney that it was indisputable that the 2021 backline was the best to represent our club in the modern era. Certainly since the early 90’s.

    They just gelled so well this year.

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    I wish Tomlinson and Hunt were in this photo too.

    3 superstars in their prime. 3 young guns who just got better as the year went on. 1 veteran who timed his run back in to the side right at the right moment.

    May clearly wasn't 100%, Lever didn't have a great game and Petty was kept away from it too. Credit the Dogs for really working around our talls for 2.5 quarters.

    But Hibberd and Rivers blanketed their men. Bowey and Salem were filling the gaps to take away the Dogs dangerous runners. And once the mids got back on top this backline found their stride and didn't look like coughing up a score.

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    They have squeezed the life out of teams especially in second halves. But they don’t just squeeze, they also connect and set up attacks.
    And so many times, when the mids slow the oppositions momentum, the rest of the mids and forwards run down and set an impenetrable zone.

    Bloody hard work but well rewarded. Couldn’t happen if some goose at AFL HQ decided to restrict players to netball like zones as another knee jerk reaction to help save Geelongs Gerries. 😡

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    10 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

    I wish Tomlinson and Hunt were in this photo too.

    3 superstars in their prime. 3 young guns who just got better as the year went on. 1 veteran who timed his run back in to the side right at the right moment.

    May clearly wasn't 100%, Lever didn't have a great game and Petty was kept away from it too. Credit the Dogs for really working around our talls for 2.5 quarters.

    But Hibberd and Rivers blanketed their men. Bowey and Salem were filling the gaps to take away the Dogs dangerous runners. And once the mids got back on top this backline found their stride and didn't look like coughing up a score.

    don't forget Nev!

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    Awesome unit.

    How was May this year?! Only missed one week with a fractured eye socket, then played the GF with a 6cm tear in his hammy that ordinarily would see him miss between 3-7 weeks.

    Lever with the highest average intercept marks ever.

    Petty coming in for Tommo and just looking awesome.

    Salem so composed but tough too. Rarely lost a one on one.

    Hibbo, after everything he went through with his brother and then being rested and looking like he wouldn't get back in.

    Rivers in his second year and Bowzer in game 7. Crazy.

    I really feel for Hunty. If he hadn't hurt his ankle he stays in and potentially wins a flag.

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    Pretty amazing to think that Tomlinson, Hunt and Smith all would have been part of the side if not for injuries.  Some reasonable depth!  Plus Hore, Disco and Deakyn Smith have decent wraps on them as well.

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