Star midfielder Lachie Hunter is more than happy to keep ‘winging’ it in 2019.
The influential Bulldog put together a career-best season, in which he won the Charles Sutton Medal for the first time, and believes his role on the wing could be more important this year.
“We’ve noticed it in match-play, there’s definitely more space,” Hunter told Whateley on SEN1116, in regards to the impact of the rule changes on the wing role.
“Your decisions – whether you come in and think you can impact the ball off the centre bounce, or whether you hold your width out – are definitely magnified.
“It allows the wingmen to play a more influential role for sure.
HUNTER: NEW LOOK DOGS HUNGRY FOR FINALS ACTION
“The ability to impact at both ends – that’s where you’ll see the running game come into it so much more now, with a lot of the wingmen being really, really good runners. Clearly you have to get to both ends of the ground so much.”
Hunter’s pre-season has gone to plan in his eyes – it’s been injury-free – and he’s expecting to play a similar role to last year.
“In terms of position and stuff, nothing too much different – mainly on the wing for me, and maybe a little bit down back or forward when required,” he said.
But he has been looking to add to his game, and developing the ability to play as an inside midfielder.
SUCKLING READY FOR FASTER GAME IN 2019
Watching the likes of West Coast Eagle Andrew Gaff, and other wingmen who can go inside, has helped.
“The one which I probably learned off people like Gaff, and people who play on the wing, is the ability to go inside,” Hunter said.
“If you get sat on and things like that, the wing can be a bit of a sitting duck.
“The ability to go inside centre bounces and stuff makes it a lot harder to tag you out-and-out on the wing, so that’s probably one (improvement) that I’ve been looking for.”
