Hurls happy Hooker’s hands are down back

ESSENDON star Michael Hurley says having Cale Hooker in defence allows the Bombers to make more “attacking decisions” out of the backline.

But Bombers coach John Worsfold remains noncommittal about whether Hooker’s shift to the backline will be permanent or something that the club is able to deploy at will.

All Australian defenders Hurley and Hooker partnered on Sunday afternoon to help the Bombers stun previously undefeated Port Adelaide by 22 points after leading by 40 in the second half.

“I love playing with ‘Hookesy’, he reads the play better than anyone, he marks it better than anyone and I just felt really comfortable playing alongside him,” Hurley said.

“It freed me up a bit, let me go and chase the pill a bit more.”

With Hooker keeping tabs on Port Adelaide spearhead Charlie Dixon, it allowed Hurley to play the intercept role more freely.

Hurley finished with 29 disposals, a game-high 15 marks and eight rebound 50s to be among the best on ground.

The 27-year-old said Hooker could benefit from greater continuity in the backline.

“It might take him a couple of weeks, but I think he’s such a natural defender he reads the play as a backman really well,” Hurley said.

“You see the high balls coming in and you’re really confident he’s going to get his hands on it and you can make really attacking decisions off that.”

Hurley conceded a poor showing against the Western Bulldogs last week fuelled the Bombers’ intent to make amends.

“We’re all competitors and hate losing so to lose in the way that we did last week,” Hurley said.

“I think blokes probably did take it personally and had a bit of extra inspiration to play better.

“We’ve seen that in the last couple of weeks our best is really exciting and our worst, pretty yuck.”