A year ago most people would agree that our backline was probably our strongest area of our game, what has happened to it?

Has Jade Rawlings influence as backline coached not worked out? Has the loss of Rivers and Bartram hurt us more then anticipated?

Our backline is terrible at the moment, I am tempted to say that it is about to overtake our midfield as our worse area on the ground.

The worst part is I cant think of any ways it could be fixed. We do not have any decent backmen dwelling at Casey at the moment either so it seems we are stuck with dishearterned Frawley and Garlends and the fumbling Gillies, Seller and Tmac for now.

Jade Rawlings fault? Not sure, guess it's possible, but he's rated pretty highly in and outside MFC

Miss Rivers? Absolutely. He continually saved the backline, now he's not there.

Miss Bartram? Nup. Jetta and Bail are as good.

Adding Gillies and Sellar has definitely not helped, but the main problem is our pressure all over the ground. We are letting teams get uncontested possessions and easy link ups that lead to better options inside 50. We're simply just not in the right positions, everywhere.

Frawley looks like he's had enough, and I can't really blame him. Garland is down on confidence and form as Neeld has experimented with him too much (sound familiar, Watts, Sellar, Davey last year, Tappscott etc), and Tommy Mc is coming back from injury so give him time, I have high hopes for him.

Frawley is the lynch pin and is absolutely giving up on the dees. Garland should go forward again I think and Tmac is going to be a star, he is just out of shape at the moment. Sellar is capable sometimes but yeah we are absolutely missing Rivers.

Jade Rawlings fault? Not sure, guess it's possible, but he's rated pretty highly in and outside MFC

Miss Rivers? Absolutely. He continually saved the backline, now he's not there.

Miss Bartram? Nup. Jetta and Bail are as good.

Adding Gillies and Sellar has definitely not helped, but the main problem is our pressure all over the ground. We are letting teams get uncontested possessions and easy link ups that lead to better options inside 50. We're simply just not in the right positions, everywhere.

Frawley looks like he's had enough, and I can't really blame him. Garland is down on confidence and form as Neeld has experimented with him too much (sound familiar, Watts, Sellar, Davey last year, Tappscott etc), and Tommy Mc is coming back from injury so give him time, I have high hopes for him.

I'd counter this though, Stuie, by saying that the defence of the Bailey era never had the midfield backup either, yet they managed to repel attacks far better than 2012/2013.

Should drop Frawley to Casey if he doesn't want to be their

A. If his attitude continues then It ll reduce his value and other clubs will less likely want to take a Casey dweller or

B. He may actually decide to pull his finger out and bring back his AA form.

Right now I get the impression that he feels like his to good to be at the Dees. In an interview late last year he was rambling on about how he is sick of losing.

Edited April 13, 201312 yr by olisik

I'd counter this though, Stuie, by saying that the defence of the Bailey era never had the midfield backup either, yet they managed to repel attacks far better than 2012/2013.

Totally agree. Neeld seems to have sucked the confidence out of everyone. When was the last time we saw Chip go on one of his trademark runs, handing out don't argues on the way, that he did so often under Bailey? We've already lost Rivers and Moloney due to no faith in Neeld, if we lose Frawley too then we're done as a club.

Edited April 13, 201312 yr by stuie

Should drop Frawley to Casey if he doesn't want to be their

A. If his attitude continues then It ll reduce his value and other clubs will less likely want to take a Casey dweller or

B. He may actually decide to pull his finger out and bring back his AA form.

Right now I get the impression that he feels like his to good to be at the Dees. In an interview late last year he was rambling on about how he is sick of losing.

Neeld has sucked the confidence out of him. He's already done it to a bunch of other players. Just doesn't seem the type of coach that can get players up and going.

Totally agree. Neeld seems to have sucked the confidence out of everyone. When was the last time we saw Chip go on one of his trademark runs, handing out don't argues on the way, that he did so often under Bailey? We've already lost Rivers and Moloney due to no faith in Neeld, if we lose Frawley too then we're done as a club.

I think "done as a club" is a bit excessive, but I understand the urgency with which you view the situation. I'd take Leigh Matthews over Neeld. Wow, what am I saying. Yep. I would.

I think "done as a club" is a bit excessive, but I understand the urgency with which you view the situation. I'd take Leigh Matthews over Neeld. Wow, what am I saying. Yep. I would.

Yeah, I don't mean "done forever", but we'd be done for a few years from the damage of everything, it'd just be the final straw.

I like Neeld, I like what he says, but I just don't think he has the communication, ideas, and ability to inspire that you need in a head coach. I would love it if we could combine his analytical, defensive mindset with the passion someone like Lethal, Sheedy, Roos, or Clarkson would bring to our club.

Yeah, I don't mean "done forever", but we'd be done for a few years from the damage of everything, it'd just be the final straw.

I like Neeld, I like what he says, but I just don't think he has the communication, ideas, and ability to inspire that you need in a head coach. I would love it if we could combine his analytical, defensive mindset with the passion someone like Lethal, Sheedy, Roos, or Clarkson would bring to our club.

Doesn't it just defy logic that he's clearly not a good communicator, considering his background in education?

Edited April 13, 201312 yr by AdamFarr

It honestly breaks my heart watching Chip Frawley. To keep up his spirit for as long as he has is immense, but finally he's been Melbournised. An utterly wasted talent.

