Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Cal Wilkie is adapting to the downside of being so reliable, as opposition AFL forwards put more time into the St Kilda co-captain.
The All-Australian and his fellow defenders will try to keep the Western Bulldogs’ attack quiet again in Sunday’s clash at Marvel Stadium.
The Bulldogs only managed nine goals in last weekend’s heavy home loss to Adelaide, while the Saints defence combined well in a pulsating win over GWS.
Jake Stringer kicked three goals on Wilkie and the Giants clearly had a plan for him. While it was a rugged match for Wilkie, it also meant fellow backman Jack Silvagni could concentrate on Jesse Hogan, who only kicked one goal in his return.
It’s the latest example of the opposition trying to nullify Wilkie’s importance to the Saints as their No.1 key defender.
“It’s obviously been a bit weird, as a defender, getting attention. But this is the beauty of having other great defenders,” Wilkie told AAP.
“With SOS (Silvagni), if they try to not let me get to someone, he just takes it and nullifies him.
“I have to work through it … it’s a learning curve.”
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon was more blunt when asked about opposition tactics for Wilkie.
“If you want to spend one of your best forwards on a defender, go your hardest. It’s pretty simple,” Lyon said.
The Saints started this round 10th on the ladder, two spots below the Bulldogs, and have the same ranking for points kicked against them. Wilkie said their defence is a work in progress.
“It’s not perfect, and teams have been kicking scores on us a bit, but we’re slowly getting there,” he said.
“We defended a lot better (against GWS) than we had in previous weeks. We fought and scrapped and just gritted a lot better.
“Sometimes that is what defending is about, just getting it done.”
He added the Saints had done their homework after the previous weekend, when a last-minute goal dealt them a heartbreaking loss against Sydney.
“We watched the last five minutes for about an hour. We wanted to make sure that didn’t happen again,” Wilkie said.
The Giants win broke a three-game losing streak and the emotion in the Saints rooms post-game showed how important it was to them.
“(Sydney) was heartbreaking, gut-wrenching. We were all very frustrated,” Wilkie said.
“But you had to take the positives out of it and we knew we weren’t far away.
“The win-loss, we’re not where we want to be, but it’s nice to get that win, just to enjoy it.
“The half hour after you win is the best feeling in footy.”
