Defenders from different worlds

The battle of the Sydney derby heats up with GWS coach Kevin Sheedy and Swans boss John Longmire go toe-to-toe over bragging rights.

Swans key defender Ted Richards and GWS captain Phil Davis at the AFL Launch at NSW Parliament House . Picture: Jeremy Piper. Source: The Daily Telegraph

THEY stood side by side yesterday but Sydney Swan Ted Richards and GWS Giant Phil Davis live in different worlds when it comes to stopping the opposition scoring.

This Saturday's AFL season opener at ANZ Stadium will see Richards anchor the best defence in the league while Davis hopes to improve the competition's worst defence.

Last year the Swans beat the Giants by a total of 157 points over the two matches they played and the Hawks beat them by 162 in just one match.

The Swans conceded just 73 points per game and the Giants leaked 125.

"It was hard work last year in the backline especially the whole team defence," Davis said. "It starts in the forward line and we struggled with that concept."

They certainly did as the Giants allowed their opponents to play on from marks 37 per cent of the time (the poorest in AFL), which meant the ball was able to flow freely and quickly into their defensive 50 which is every defender's worst nightmare.

Most weeks the biggest horror show belonged to Davis, who had the unenviable job of picking up the opposition's best forward.

The former Crow would get Buddy Franklin one week, Taylor Walker the next and then Nick Riewoldt. Every round there was another talented player to handle.

"It's a big challenge," Davis said.

"When Chad Cornes wasn't playing, I'd be the only one with more than one season experience, that makes it a bit difficult.

"When you're in a more experienced side the ability to drop off your opponent and assist is far greater.

"Josh Gibson at Hawthorn does it all the time, it comes from experience. Chad was great when he was playing.

"When you are inexperienced, you are preoccupied with looking after your direct opponent. The Swans are very good at that. Richards, Malceski and Grundy all do it well."

Davis's Giants could do themselves no harm to watch the Swans defence in action.

The Swans conceded just 73 points per game (No.1 defence in AFL) and allowed scores only 42 per cent of the time when the ball was in their defensive 50 (best in AFL).

Ted Richards' back six don't look very impressive on paper with an assortment of discards from other clubs (Richards, Rhyce Shaw, Marty Mattner) and rookie list elevations (Heath Grundy, Nick Smith)."We're a bit of a dirty dozen, if you're investing, we're not blue-chip stock," Richards said.

"We're in the category of a speculative company which has turned for the better."

But in the field of battle the Swans' motley crew are the best defence in the AFL.

"There's definite pride and satisfaction but the data that is coming off is last year," Richards said.

"We're all fully aware that title finished at the end of last season. All teams are starting on an even level. It doesn't give us any advantage going into this year."

The Giants have moved to halt their defensive woes with the signing of Stephen Gilham (Hawthorn), Bret Thornton (Carlton), Lachie Plowman and Aidan Corr.

The Swans have elevated bolter Dane Rampe from the rookie list moving him closer to round one selection.

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