THEY have been branded Geelong's 'misfits', but the Cats' defence is powering Chris Scott's side in its early-season run of form.
They have also proven to be a win for recruiting outside of the box, for the Cats' back half comes from different parts of the world, other sports, local clubs, AFL rivals and opposite ends of the NAB AFL Draft.
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It was last year that running Cats backman Zach Tuohy first publicly dubbed his end of the ground with the 'Misfits' title and it has stuck with backline coach and Geelong great Matthew Scarlett at the helm.
But it has been list manager Stephen Wells and recruiting boss Troy Selwood who have pieced together the group, which last year conceded the fewest points in the competition and so far is leading that category again in 2019.
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Mark Blicavs' move to the backline the past two years has been a revelation, but the former Olympic steeplechase hopeful arrived at Geelong as a category B rookie via a tip from Cameron Guthrie's father, who had coached both players at junior level.
He is the ultimate utility and can play anywhere on the ground due to his athleticism, but last year shifted to defence and claimed the Cats' best and fairest.
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Against Melbourne last week he was joined in the back half by Irishman Mark O'Connor, a tall dasher, who filled the Gaelic-sized hole left by Tuohy, who is missing with a knee injury.
Tom Stewart holds the fort in the back half, and his rise into a Virgin Australia AFL All Australian defender last year didn't happen by chance.
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Scarlett coached Stewart at South Barwon in the Geelong Football League, where he played in two premierships, before he joined Geelong's VFL side. The Cats grabbed him at pick 40 in the 2016 national draft, he debuted aged 24 and 43 games later was picked in the competition's team of the year.
By the time Stewart was playing VFL, other clubs' recruiting teams were well aware of his talent. But the Cats pounced first.
Jake Kolodjashnij, a versatile option for Scott, was selected in the third round of his year's draft, while Jack Henry, who has developed into an excellent young backman with his aerial prowess and game sense, was overlooked by every club and landed at the Cats via the rookie draft.
Of its backline group last week, only first-yearer Jordan Clark and Harry Taylor were first-round draft choices, albeit Taylor as a 21-year-old.
Even the defenders outside of the team that thrashed the Demons highlights the Cats' varied way of building their back half.
Lachie Henderson and Tuohy came via Carlton via trade, Jed Bews was a fifth-round pick, Zach Guthrie a rookie, and Stefan Okunbar is progressing well at VFL level as another gamble from Ireland.
Not many haven't come off for the Cats at that end of the ground.
The Cats' misfit backline
Mark Blicavs (2012 rookie draft three-year non-registered selection)
Mark O'Connor (2017 rookie draft international selection)
Tom Stewart (2016 national draft selection, No.40)
Jake Kolodjashnij (2013 national draft selection, No.41)
Harry Taylor (2007 national draft selection, No.17)
Jack Henry (2017 rookie draft selection, No.16)
Jordan Clark (2018 national draft, No.15)
Zach Tuohy (trade from Carlton)
Lachie Henderson (trade from Carlton)
Zach Guthrie (2017 rookie draft selection, No.33)
Jed Bews (2011 national draft selection, No.86)
Stefan Okunbar (2019 rookie draft international selection)
