Harris Andrews appears to be a lock for an All Australian jacket in 2019 with the young defender having an outstanding year with the Lions.
However, Matthew Lloyd - despite praise for the Lion - still believes a Tiger is on top of the best key defenders in the game list... and not the one you might expect.
Dylan Grimes has been held up the Tigers' backline and been a pillar of strength for the Tigers in their premiership push. Lloyd after speaking to Sam Mitchell on Sportsdayย radio talked about his top seven and how Mitchell was in awe of young Andrews.
โI was chatting to Sam Mitchell about football and he said if I could build a team around one player, it would be Harris Andrews from the Brisbane Lions,โ Lloyd said.
โHe just absolutely loves him. (Andrewsโ) teammate Marcus Adams said playing with him has been brilliant and he thinks Andrews is the best defender in the competition.
โIt made me think about the current key position defenders and who I would take and do I agree with him.
โIโm not including Alex Rance because heโs not playing.โ
His list also included premiership winner Jeremy McGovern, Swans skipper Dane Rampe, Michael Hurley, Mark Blicavs and Cale Hooker.
No surprise with multiple Essendon players making the list with Lloyd being a Bombers great, however, his choice of Grimes will please Tiger fans with star man Alex Rance to return in 2020.
The Tigers face the Lions this weekend where the defences of Harris Andrews and Dylan Grimes will be tested.
Lloyd's top seven key defenders in the AFL
7. Cale Hooker (Essendon)
6. Mark Blicavs (Geelong)
5. Michael Hurley (Essendon)
4. Dane Rampe (Sydney)
3. Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)
2. Harris Andrews (Brisbane)
1. Dylan Grimes (Richmond)
