Top 5 - Take 5 Defenders (23.09.2026)

Mark Duffield (0:04)

Okay, so it's Wednesday, which means we're doing Defenders, and we're doing them in the first hour, because we've got Duff and the Doctor coming up in the second hour, straight after the news.

Starting with Alex Pearce, the Fremantle captain, a pivotal figure in the come from behind victory over the Sydney Swans, because he was the bloke on Charlie Kerneau for most of the night. Now, Alex Pearce only had the nine disposal, only had the six intercept possessions, but he kept Charlie Kerneau to 10 disposals and to just the one goal. And he took that massive one-on-one contested mark on Kerneau in the last quarter to make sure Fremantle didn't squander the momentum they were bleeding.

Second one, Tom McCartan down the other end, while Alex Pearce was knobbling bloody Charlie Kerneau, Tom McCartan was knobbling Josh Tracy. So he had 11 intercept possessions, 16 disposals, four marks. He kept Josh Tracy to just the eight disposals. And hopefully, Brisbane doesn't have anyone who can do that to the big kahuna this weekend because he is absolutely pivotal to Fremantle's chances. Number three, Heath Chapman. So 10 intercept possessions, 20 disposals, six marks, 395 metres gained. A couple of big moments in the last quarter where he stood tall, including one contested mark. He is a very good player and he's a very underrated player. People haven't yet worked out how good he is. Number four, Harris Andrews, the Brisbane skipper. As usual, stood up when it mattered. In a game that was played for the forwards, not the defenders, he took several intercept marks in the third quarter. Eleven disposals, six marks, and six intercept possessions. And number five, James Sicily. We might not like the way he carries on at times, but he's a hell of a player. Three contested marks, four score involvements, eight intercept possessions, fifteen disposals, and a very good goal. There is your defenders for the preliminary final week. And after the news, we'll be back with Dr. Sean Gorman, Duff and the Doctor, special guest today, Michael O'Loughlin.