When Easton Wood is controlling the skies, the Western Bulldogs are a better football team.
That’s the view of many a Bulldogs fan, including club legend Brad Johnson.
The former skipper remains one of the Bulldogs’ most important players nearing his 31st birthday, reiterating his aerial prowess with a Mark of the Year contender against the Adelaide Crows last week.
“It’s always nice when those hangers stick, that’s for sure,” Wood told RSN Breakfast Club today.
“It doesn’t always go to plan.
“The game’s so complex that you don’t always get those opportunities within a game, but it’s great that when those opportunities do present, I have the freedom to go for those marks.
“My backline coach, Rohan Smith, is always just telling me to fly and gives me that freedom which is great to play with and I’m really fortunate to have that.”
Wood played every game in 2019 and has had some impactful performances this year in his nine matches.
But ever the hard-marker, he stills sees room to grow and improve his craft.
“I probably haven’t had as consistent a year as I would have liked,” Wood said.
“But I’ve got the freedom from the coaches to be able to fly for those marks… I suppose my craft as a defender is getting it right all the time, where I can put myself in positions to have those opportunities.
“In other games, I hadn’t quite got myself in the right positions at different times, so I’ve been working behind the scenes closely with Rohan Smith to get in those positions more often.
“Hopefully we’re seeing the benefit of that.”
