I know it's only one game, but he looks a very, very good player. Has been very consistent in the last 3 (I've been on him all year and last year actually). Many others dont rate him. A 19 year old keeping Franklin to 3 goals deserves a heap of praise, lord knows he copped it for the the first 6 weeks.

Any knockers changed their tune on Garland? He has a bit of Jared Rivers about him. Very clean by foot, very good on the kick ins.

I think his breasts are great

Very funny 45h,

Four weeks ago I had him pencilled in to be delisted at the end of the year, I'm very, very happy to be proven wrong. I'll even go as far as saying that he is now our best young tall defender behind Rivers.

I was a knocker earlier and he's still about 2:5 good games to bad but if he keeps this up I will change my tune and kudos to the kid for an excellent game yesterday. I hope like N. Brown (Coll) he keeps relishing the challenges he is given.

I know it's only one game, but he looks a very, very good player. Has been very consistent in the last 3 (I've been on him all year and last year actually). Many others dont rate him. A 19 year old keeping Franklin to 3 goals deserves a heap of praise, lord knows he copped it for the the first 6 weeks.

Any knockers changed their tune on Garland? He has a bit of Jared Rivers about him. Very clean by foot, very good on the kick ins.

Impressed, dont quite see the Rivers comparison..think they are quite different in style. However showed great speed and stuck to the task well.

I think is showing a lot largely as a result of confidence shown in him by Bailey. I thought he beat Franklin yesterday. Two of his goals were from outside 50 from good work up field, both times Garland was right with him. Great effort, hope he keeps it up

I knocked him big time.

My brother and I actually discussed on Saturday that we are starting to like him.

Then yesterdays effort.

I personally rate Warnock higher still but he has been around longer.

A good game that I hope he backs up. Definately best 22 right now.

Four weeks ago I had him pencilled in to be delisted at the end of the year, I'm very, very happy to be proven wrong. I'll even go as far as saying that he is now our best young tall defender behind Rivers.

I did too Jarka. But I stand by what I said, because at the start of the year he was truly shocking. But the guy is getting there and has played as well (if not better) on Franklin than anyone else this season.

Garland did a great job but Warnock deserves some credit as well. He constantly left his man to get over and help Garland out by making a spoil. Together they limited Franklin's influence.

I was surprised at his closing speed....

was able to close buddy down on the lead and spoil!!

chance bateman's couple of passes were perfect and nothing that could be done but even so, he was on buddy's hammer...

played a good game, made good decisions with the ball and provided some run out of defence!

amazing what a bit of faith and confidence does!! would expect him to get the grinch in v-volt this week...

It's pretty exciting that a couple of players with less than ten games experience (my theme for the week is these 'under tens') both played strong games as tall defenders at an individual level, and worked together well.

Garland and Warnock were both on a lot of people's lists of 'spaces opening up at the end of the year'. Both have shown a lot in the last few weeks.

I'm not sold yet and get very nervy when the ball is in his hands, but he's athletic and quick, which are terrific attributes in the modern game. Definitely worth persisting with.

I've already eaten a little bit of pie today and am not ready for another serve.

The thing people don't take into account with Garland is that in a best case scenario he would be learning and developing at Sandringham, rather than be playing as much senior football as he is doing at the moment. He hasn't had the benefit of elite junior systems and was late riser in his draft year. With that in mind, a lot of the things that he has done that make people cringe, such as punching when he should mark, iffy decision making et cetera are part of his learning process. The unfair thing in many ways for Garland is that he is going through this process in the harsh AFL environment, whereas a lot of other youngsters, particulary the raw ones like Garland, get to go through these learning moments in the relative shelter of the VFL and VFL seconds. I dont think there is any doubt he saved about three shots on goal with great defending of Franklin's leading and there were some other nice signs. His speed, athleticism and reach are very good, he can play tall and small and up forward as well. I think people should just accept that this a raw kid they are trying to develop who will be at best in three or four years and that we are all going to go through the learning pains with him.

i've been on him for a while now (i even advocated garland on buddy before the game ).

im not sure if he has hit the point of being there yet- i think he has a while to go. but he is improving very rapidly. it is worth remembering that he seems to have what he has very natrually and seems to elarn very fast. he hasnt played much footy in his life so he really has to undergo a lot of development. he has many of the physical attributes that could make him a fine player. he has a few things to work on. but most importantly he seems to have the right attitude.

There has been a lot to like about Colin and Matty Warnock in the past few weeks. Our backline was a basketcase during ND's era but Bails seems to have a bit to work with earlier than expected. It surprised me to see Garland is listed at the same height as Carroll, seems to play a bit taller. Stefan Martin seems to be progressing nicely at Sandy in only his second year of playing footy. He's playing CHB, and at 198cm could be the key to a promising emerging backline for the future.

Our premiership backline? Warnock Garland Petterd

Bell Martin Rivers

with Bartram Frawley Grimes and Cheney rotating through. None of those guys are over 24.

Highly speculative I know but 5 weeks ago I would of struggled to name 6 defenders with a future. As an old full back I'm biased but I believe an at least decent backline is a prerequisite for premierships. We haven't had a full back that elite forwards would have dreaded since Danny Hughes, or a CHB since a young David Neitz went forward.

