While he spends much of his time formulating how the Dream Team will attack, coach Mark Williams has ensured his defence should be in safe hands by picking almost the entire Adelaide backline.

In doing so he saved valuable preparation time, selecting a group who know instinctively how to play for one another.

Williams knows all about the Crows' famously stingy backline firsthand as it has repeatedly blunted Port Adelaide's forward set-up.

"The fact is they team well together and I don't need to tell them what to do, they know exactly what they're doing, so I think that's pretty sound," he said.

"They work really well and are a really experienced group.

Nathan Bassett, 31, was perhaps the most surprising of five defensive inclusions from the Crows.

He views Williams' choice as an endorsement of one of the AFL's two most consistently thrifty back sixes over the past four seasons, along with Sydney.

"It's a good group of players, quite experienced and we're pretty strong with each other as far as demand," he said.

"But it's good to know there's a good amount of talent and guys have been able to come in and improve their football.

"Probably over a three or four year period I think we have been (the best defence).

"Generally we've been very good this year and over a period of time we've been at least as good a defence as any in the competition."

Bassett's form has been up and down so far in 2008, reflecting an interrupted pre-season and the shock of being slung headfirst into the turf by Port enforcer Matt Thomas during a fiery showdown.

"I didn't really expect it (a Dream Team spot), my form hasn't been the same as the other guys in defence, and looking at the quality of the defenders there's a lot of other top end quality AFL players, so I didn't expect to be picked at all and it's a nice surprise," he said.

"Physically I was as good as I've felt for a long time last week (against North Melbourne), I don't have any issues at the moment I can see that are going to affect me when I retire, so I guess that's the good ones, not having any hip or knee or joint problems.

"I think I'm going as well as any 31-year-old can."

Williams and Bassett spent time together during the summer before the 1997 AFL season, when Bassett trained with the Power's inaugural squad under the guidance of then-assistant Williams before being drafted by Melbourne.

Looking over the decade since, Williams paid Bassett the compliment that his achievements had been far greater than anyone could expect from a footballer of ungainly methods.

"Bassett's every chance to play, when we picked the initial squad he was injured, I can't believe how over the years you look at him and can't quite work out how he's done what he's done," Williams said.

"But he's been brilliant and it's great to acknowledge guys like that."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP