Top 5 - Take 5 Defenders (24.06.2026)

**SPEAKER_1** (0:01)
This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required, compatibility and availability varies 18 plus.
Hey, I just Venmo'd you for run.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:28)
Nice, now I can instantly spend it whether I'm checking out online with Venmo or using the Venmo debit card.

**Mark Duffield** (0:33)
Say more.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:35)
More exactly, because the more you do with Venmo, the more you get. Like earning up to 5% cash back with Venmo stash on a bundle of brands.

**Mark Duffield** (0:42)
So order more pizza.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:44)
The math demands it.

**Mark Duffield** (0:45)
Get the Venmo debit card.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:47)
Venmo stash bundle terms and exclusions apply. See terms at venmo.me stash stash terms. Venmo checkout not available at all merchants. Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank NA.

**Mark Duffield** (1:00)
Yes, of course, because we have Duff and the Doctor in the second hour today, we do Take 5 in the first hour. It is Defenders today.
Paul Heath joins me in the studio. I'm not defensive of this.

**SPEAKER_1** (1:11)
There's Five, there's Apologies.

**Mark Duffield** (1:13)
So they've done a lot better than the Fords this week. They have, yes.

**SPEAKER_2** (1:17)
Kick it off with number one.

**Mark Duffield** (1:18)
Strong week for the Defenders. Must be winter.
So Alex Pearce, I think this guy is the conscience of the freeman or football team.
He's just there. He's just there when you need him. So 11 intercept possessions, five score involvements, three contested marks, including a couple in the last quarter when the Cats were coming. 18 disposals, 11 marks overall. It was a career high for him as well, those 11 marks. Number two? Mack Andrew. So some people call him Mad Mack, but he was good Mack. Mad Mack's good. He was good Mack against the Hawks while his team was struggling a bit. 26 disposals, 11 marks, 363 meters gained, 11 intercept possessions, seven score involvements, two of his marks in contest. A player of great talent.

**SPEAKER_1** (2:05)
Number three, another mark?

**Mark Duffield** (2:06)
Mark Kane on his way back from a serious leg injury and was close to best on ground in Adelaide's win at the weekend. 22 disposals, 10 marks, five tackles, 376 meters gained, two contested marks, nine intercept possessions, six score involvements. Of course, that performance against Melbourne. Number four, Jeremy Howe took a mark of the year contender. Apparently, that's his 41st over the course of his career. Kane does still have the hops well into his 30s. 24 disposals, seven marks, 470 meters gained, 10 intercept possessions, four score involvements, and two of the marks in contests. And number five.
Bailey Dale. So 30 disposals, 771 meters gained, nine intercept possessions in the win over the Saints. And apologies this week. Caleb Daniel got a lot of it. I was just trying to figure out whether he was defending, attacking, mid-mitting. He was pretty much all over the shop.
So that sort of diluted his claims to a place. Darcy Byrne-Jones having a very good season for Port Adelaide. Connor O'Sullivan did a good job on Josh Tracy for Geelong in the game at Opta Stadium. And Osava Radigaleer, I think, would have been in the 5, but he went down mid-match with that patellar tendon injury that will keep him out for 12 months. That's a bad one, isn't it?