Backmen in the AFL???

Question

Why do backmen in the AFL get less attention than anywhere else on the field??? When a backmen does something good, nobody really cares. But when a foward scores a goal the crowd goes wild. I know the back isnt the most exciting place but they get very little attention.

(I know from experience)

Answer 1

I only have 3 words to answer this question, but first I need to set the mood.

2005 Grand Final. Sth. Melb. vs W.C.Eagles. Dying minutes...

1. Leaping

2. Leo

3. Barry

Answer 2

It's the same in most sports but sometimes the fullback is very popular if they are really good eg Silvagni, andrew dunckley, dustin fletcher, scarlett. There is no glory in playing defence, all the ego's are in the forwards.

Answer 3

It doesn't help that you can't really measure a defender's contribution. Most of the stuff they do doesn't get them any statistics, you can be bloody brilliant and amazingly stop someone scoring a major goal, but that doesn't get you any posessions or anything of the like. Forwards you can measure in goals, midfielders you can measure in posessions, and so on, but you just can't measure the contribution of a defender.

On that point, there's many comments to what your saying in an extract I was reading about full-forwards in a book called "Origin of the Speccies", but I can't remember the author's name...

Answer 4

Well as a Cats person you should know that Matty Scarlett is a bit of an exception to that rule.  He's a cult hero in Catland.

However, overall, you're right.  

I remember playing there a few times.  Once, I spoiled 12 times in a quarter, had 5 possessions, a desperate lunge to touch a ball through and another few big bumps that saved goals (I thought I was playing a blinder), and got dragged when my direct opponent kicked two in a row (his first for the day) - I copped an earful from the coach and stayed off for the rest of the game :-S (Can you tell I'm still bitter and twisted?)

I chose to play hff from there on in!

Answer 5

Well The Backmen dont have the biggest role in the game (Forwards, Half Forwards And Midfields/Centre Do) I hope This Answers Your Question

Answer 6

because they do not have a very exciting or attacking style of play and dont get to do the flashy and crowd drawing sunts fowards do

they are sometimes exceptions like Tagh Kennelly or Heath Shaw who are whats called running half back flanks

Answer 7

Well as a woman my front gets more attention than my back lol same with football usually the best are at the front :-) CARN  the CATS

Answer 8

When I think of backman I always think of Bruce Doull one of my favorite players way back when I barracked for Carlton.