A Bookend Worthy Of An Award Post by: James Brayshaw 28 July, 2009 - 12:07 PM

(Photo By Getty Images)

I have long been an admirer of the big old full-back. It probably comes from spending a lot of time with my older brother Mark, himself a former AFL defender with the Kangaroos and a long standing 'defender' of the role of the full-back.

He always says a high quality full-back is close to the most important player in the team and the more footy I watch the harder it is to argue with him, which annoys me, because agreeing with your brother flies in the face of everything that's Australian!

At round 17, 2009, the AFL is flush with full-backs of the highest order. Scarlett, Lake, Rutten, Glass, Merrett and my MVP for round 17, Big Presti!

Simon Prestigiacomo has been a fantastic key defender for the Magpies for a long time. Every week he gets the big sexy forwards and he is rarely, if ever, beaten.

On the weekend it was Fev's turn to cop it, Presti style, and cop it he did. Just the one goal and pretty much no impact on the game at all... And Fev was coming off bags of nine and five in the previous two weeks.

Presti does exactly what his coach would want of him I'd imagine.

He goes out, week after week, nullifies the opposition's main scoring threat and he does it with a minimum of fuss, a total lack of histrionics, and a style that smacks of 'good bloke'.

I hardly know him, but I like him, and I love watching him. Great closing speed, sure hands, strong positioning, hates being beaten, and takes great pride in his and his team's performance.

Buddy touched him up the week before and he responded perfectly on Friday night. He's a warrior and he's the sort of player every club would love to have pulling on their jumper.

So big fella, for putting up another sterling performance against one of the league's best, you are my Triple MVP for Round 17!

Is Presti the best full-back in the competition? Who ranks higher?

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Leave your comment

• andy says

  hard to go past scarlett.

  Posted Tuesday 28 July, 2009 12:08 PM
• matt says

  i'd take 'truck' rutten over presti any time. presti can't kick - the others you mention such as scarlett, truck and glass in particular can damage you going the other way, whereas presti is just an old-fashioned stopper.

  but because he's a collingwood player he's rated higher than he should be.

  Posted Tuesday 28 July, 2009 12:09 PM