In recent years, the Hawthorn backline has been hit by injury, with Gibson (hamstring), Stephen Gilham (knee) and Ben Stratton (knee) to name a few defenders who have missed games due to injury.
This season, however, the Hawthorn coaching staff has been given an embarrassment of riches, with tall defensive options Ryan Schoenmakers, Stratton, Gilham and Gibson all available.
Adding to those riches, is the fact that those defenders have the ability to play on a variety of opponenets, be them talls or smalls.
Gibson says it’s a welcome change, given what the Hawks have been accustomed to in recent seasons.
“In terms of the back six, its been really good being able to play together,” he said.
“We’ve got a nice little crew down there.
“It’s probably not just six, there are probably eight or nine blokes, that even if someone goes out, like Guerra has, we’ve got guys that can come in and fill the role.
“We’ve been able to play a lot of games together and been able to work out each other’s game styles and start gelling really well.”
In the Club’s past two matches, the defensive group has allowed its opposition to kick a combined 10 goals, with Greater Western Sydney managing four and the Bulldogs six.
Gibson says the back six can’t take all the credit, however, paying tribute to the work of the midfielders and forwards.
“We’ve had fantastic pressure in our forward line, which has been keeping the ball in there,” he said.
“The midfielders have also been really hard at work, when a team is getting a forward 50 entry, they’re putting a lot of pressure on the kicker, which is allowing us to get into good positions to either mark or spoil the ball.
“The team’s defensive work has been really good, but from a back six perspective its been really good this year.”
Statistically, the Hawks have the second best defensive group in the league, conceding just 1121 points in 15 matches this season.
Just 70 points behind the top-placed Swans, the Hawks allow just 74.73 points on average to the opposition per game.
Gibson says that those figures come down to the team's ability to play to its strengths.
“People are still going to have a go and say we’re probably not tall enough, but you’ve got to play to your strengths,” he said.
“While we’re not the tallest backline, we’ve got some great kickers of the footy and some really strong runners.
“If we can bring that ball to ground, and get it into the hands of the Sucklings and Guerras and Birchalls, then they’re pretty damaging off the half backline.
“I wouldn’t say it’s our number one strength at the Club, but the backline is definitely growing.”
Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn Football Club’s Digital media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre.
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