OK so that's based on a very simple statistic (points against: only Sydney and St. Kilda have less), but it does help prove a point I've been saying for a while now - our backline is probably the only 100% settled part of our team, in that we've got all the pieces for it to be a successful formula in our plan. And I think it will only improve, especially with Garland now back. Throw in Rivers also.

I think Frawley only had 4 possessions on him for the whole day today. I'd be curious to see how many possessions, shots on goal and marks inside 50 our backline players have had kicked on them, and also how effective their own possessions have been, as well as clearance out of the back 50.

i find that stat amazing. mainly because of hawthorne blowing us out of the water in round one. but i suppose todays low scoring game helps alot.

i find that stat amazing. mainly because of hawthorne blowing us out of the water in round one. but i suppose todays low scoring game helps alot.

Thanks Adelaide for flooding and Collingwood for kicking not so straight but straight enough to keep us from the victory we deserved.

Creaming my pants at the backline we have put togetrher - Grimes, Warnock, Garland, Frawley are all growing together and it is a joy to watch.

Joel mcDonald has been sterling the last 2 weeks.

To be honest I dont even think we need Rivers in the side.

Sean Wellman anyone?

On a side note regarding our defenders, it was great to see Garland back in the swing of things down back. Frawley & Grimes fill me with delight each time they cross that white line. Early days.

Was just looking over the ladder and noticed this. I think we can keep the tiges to a low score next week as well.

It's where flags come from.

we also have the first 2 positions in the AFL for tackles and thats a good sign

Jnr (28) and Jordie (27)

No question that it's the stand-out part of our side at the moment. Brucey looked a little out of place down there at times but that's to be expected. Frawley was superb against the Cows and I have said this before and I will say it again, I can see him becoming an All-Australian defender in years to come. I am very excited by him. Warnock is a solid one-on-one full-back. Joel MacDonald has been a very handy pick-up for us and his assuredness and confidence is a great asset to the team and to those around him. Col Garland has a big future ahead of him and if he can play 15 games this season he can really set himself up to be a big part of the coming legacy. Jack Grimes' future lies in the middle of the ground I feel, as captain of this club. But for now he is playing brilliantly at half-back. Jared Rivers' bravery and aggression also add another dimension when he is in the side, and we all know that his best is very good.

Our defence is still developing and is not the finished article just yet, but it's certainly the most advanced area of our side, and it will provide a sound foundation on which to build the premiership-winning side(s) of the coming years.

I'll add this to the discussion:

In terms of Inside 50s conceded we are ranked 14th in the league with 164, with only Richmond, 182 and North Melbourne, 170 below us.

But in terms of defensive efficiency, in other words, turning back opposition attacks inside 50 and not conceding a goal, we are ranked 2nd behind StKilda.

Stats can be twisted any which way, and in any case, its only 3 games to go on, but what it says at this stage is that we are giving up too many inside 50s but our backline is doing a tremendous job repelling opposition attacks. Will be interesting to see where we stand come the end of the season.

Here are the complete rankings:

Inside 50s Conceded

StKilda 136

Hawthorn 140

Sydney 143

Adelaide 144

Fremantle 149

West Coast 153

Western Bulldogs 154

Carlton 155

Collingwood 155

Essendon 156

Geelong 157

Port Adelaide 160

Brisbane 163

Melbourne 164

North Melbourne 170

Richmond 182

Defensive 50 Efficiency (Goals conceded/In50s conceded)

StKilda 0.169 (23/136)

Melbourne 0.207 (34/164)

Brisbane 0.215 (35/163)

Collingwood 0.226 (35/155)

Sydney 0.231 (33/143)

Fremantle 0.235 (35/149)

Carlton 0.245 (38/155)

Western Bulldogs 0.247 (38/154)

Port Adelaide 0.250 (40/160)

Hawthorn 0.257 (36/140)

Geelong 0.280 (44/157)

Richmond 0.280 (51/182)

North Melbourne 0.288 (49/170)

Adelaide 0.292 (42/144)

Essendon 0.295 (46/156)

West Coast 0.301 (46/153)

But in terms of defensive efficiency, in other words, turning back opposition attacks inside 50 and not conceding a goal, we are ranked 2nd behind StKilda.

Once the mids are older and stronger - and therefore clear it more our way - we will be very hard to score against. Early days, sure, and we are still at the baby step stage but I can really see some good things happening.