Jake Carlisle, Michael Hibberd, Dustin Fletcher, Mark Baguley and Cale Hooker have all been consistent performers through the first 12 rounds of the season.
“We have been really fortunate that we have had a really settled defence and some guys have shown some improvement and I think that has come over the summer,” Assistant coach Sean Wellman said.
“They have all had a good pre-season with Cale Hooker, Michael Hibberd, Jake Carlisle and Mark Baguley all being able to do an enormous amount of work over the pre-season which has helped them during the season.”
“What we preach is that if there is a weak link in defence it puts a lot of pressure on the other guys so what I have been impressed with is the consistency of all the guys doing their job every week.”
Jake Carlisle’s rapid improvement is evident in the numbers with the key defender missing just one match this season averaging eight marks a game and holding most of the competitions key forwards to under three goals.
Carlisle’s scalps this season have included Matthew Pavlich (0 goals), Travis Cloke (2 goals), Tom Hawkins (2 goals) and Jack Riewoldt (2 goals).
Dustin Fletcher has continued his amazing record as he nears the club’s games record and Cale Hooker has taken the mantle as the best intercept mark defender in the competition.
Alongside Carlisle, Fletcher and Hooker is the much-improved Michael Hibberd with his pace and dash out of defence a hallmark of Dons forward thrusts in 2013.
Hibberd has not missed a game this season, averaging 23 disposals a game and leading the Bombers in rebounds out of 50.
Wellman said Hibberd had set up his ‘very good’ season so far through a strong pre-season over the summer months.
“Michael set a goal to be more consistent and also the last two years he has got a major injury that has derailed his season,” he said.
“I think it started for him pre-season, he was one of the guys that went to Colorado, he did a terrific job there.”
“He came back fit and now knows the importance of getting his body right because he just has an enormous amount of talent.”
Mark Baguley has also continued his development this season after being promoted from the rookie list in the off-season.
Baguley has missed just one game this season after playing seven matches in his first AFL season in 2012.
“Mark Baguley is just hungry, he just wants it so he has come to the club and hasn’t wasted any time,” Wellman said.
“He has been given some areas last year we really wanted him to improve on and he has just embraced those and just wants to get better.”
“He comes to the club every day wanting to be a better player and they are the type of people you want around your football club.”
Wellman praised the performances of Tayte Pears and Kyle Hardingham this season who have both struggled to get a senior game due to the consistency of the defence.
“It is credit to guys like Tayte Pears and Kyle Hardingham who we believe have improved their football but there have been limited opportunities because the guys who have got the opportunities first up have been really consistent,” Wellman said.
“There is a lot of pressure outside the team for spots as well which I think is really healthy for us.”
“You certainly have to share the load because you do get injuries at times and you do need guys to step up.”
