Every match when Daniel Rich looks around the Brisbane Lions defensive 50 and sees fellow defender Darcy Gardiner playing the way he does, there’s one main thought going through his mind.

“I’d hate to be his opponent,” Rich said instantly when asked about his teammate known as ‘Diz’.

Almost every team talks about the tight bond their backline has, mostly because when you are going to battle against some of the best forwards in the competition you need to work together.

The Lions are fortunate to have a reliable and galvanised defensive unit with the regular starters of Harris Andrews, Brandon Starcevich, Keidean Coleman, Marcus Adams – plus of course Rich and Gardiner.

Though of the ‘back six’, this week the affirmations are being directed at Gardiner, who on Friday night that will play his 150^th game for the Lions against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

“He is an incredibly tough player who gives everything he has. You know what you’re going to get from Diz each week,” the veteran said.

“Dizz really represents what we strive for as a defensive unit, he’s as honest and tough as they come and gives his all each week. He’s always first in to support you and loves a wrestle.

“He is a quietly spoken person with a lot of hidden mongrel, especially on the golf course, he’s a bloke who would always have your back.”

Rich, who has played 263 games for the Lions, has been around to see every one of Gardiner’s 149 games to date.

During that time his respect and admiration for Gardiner as a player and person has grown stronger each year.

“We have had plenty of good moments on the field, and I love his battles with Buddy (Franklin) undersized against one of the greats, but has held his own,” Rich said.

“We have had plenty of surfs together over the time, non-more enjoyable than the spooky paddle together across the spit to Straddie (Stradbroke Island).”

When Gardiner was drafted at pick number 22 in the 2013 national draft, he was touted by AFL National Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan as the best tall defender in his draft.

With calls like that made on him as a young player for the Geelong Falcons under-18s, there were high expectations set of him from the moment he played his debut in 2014.

And as Rich will be the first to tell you, the boy from Queenscliff has proven every time he has taken the field that he deserved his spot at the Lions den.

“He wouldn’t say anything, but I think he would be quietly proud of himself,” Rich claimed.

“He’s endured some injuries over recent years so it’s a credit to his toughness. Not bad for a pasty bloke from the fishbowl.”