The only year our backline played well was when coached by Sean Wellman.

Since then coached by ROYAL down hill

now by RAWLINGS further downhill.

Who picked the FD assistants, was it Schwab?

Or did he put up a list for Neeld to pick from.

Either way we need specialist line coaches in place, and ones not infected by Neelds plan.

Have a read of this article, written in 2010 when our defence conceded the fourth least average points in the competition. Oh, how things have changed.

Doesn't it just defy logic that he's clearly not a good communicator, considering his background in education?

People don't necessarily choose 'education' because of their skills as communicators. Sometimes they simply don't have the smarts to enter the professions or prefer not to get their hands dirty by becoming a tradie!

Frawley to Full Forward.

Why?

Can run hard and straight, accurate kick and knows how to hold a player off. I appears likely we will lose him if the status quo continues.

Frawley to Full Forward.

Why?

Can run hard and straight, accurate kick and knows how to hold a player off. I appears likely we will lose him if the status quo continues.

Where did you get the idea Frawley was an accurate kick?

Jade Rawlings fault? Not sure, guess it's possible, but he's rated pretty highly in and outside MFC

Miss Rivers? Absolutely. He continually saved the backline, now he's not there.

Miss Bartram? Nup. Jetta and Bail are as good..

We certainly do miss Clint Bartram, he was one player who gave his absolute all when playing for the Dee's. Hardly ever beaten one on one the kid was a real terror: and the playing group and coaches loved him. And his disposal was certainly not the worst at the club!

Jetta? A bit too loose for me. And Bail? I like him but not in the back line. Anyway, if I was Rohan Bail I'd give it away immediately before he becomes the next Daniel Bell and ruins his life.

And Rivers, sh*t we miss him big time.

But #46 for just his second game did quite well and certainly seems to fit into AFL nicely!

I'd counter this though, Stuie, by saying that the defence of the Bailey era never had the midfield backup either, yet they managed to repel attacks far better than 2012/2013.

Junior was a huge loss for one. Our midfield pressure under Bailey just wasn't as bad in reality as the perception was.

Totally agree. Neeld seems to have sucked the confidence out of everyone. When was the last time we saw Chip go on one of his trademark runs, handing out don't argues on the way, that he did so often under Bailey? We've already lost Rivers and Moloney due to no faith in Neeld, if we lose Frawley too then we're done as a club.

Neeld certainly hasn't helped, but he has probably just been part of a process that has hit the confidence levels. We just don't know why some decisions have been made and who has been the driving force behind those decisions. In my view list management has been poor, but who has been responsible, a number of people probably.

Have a read of this article, written in 2010 when our defence conceded the fourth least average points in the competition. Oh, how things have changed.

Cannot be true sorry, as many people on here say, Bailey only coached us to be attacking and ignored defence. The irony

People don't necessarily choose 'education' because of their skills as communicators. Sometimes they simply don't have the smarts to enter the professions or prefer not to get their hands dirty by becoming a tradie!

And there are many great, inspiring teachers out there who came from the professions or trades but want more.

It starts with our transition defence which provides the backline little support. The lack of pressure and inability to mark the dangerous targets through the midfield enables the ball to come into the defensive zone frequently and with minimal pressure. I would be interested to hear from those who go to training whether they have seen the drills being run which address this and how they have worked.

Bring back Wellman and Ratten.

This is the worst performing back line I've ever seen.

A couple of years ago I thought it was going to be one of the best.

Frawley was once the most determined looking competitor out there, now he looks like it's all too much for him. Maybe he's just tired from staying up all night erecting barns in Ohio.

Garland is just woeful, should give him another shot up forward.

Watts. No.

Gillies. [censored] no.

Tommy Mac. Tick.

Nicholson. Endurance, pace, hardness... No football smarts or foot skills, of course.

Sellar and Pedo. Meh.

It's ugly. I hope Tom McDonald doesn't lose his spark.

Have a read of this article, written in 2010 when our defence conceded the fourth least average points in the competition. Oh, how things have changed.

Very interesting article, but again to me just highlights how important team defensive efforts are to the backlines success. You take out junior who averaged around 7.5 tackles a game that season and the example he was setting and it does make a difference. Our current midfield just isn't capable of that type of pressure as a whole. Jordie will help but...

The Forward pressure isn't great and lets hope that kicking down the line becomes a better option when Dawes comes in, as structurally that should help us bring it out of the back half and make it less likely to just go flying back in, Although he will come into the side under enormous pressure and he will be underdone. That will not help a bloke who was struggling with confidence towards the end at the Pies, although I'm not sure the role they were asking him to play suited him. I don't think backup ruck is his go. I actually really like Dawes as a player and I thought he was coming along really nicely until his hand injury and then he stalled a bit. I think part of that was that he picked up a few technical flaws with his marking when he was trying to protect the hand. I'm not sure he

ironed them out when he healed and that hurt his confidence. I have high hopes for him but also a feeling of trepidation, because a guy with confidence issues could be destroyed coming into our team right now.

said it before and i say it again, brett ratten was well liked and said to be the best midfeild coach weve had. as for the backline , grimes trengrove, watts , rivers garland, frawley????????