Departing veteran Easton Wood has backed the Western Bulldogs’ defensive unit to play a key role in keeping the AFL club firmly in flag contention next year.
Wood announced his retirement on Friday, leaving a significant hole in a back line that was repeatedly questioned by critics – including coaching legend Mick Malthouse – throughout 2021.
The criticism prompted stinging rebukes from Dogs mentor Luke Beveridge, who was somewhat vindicated as his side navigated a path to the grand final.
The Bulldogs’ stacked midfield and dangerous forward line garner most of the external attention but Wood is equally enamoured with the defensive group.
The 2016 premiership captain likes what he sees in a back line led by key duo Alex Keath and Zaine Cordy, with Ryan Gardner and remodelled former forward Josh Schache available as tall support.
Wood said the arrival of free agency recruit Tim O’Brien and return of Hayden Crozier, who was concussed late last season and missed a finals spot, would hold the defence in good stead.
All Australian pair Bailey Dale and Caleb Daniel add class at half back and Taylor Duryea is a valuable small lockdown option.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
“The stocks look fine,” Wood said.
“Hayden Crozier is one hell of a player and he wasn’t in the team for that finals run.
“He’ll slot straight back in and we picked up Tim O’Brien recently from Hawthorn as well.”
O’Brien starred when Hawthorn upset the Bulldogs in Round 22, claiming 14 intercept possessions and three contested marks.
“He absolutely chopped us … he was intercepting everything,” Wood said.
“He could slot nicely into my shoes, by the looks.”
Wood had one season left to run on his contract but conceded in recent weeks that injuries and a decline in his physical capabilities meant he was no longer up to the rigours of AFL football.
The 32-year-old admitted the thought of persevering in pursuit of another premiership had crossed his mind, with the Bulldogs seemingly primed for another crack.
“It’s hard to leave at all but obviously really hard to leave when the team’s in such a formidably strong position and we look really primed for a sustained crack at the pointy end for years to come,” Wood said.
“But having been part of building that foundation, I’m really proud to leave the club in a strong position knowing that they’ll be fine without me.
“That probably made it easier to make the decision (rather) than harder.”
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yep counter point: you have tim O’Brien who’s a better key forward then defender. You can swing him forward and naughton back
berrlins
Roar Pro
they were most likely mentally halfway down to the pub. that last minute would have been so deflating. being down 6 points at 3/4 time could have been doable and I think even a totally different game but just how quickly Melbourne blew it out would have killed them, like you said.
berrlins
Roar Pro
the problem with shifting Naughto to defence is we lose our best and most experienced key forward now that Bruce is down. I imagine eventually he'll become a swing man like Pete suggested, but that's when we have a 3 pronged forward line fit and firing we're a little ways away from that.
DarwinDee
Guest
Having watched the second half roughly 100 times your bang on but I wouldn't be too harsh on them - Melbourne killed them off in 2 devastating bursts in the third quarter (first one closed the gap in under a minute of game time, second extended the lead from 6 points to 24 in 33 seconds of game time)... it must be so hard to finish off a GF when a side that is so much fitter has all but buried you with a quarter to go. Here was never going to be a comeback. Can't imagine where the Dogs were mentally at 3/4 time.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
True mate it’s a terrible dilemma Need to fix pronto Ross Lyon as an assistant coach would help Scott or as an advisor
Boo
Guest
Geelong folded in the second half of the 2020 GF and Scott's mistake for 2021 was not changing the defense at all .Sure Smith and Cameron boosted the side but no significant changes to the back six .Doggies need to learn from Geelongs mistake and strengthen the defense .
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Nah the joke is on the dogs (2points a minute) :laughing: Boo it was bloody disgraceful that performance in last Qtr
Boo
Guest
Chanon let me in on the joke .
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Hahaha
Boo
Guest
Good luck to Easton Wood retiring early will only enhance his status at the doggies.Big problems in defence for the Bulldogs in the last 40 odd minutes of the GF the Demons outscored them by about 2 points a minute have to re structure after that .Yes they will be around about the mark just like my Cats that don't get you a flag .
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Bevo loves to do the unexpected
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah I don’t think he wants to play centre half back. At least naughton was drafted as a key defender. Darcy has barely played there so
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Depends on a rapidly beefed up Jamarra over the pre season then maybe Bevo would consider this option but doubtful Also Charlie, Bevo has huge wraps on Sam Darcy all 205cm Reckon he could play CHB at some point early in 22’
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
O’Brien is not much of a backman. I think you can test naughton down back in the pre season for at least a little bit
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Charlie with Bruce out with ACL, Bevo won’t entertain any idea of sending the young prodigy into defence! A beefed up Buku & O’Brien should steady the ship as long as Martin can stay fit & Sweet can put on a bit more muscle we should be ok!
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
The problem is the dogs traded Roughead who’s important to the Pies structure and they don’t really have anyone that can put the clamps to a good key forward
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Naughton can become the Doggies Darcy Moore. Sit him at CHB and let him jump at everything.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I think Ugle Hagan’s agility means you can easily play him in a forward line with three tall forwards. He plays like Jeremy Cameron. I think Naughton is the answer to the bulldogs key defensive woes he’s athletic and he knows how to leap at the ball
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
What? You can read about Easton Wood on any AFL-themed website. Hard to tell if you're drunk or not, so I'll assume you meant Kye Declase, you know, the player who was on the Melbourne Demons list until last week.
berrlins
Roar Pro
They're probably one tall defender short in reality which is nothing new, the media has been writing about that ad nauseam, O'brien will slot right in but Crozier is the one we'll be looking forward to. If they persist with Naughton in the forward line I imagine one of Darcy or Ugle Hagan will be tried down back during the summer to give them some height. The Bulldogs defence's greatest asset is their ablity to sling shot of defence with lethal ball use, but if they're forced into one on one's they get into trouble with only Keith having the height to really combat the big forwards. They were good enough to make a grand final and stayed top 2 for most of the year so I would back Beveridge in to be able to work something out.