All Australian team nomination for defenders

[Josh Battle]

The only Saint player that gets a mention in the link posted below is Hunter Clark

Should Dougal Howard, Callum Wilkie or Nick Coffield be in consideration?

What are their stats like compared to their peers and have they beaten their opponent in most games this year?

Is Jake Carlisle the best intercept mark in the Saints backline and what are his numbers (including defensive spoils, 1 percenters and pressure acts) compared to the people mentioned in the following analysis by a sports journo

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-26/ ... e/12596418

[mad saint guy]

Our only two in serious contention are Steele and Butler. I don't think anyone else would even make the squad

[Josh Battle]

I think Clark, Douggie and Coff have been very good for us and our backline is part of the reason we are a finals contender

I reckon Howard should be in consideration but maybe Andrews is the standout full back. Plus you can only have 1 spot for a FB in the team. Would love to see how many goals Howard’s direct opponents have scored?

[fugazi]

Howard, Clark, Coffield and Wilkie are all potential future AA 's.
Great recruiting.
Our backline have held out under alot of pressure this year, they will be a better unit for it next year.

[saintsRrising]

I think Clark, Douggie and Coff have been very good for us and our backline is part of the reason we are a finals contender

I reckon Howard should be in consideration but maybe Andrews is the standout full back. Plus you can only have 1 spot for a FB in the team. Would love to see how many goals Howard’s direct opponents have scored?

Yes Andrews is a ripper.

Younger than Dougal, but Andres has played 104 games vs Howard's 58 games.

The great thing about about our backline at present is that you can see real quality AND that they are all in the main so inexperienced and so will only get better and better both individually and as a unit.

Let's ignore Geary who in many games has not been in out backlinf this season. That leave's Carlisle as the one experienced player.

In terms of games played:

Paton 29 Howard 58 Wilkie 35
Coffield 30 Carlisle 145 Clark 41

Long 40

So just imagine how good that lot will be when they all have 100 games.

Carlisle will be 32 years old though, but hopefully Clavarino will have come on. If not then Battle 35 may settle back into CHB again as last season showed he can play there. Taylor at the Cats is 34 though. So Carlisle may be around fora while yet.

[Josh Battle]

Defenders Coff and Long rated amongst our most improved in 2020 according to Champion Data...also Jack Steele continuing his upward trajectory

Player 2019 2020 Diff

Jack Steele 95.1 119.5 24.4

Nick Coffield 57.0 78.8 21.8

Ben Long 51.9 68.9 17.0

He’s the Saints’ midfield man of Steele. Jack Steele is enjoying a standout season for St Kilda and is one of the most improved midfielders across the league. He is averaging 22 disposals a match, almost four marks and ranks in the elite category for tackles at 5.7 a game. He is catching the eye of AFL coaches, sitting fourth in the AFL Coaches Association player of the year leaderboard. Defenders Nick Coffield and Ben Long have scored the next highest rises for the Saints.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ ... fe146beb3e