Clark backs his Giant small defender

Clark backs his Giant small defender

Is Paddy Dwyer the number one small defender in the GDFL?

Third year Geelong West coach Andrew Clark replied to the question on the eve of the speedster’s 50th senior game with another.

“He’d go close wouldn’t he?”

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“Paddy doesn’t do much wrong, he’s quick and he’s good overhead,” Clark replied.

Dwyer looks to be on track for a second straight GDFL interleague squad selection following impressive performances against Winchelsea and Bannockburn.

The former Daylesford junior looked to be upstaged under lights in Round 1 when Winchelsea recruit Matt Costello (former Grovedale) collected 25 disposals on the opposite end.

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However the former Giants’ (interim) captain would return to his best when recording 17 disposals against a quality Tiger side on the weekend.

His intercepts would help his side grab a 20-point lead half way through the afternoon with multiple spoils and smothers on display in miserable conditions.

Other small defenders across the region Michael Best (Inverleigh) and Will Urquhart (Bell Post Hill) did not receive the same fortune in recent weeks.

Even Werribee vice captain Chris Koutzamanis returned from a suspension last week before he was again reported for verbal abuse (against Inverleigh) accepting a two week suspension.

“Paddy had a really good pre-season because last year he was interrupted injury wise; this time around he hasn’t missed a beat,” Clark added.

“I think in Round 1 he would have been in our best five and his first three quarters against Bannockburn were great on the weekend.”

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Bannockburn managed to hold the Giants off just as they had in Dwyer and Clark’s (then as an assistant) GDFL debut in Round 1, 2015 at the same venue.

They will now return home to the West Oval and enter this Saturday’s twilight game against North Geelong as favourites.

“He (Dwyer) made a few errors in the last quarter but in saying that he certainly wasn’t alone there,” Clark said.

“I’d still say that if he’s not the best small defender in the competition then he’d be in the top two.”

By Alex Tigani
GDFL Media (16/04/2018)
Statistics from Forssman Champion Data

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