COLIN Garland says he understands if James Frawley leaves the club, but he would love to have him remain in the red and blue.
With free agency set to open on Friday, it remains to be seen where Frawley will be in 2015, but Garland was realistic about the situation his close friend finds himself in.
“It’s tough because me and ‘Chip’ came here the same day. We walked in the door together and we’ve spent much of our careers playing alongside each other, really,” he said.
“It’ll be different for and different for the club too, because he’s a big personality around the place. But where I see it is that I’m his mate first and his teammate second.
“If he felt like the best thing for him as a player was to move on, I’d fully support him with that, but I’d prefer him to stay here, because he is a great mate and I feel like he can make us better.
“If he feels like it’s the best move for him personally, then I’d support him in what he did – the same as when ‘Riv’ (Jared Rivers) left. I just wouldn’t support him the week we play against him.”
Garland said he would love Frawley to remain a Demon, but said it was fair enough as a free agent that he explored his options.
“It’ll be disappointing if we did lose him, but I can understand to a point, where he might want a fresh start,” he said.
“Myself and him are 26, so your careers go pretty quickly, at the years of not playing finals. If he wants to be guaranteed that next year, then he can.
“The thing that I know with ‘Chip’ is that it’s not a money thing at all. It’s not a character thing at all. It’s if he wants a fresh start – he wants a fresh start.
“There are plenty of us who feel that we can play finals next year, but if he feels like he wants more of a guarantee with more senior players around him – then I’ll support that.”
Garland was adamant the Demons had the ability to rise up the ladder next year and even play finals.
“Definitely – there were a lot of games that we were in, in the last quarter,” he said.
“As a group, we’re just not used to being put in that position where we can win games.
“Roosy (Paul Roos) always says the players determine when you play finals next or want success next.”
Garland said he backed the Melbourne recruiting staff to improve the club’s list significantly in the off-season.
“I’ve got a lot of belief in Jason Taylor and Todd Viney from the last couple of years of who they’ve brought in. I see we’ve got Jesse Hogan in the wings and a lot of important players to our side didn’t get pre-seasons in like Chris Dawes, myself, Max Gawn, Mark Jamar and Dom Tyson, although he had an excellent year. They can only get better from a full pre-season,” he said.
“There is so much room for improvement and although the latter part of our year was really disappointing. We got tired and had some performances that just weren’t good enough.
“I see a lot of improvement … and with another year under Todd and Jason with their drafting and the way they get players into the club. And with what Roosy wants to do – he’s got such a better handle in terms of the place now – I just see us improving quickly.”