There is plenty of potential in our under 23's, I just hope Bailey can unlock it

Add me to the list of people thinking he'd be delisted at years end. I've seen him play some decent games at Sandy, Without it being really obvious what his natural position was. But he read the play so well yesterday, is quick

off the mark and countless times he and Warnock were able to get a fist away, due to their closing speed, rather

than have it turn into a monotonous Buddy and Roughy goal fest.

Jared Rivers at the aftermatch function last night said he was fit to play this week against the Saints. The question

then is, does he come straight back into the side, or do the Saints not have enough talls to justify his and/or Carrolls

selection and thus they both get a week at Sandy?

On paper on the weekend, this looked our weakest backline in living memory, yet they held up rather well all things considered.

Although it is still worrying the amountof goals Frawleys opponents continue to kick.

I think is showing a lot largely as a result of confidence shown in him by Bailey. I thought he beat Franklin yesterday. Two of his goals were from outside 50 from good work up field, both times Garland was right with him. Great effort, hope he keeps it up

Garland beat Franklin yesterday and the goals he did kick were from pin point passes that no one could have stopped.

Also from memory all his three goals were also outside 50 and very difficult and i would say 95% of AFL players wouldn't have kicked em.

Nothing but pats on the back for Garland and Warnock.

Jared Rivers at the aftermatch function last night said he was fit to play this week against the Saints. The question

then is, does he come straight back into the side, or do the Saints not have enough talls to justify his and/or Carrolls

selection and thus they both get a week at Sandy?

I think Rivers should come in for Frawley. Carroll to return via Sandy.

i've been on him for a while now (i even advocated garland on buddy before the game ).

im not sure if he has hit the point of being there yet- i think he has a while to go. but he is improving very rapidly. it is worth remembering that he seems to have what he has very natrually and seems to elarn very fast. he hasnt played much footy in his life so he really has to undergo a lot of development. he has many of the physical attributes that could make him a fine player. he has a few things to work on. but most importantly he seems to have the right attitude.

Spot on Deanox. I've been keen on him because he has the physical attributes to play key position, which is something that Carroll has never had. It's worth noting that most of the premier key backmen started their junior careers as forwards. Let's hope that Garland can follow this trend.

However, if Warnock continues his form, I'm willing to eat humble about what I've written about him.

I'm happy to be proven wrong on Garland and Warnock as both have shown promise in the last 3 weeks. Our young key defenders all of a sudden are showing something and I hope they can keep it up.

As I had to listen the to the game on radio up here in Brisbane, Frawley didnt seem to get much of a mention and he only had a few possessions, so Im assuming he didnt have a great game. Could someone fill me in on who he played on and how he went?

I just hope he doesn't lapse, that he can take it up to Riewoldt or Kozi next week. I remember hearing he was the big improver over the pre-season, so I hope he keeps it up.

I did too Jarka. But I stand by what I said, because at the start of the year he was truly shocking. But the guy is getting there and has played as well (if not better) on Franklin than anyone else this season.

A lesson to all that you just cannot make a judgement on a player who has only played a handful of games. You just can't.

Unless they are incapable of actually connecting their foot with the ball, or they are clinically blind, they deserve time to develop. Look at the improvement in Warnock's game in just the space of 3 weeks or so.

Garland was great defensively, but his disposal under pressure was also fantastic. A few times it looks like he was ready to stuff up, but managed to get a clever handball or kick away just in time.

Thought Colin Garland's performance yesterday was outstanding on possibly the best forward in the comp, at the minute.

For a young, somewhat underdeveloped player to hold Buddy to half of his game average, was inspiring. He matched him for speed and given a year to bulk up, I can see him becoming a serious force inthe backline.

A lesson to all that you just cannot make a judgement on a player who has only played a handful of games. You just can't.

Unless they are incapable of actually connecting their foot with the ball, or they are clinically blind, they deserve time to develop. Look at the improvement in Warnock's game in just the space of 3 weeks or so.

Garland was great defensively, but his disposal under pressure was also fantastic. A few times it looks like he was ready to stuff up, but managed to get a clever handball or kick away just in time.

Absolutely spot on!!!

Especially when they are kids........it's the occasional freak player who will step right in to AFL footy, and be a stand out. For most, it takes time, experience, and plenty of guidance from the coaches to improve a player.

Patience is a virtue.

I like the kid, and always saw he had a few skills that would translate to AFL level, but was concerned he hadn't found a home, much like PJ. Seeing him look good in a specific position is awesome. I always thought he'd be more of a rangy forward-flanker, which he may go on to be in the future. But for now, beating Franklin every chance he got (I don't count those few lead up marks he took. NO-ONE could have stopped those) was as much of a confidence builder as you could ever hope for.

Now. He beat Franklin, but would anyone be stupid enough to play him on Johnathan Brown? Or Barry Hall? No. He'll be a good defender, but won't be a giant killer, at least not yet. He'll be a second-tall player. Frawley had a howler, but will be played more often on the power-forwards along with Carroll. As such, Garland will need a few more strings to his bow as Warnock, Carroll, Rivers all have to be played.

It's a great start, and he's all but guaranteed to be persisted with, given his attitude... Which is all we can ask for really.