INJURIES caused Greater Western Sydney enormous headaches last season, but coach Leon Cameron finally found himself a settled defensive unit which helped propel his side to a second straight top-four finish.
The dependable Heath Shaw (25 games) was there as always, along with co-captain Phil Davis (24), Adam Tomlinson (24), Nathan Wilson (24), Aidan Corr (23), Zac Williams (23) and Nick Haynes (19), with all seven players registering career highs for games played in a season.
Haynes missed six games with a mid-season hamstring injury, but was a vital part of the year either side of his injury.
It gave the Giants an important foundation to build a side around and a group of players with an ability to cover all sorts of forward set ups, but they'll enter the 2018 season needing to start again.
Wilson's move to Fremantle during last year's NAB AFL trade period, coupled with the loss of Williams for what is likely the entire season with a ruptured Achilles, leaves GWS without their two best attacking defenders.
It's not an ideal scenario, but Davis told AFL.com.au he was confident his fellow defenders could find a successful mix.
"We started to get some continuity last year, and the dynamic definitely gets thrown out, but when you're only replacing one or two players in a settled backline you can adjust," he said.
"The problem comes if you have three or four spots to fill, I find that more challenging.
"The more you play together the more you're in unison, so you know what each player will do in a certain situation.
"That helps you be more defensive or more aggressive offensively depending on what you see."
GWS academy products Harry Perryman (eight games) and Isaac Cumming (yet to debut) will likely to get first crack at an opportunity to play across half-back during the JLT Community series, and Davis has backed both to settle once given the chance.
The Giants' defence was ranked fifth for points against in 2017 but Davis wants more from his backline this season.
"Our best is very good, but I think our form fluctuates a bit too much," he said.
"I want to lead a backline that's more stringent than it's ever been before.
"I don't want lapses that costs us two or three goals in a row. I want to be part of a backline that is so consistent and reliable that we can be a board of solidarity for the whole team to look back on."
The Giants' trio of tall backs were outstanding in 2017, and Davis, Tomlinson and Corr will be vital again if the team hopes to go one better than their past two preliminary final exits.
"It makes life a little easier, especially as a big bloke, if you have that trust in each other," he said.
"If I'm out of position in general play I can roll onto Adam or Aidan's man then roll back when it needs to happen.
"That flexibility is really important and I think we're really starting to get that.
"Experience is invaluable because playing down back is a specific craft and you get better the more you do it.
"Between the three of us we're playing more together, and individually we're getting more experience playing in defence.
"I think that holds us in good stead as we try and combat the best key forwards in the game."
