The Backline

[Jaded No More 67,822]

Amazing.

Discuss :D

Never has the phrase "shinning light" been so true.

There is just so much talent amongst Rivers, Frawley, Martin, Warnock and the missing (but never forgotten!) Garland, that it is always worth going to games these days just to watch those boys go about their business.

Cannot wait for Bennell to put a bit of muscle on, and of course for Grimes to slot into that defensive half too.

[Yze_Magic 3]

Yes they are holding us together, and even the midfield has improved the last few weeks.

But as long as Miller is our key forward we will be cellar dwellers.

Robbo should ease the pain of an impotent forward line, starting next week.

[Deano74 156]

Spud Frawley's improvement is great to watch, his spoils, composure, run, kicking.

He is a permanent in our defence now, and deserves the credit.

[w00dy 146]

100%

we've got great KPP, Frawley, Martin, Warnock, Rivers are working well together. Big Stef hasn't had much of the footy the last few weeks, I'd like to see him get involved in the play a little more.

Bennell looks like he's going to be the next Matty Whelan for us. Very exciting prospect. Throw in Grimes and Garland to the mix and we have a very solid back 6.

[Spaghetti 264]

Yep, today could have been MUCH worse. Credit to the backline.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,012]

It is the one area where we have too many good players. If we have Warnock Martin, Frawly and Rivers in there, along with Bennell and Grimes, what do we do with Garland, Cheney and Wheelan?

In a few years we'll be faced with the same problem in the midfield, and won't that be a great day to be wearing Red and Blue?

[deeflog 679]

a real credit to sean wellman and the work he is doing with that group. the improvement in frawley this season is remarkable, i will admit i was one calling for him to be put on the trade table and he has certainly come out and proved me wrong

[Real Demon 232]

The backline is coming along beautifully!

So strong, and committed, and hard to penetrate.............been a real highlight this year.

Been really impressed with Warnock and Frawley...........both have made big steps this year.

[The Jack of Grimes 0]

AGREE %100

[Cactus 2]

I must admit i was very iffy about Frawley when we selected him and i hadn't seen much previous to this year to get excited about but he has come on leaps and bounds this year. Congratulations to him and may his improvement continue.

[H_T 3,032]

Yeah, I'm very happy with Frawley, do you agree now 45h?. I like the way our backline is taking shape. Good foundation to build on. Midfield and Forward line next. C'mon. Time is ticking.

[Je Roos Salem 661]

Our backline is clearly the best asset to our team. Frawley and Warnock have taken massive steps from last year and they both have gone from uncertainties in the team to players who are always in the starting 18. Clearly, our forward line let us down and the awaited debut of Jack Watts and awaited returns of Robbo and Wonaeamirri loom ahead.

[Bay Riffin 1,454]

I must admit i was very iffy about Frawley when we selected him and i hadn't seen much previous to this year to get excited about but he has come on leaps and bounds this year. Congratulations to him and may his improvement continue.

Don't know how people couldn't see the potential in Frawley. He has pace to burn, has great endeavor and is a good kick despite being awkward to look at.

Did people expect him at 18, 19 years of age to develop into a permanent key back, and if not, trade him ?

He is becoming more consistent and looks a good tough footballer too.

[Kiss of Death 733]

It's frustrating that as soon as a quality backline starts emerging, the forwards have all buggered off down to the pub.

[Deenamite 0]

Frawley is brilliant.

[rpfc 28,052]

I agree that our backline is excellent, but they only had 44 Inside 50s to contend with.

So credit has to go to the defensive efforts of our midfield - Moloney and McLean in particular who had 8 tackles each.

Offensively our midfield was error riddled and gun-shy but they worked hard around the packs.

[Yze_Magic 3]

Looks like Craig Cameron got it right with Frawley.

Shame about all his other picks this decade.

[Chook 14,998]

I never thought the days of me almost dying of fright every time the ball came into our backline would disappear, but they have. No longer do I have to shut my eyes and curl up into a ball every time someone tries to handpass inside our defensive fifty. It's a shame it happened four years too late.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

It's amazing the debates you have with people who say a forward line is the least important when you have good defenders, and a good midfield. Today put paid to that somewhat. With no targets, and no avenues, we did manfully in the midfield (20 more contested possies or something on SEN) and our defence were sensational... What happens? Barely any goals.

My God Adelaide are boring to watch. That was just not our fault. And I suspect they'll cop the blame in the football world. They're going nowhere this year. And their best players are still the guys who seem to have been there since the late eighties.

[45HG 1,539]

Dappa, I thought they'd cop it as well, but from what I've read today, we seem to be on the receiving end.

Christ, they're a finals bound team who couldn't put us away. How can we come off looking like the bad guys in that type of exchange? For all the poor scoring on our end, it wasn't great for the South Australians. We outscored Brisbane, although I suppose that doesn't matter because they player Geelong. We almost scored as much as Port, paraded as world-beaters mid-week, did at home - though I suppose that doesn't matter.

Obviously I'm not happy with our game (note, I'm not saying our endeavour) but if I was a journalist my focus would well and truly be on the "better" team - because they allowed a team who kicked one goal in 3 and a half quarters to almost snatch the game.

[stevenDEMON 0]

Looks like Craig Cameron got it right with Frawley.

Shame about all his other picks this decade.

Yeah i think he has too. It was always going to be between Jack Reiwoldt and Frawls.

[dee-luded 2,959]

The backline is coming along beautifully!

So strong, and committed, and hard to penetrate.............been a real highlight this year.

Been really impressed with Warnock and Frawley...........both have made big steps this year.

Both these boys have good speed, & were baked well at the VFL.

[H_T 3,032]

I never thought the days of me almost dying of fright every time the ball came into our backline would disappear, but they have. No longer do I have to shut my eyes and curl up into a ball every time someone tries to handpass inside our defensive fifty. It's a shame it happened four years too late.

How true. Now we have to shut our eyes and curl up, when it gets kicked into the forward 50m!... <_<

[bjgc 0]

Frawley was excellent last night. He's having a good year especially the last 2 weeks clearly our most improved. He's tough and quick and more importantly he now has confidence something I never saw in him in his first couple of years.

[NoOthaDemon 0]

I think one of the key reasons why the backline has been playing so well, has been the full fitness of a Mr. Jarred Rivers! He really is great to watch, reads the play so well and put his body on the line, time and time again! No doubt Frawley has been the most improved player in 2009. This bloke never gets beat! A lot of people were on his back last year, but we have to realize its a massive learning curve to become a KP backline player and by god has he learnt!! Im really excited about young Bennell! I think the best way to describe him is smooth! Jus takes everything in his stride and this is from a player who has only played 5 AFL games. Only going to get better with more gametime.