Position 2022: Defender Discussion
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https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/02...sts-harder-in-2022-after-new-training-method/
Essendon 2020 best and fairest defender Jordan Ridley plans to add a new string to his bow after working to improve his speed and power over the off-season.
Coming off a season averaging career highs in disposals (21.1) and rebound 50s (6.3), the 23-year-old has joined the upper echelon of general defenders after more of a 'man-on-man' focus last year.
Renowned as an intercept defender before injuries forced Ben Rutten’s hand in 2021, Ridley is hoping for more of a balance in 2022.
“I think a bit of both (intercepting and defending this year),” Ridley told SEN’s The Run Home.
“I really pride myself on having a balance in my game, being able to defend when I have to but also hopefully get on the end of a bit of ball.
“So hopefully this year (I'm) just working on my versatility and doing a bit of both.
“I definitely had a few roles last year which I really enjoyed doing, it (defending one on one) was probably something I hadn’t really done in my career to date.
“I thought it was just another string to my bow, I definitely think it will hold me in good stead.”
Ridley is expected to be one of the generals in a relatively young Essendon defence in the upcoming season and revealed he’s hoping to throw his weight around more.
Standing at 195cms, speed is not his biggest asset, but he’s looking to change that up after working with a speed coach and teammate Andy McGrath, one of the fastest players in the league.
“I did a bit of work over the off-season just with a company and a coach called The Speed Project, just out in Moorabbin,” Ridley continued.
“They were awesome, sort of got onto them through Andy McGrath, so went down with him and him being very quick himself, it was good to do a fair bit of work with him.
“I was really just looking to change up what I did in the off-season and do something different and try and attack it from a new angle and see if I liked it.
“I really enjoyed it and thought I got a lot out of it.
“I felt that I could get some real good gains in my game if I really worked on speed and power, not necessarily just sprinting speed but power in the rest of my body as well.
“I’m hitting contests harder and I’m just a bit stronger around the ball.”
The Bombers played an intraclub match on Wednesday, the club’s website describing Ridley’s performance as “polished” as he grew into the game.
Midfielder Darcy Parish was a standout, while Nick Hind - who was rated as elite in Champion Data's recent rankings - also impressed.
Essendon 2020 best and fairest defender Jordan Ridley plans to add a new string to his bow after working to improve his speed and power over the off-season.
Coming off a season averaging career highs in disposals (21.1) and rebound 50s (6.3), the 23-year-old has joined the upper echelon of general defenders after more of a 'man-on-man' focus last year.
Renowned as an intercept defender before injuries forced Ben Rutten’s hand in 2021, Ridley is hoping for more of a balance in 2022.
“I think a bit of both (intercepting and defending this year),” Ridley told SEN’s The Run Home.
“I really pride myself on having a balance in my game, being able to defend when I have to but also hopefully get on the end of a bit of ball.
“So hopefully this year (I'm) just working on my versatility and doing a bit of both.
“I definitely had a few roles last year which I really enjoyed doing, it (defending one on one) was probably something I hadn’t really done in my career to date.
“I thought it was just another string to my bow, I definitely think it will hold me in good stead.”
Ridley is expected to be one of the generals in a relatively young Essendon defence in the upcoming season and revealed he’s hoping to throw his weight around more.
Standing at 195cms, speed is not his biggest asset, but he’s looking to change that up after working with a speed coach and teammate Andy McGrath, one of the fastest players in the league.
“I did a bit of work over the off-season just with a company and a coach called The Speed Project, just out in Moorabbin,” Ridley continued.
“They were awesome, sort of got onto them through Andy McGrath, so went down with him and him being very quick himself, it was good to do a fair bit of work with him.
“I was really just looking to change up what I did in the off-season and do something different and try and attack it from a new angle and see if I liked it.
“I really enjoyed it and thought I got a lot out of it.
“I felt that I could get some real good gains in my game if I really worked on speed and power, not necessarily just sprinting speed but power in the rest of my body as well.
“I’m hitting contests harder and I’m just a bit stronger around the ball.”
The Bombers played an intraclub match on Wednesday, the club’s website describing Ridley’s performance as “polished” as he grew into the game.
Midfielder Darcy Parish was a standout, while Nick Hind - who was rated as elite in Champion Data's recent rankings - also impressed.
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Can someone explain why Aaron Hall has a current ownership of 16%?
I don't get it:
- Hasn't played a full season since 2013 (8, 22, 16, 15, 17, 19, 6, 6, 15 & 20 games a year)
- Coming of a scoring spike year 105.2 (previous bests of (95.5 and 92.3)
+ Yes he does have a new SC friendly role
- 5th most expensive Def.
+ Yes 2 injury games drags his average down.
But given his durability I just don't get why you would pick him?
I don't get it:
- Hasn't played a full season since 2013 (8, 22, 16, 15, 17, 19, 6, 6, 15 & 20 games a year)
- Coming of a scoring spike year 105.2 (previous bests of (95.5 and 92.3)
+ Yes he does have a new SC friendly role
- 5th most expensive Def.
+ Yes 2 injury games drags his average down.
But given his durability I just don't get why you would pick him?