Defensive unit in mood for Tigers

DARCY Gardiner says the Brisbane Lions will rely on the pack mentality of their back six to curb the brilliant Richmond attack on Saturday at the MCG.

While Gardiner did not want to go into who his likely opponent would be, saying the defenders saw it as a six-on-six contest and not a series of individual battles, vice-captain Dayne Zorko had no doubts the rugged Victorian would get Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin when he floats forward.

Last year, Nick Robertson tagged Martin and may get the job again while he is playing on the ball, but his strength deep in the forward 50 could see the deceptively powerful Gardiner get the job.

Gardiner has had a solid start to the season. He was in the thick of the action in the Lions’ narrow loss to Port Adelaide on Saturday where he played small and tall on multiple opponents including Justin Westhoff, Jack Watts and Chad Wingard.

He holds no fears at the prospect of lining up on Martin.

“We try to work as a unit, a back six, we’re all in it together,” he said.

“We’re trying to work together and help each other out as much as we can.”