Dunn's never going to be a KPP. Firstly because it's a waste of his huge engine, and secondly because he just isn't that type of player.

Yes he was recruited as a KPP and not a tagger, but I think it's abundantly clear that he's not going to be a KPP now. I'd say the recruiting team / CAC got his "type" wrong as they did with Sylvia. It happens. If he turned out to be a first rate tagger -- or better yet a tagger that can be damaging when attacking -- then I'd still be very, very happy. It's better than turning out to be a complete lemon like some of our other previous first round picks.

Great post (although some of us have been saying this for a couple of seasons ).

Dunn has shown some very encouraging signs, but you're right they're not what he was drafted for. What are his positive? Big tank, aggressive, can kick a goal (plays small up forward), this is the challenge for bailey. Where to play him to maximise his talent. Sure he could be a tagger but he needs to get more touches than he does now, he needs to hurt the opposition more.

Dunn has shown some very encouraging signs, but you're right they're not what he was drafted for. What are his positive? Big tank, aggressive, can kick a goal (plays small up forward), this is the challenge for bailey. Where to play him to maximise his talent. Sure he could be a tagger but he needs to get more touches than he does now, he needs to hurt the opposition more.

I agree that he needs to hurt the opposition more, but at this point I'm pretty patient. He spent his junior years as a key position player, so I doubt he'd ever set foot in the middle before being drafted. He's very fit, has a good work ethic and as you said can kick goals, so it's just a matter of learning the craft so to speak. It could even be that the coaching staff have told him to concentrate purely on the defensive aspect of his game in a "one step at a time" type process, with a view of adding in the attacking element in later. I'm just guessing now of course.

I'm looking forward to seeing how he develops over the next few years. I suspect some will have some humble pie to eat.

...

nasher i am 100% with you on this one mate. he can kick some goals as a small forward, and it would be easy to say go into the midfield and run around and get as many touches as you can. but i think the coaches are trying to make him learn to be accountable. learn to stop another player. and while learning this he is probably learning where some of the best players in the comp run to when looking for the ball in the middle.

to be a tagger that hurts opposition teams the other way, you first have to be a tagger. you cant learn to roam free getting possessions and then try and tighten it up a bit.

i watch his development eagerly, hopefully he will come on as i think he will.

if Bailey can turn Warnock and garland into legit key defenders overnight, imagine what he can do with Lynden?

For the first time in my life as an MFC supporter, I am happy to be very patient with our youngsters.

Now that they have a real teacher, who knows what could happen to some of these kids.

nasher i am 100% with you on this one mate. he can kick some goals as a small forward, and it would be easy to say go into the midfield and run around and get as many touches as you can. but i think the coaches are trying to make him learn to be accountable. learn to stop another player. and while learning this he is probably learning where some of the best players in the comp run to when looking for the ball in the middle.

to be a tagger that hurts opposition teams the other way, you first have to be a tagger. you cant learn to roam free getting possessions and then try and tighten it up a bit.

i watch his development eagerly, hopefully he will come on as i think he will.

Perhaps his future lies as a forward tagger, playing on guys like Heath Shaw, restricting their drive down the ground, if he could successfully do that and kick a couple of goals a game he would then become very valuable. His lack of high touches wouldn't then become a big issue.

Nash, I wasn't overly impressed when we announced Bailey as our new coach, however the more I see him operate the more I'm getting impressed. He seems to building the right culture within the club, a process that won't deliver immediate results but will benefit the club in the long term.

I'm more than happy to have several bites of the pie and see Dunn become successful.

i think the coaches are trying to make him learn to be accountable. learn to stop another player. and while learning this he is probably learning where some of the best players in the comp run to when looking for the ball in the middle.

to be a tagger that hurts opposition teams the other way, you first have to be a tagger

I agree with both of your points here.

I agree with both of your points here.

Me too. The more I think about it, the more I think the coaching staff are trying to teach him Midfield 101. He's a blank canvas as he was not a midfielder as a junior, so they're starting from scratch.

Me too. The more I think about it, the more I think the coaching staff are trying to teach him Midfield 101. He's a blank canvas as he was not a midfielder as a junior, so they're starting from scratch.

He did play as a tagger last year, but slipped back a little this year. Maybe that's because as you say he's still learning or that Bailey wanted him to work on particular aspects of his game, but I think you're right that he's not a KPP. He's a lovely kick at goal, but doesn't play tall. His progress as a tagger is very encouraging, particularly to tag bigger bodied and taller midfielders or as Jarka says to tag the HBF types.

Bailey Flags Changes For Swan Match

Who has been in form at Sandy who deserves the call up?

Buckley?

Valenti?

Holland?

Martin?

Bailey Flags Changes For Swan Match

Who has been in form at Sandy who deserves the call up?

Buckley?

Valenti?

Holland?

Martin?

definitely Valenti. always in the best at Sandy.

Bailey Flags Changes For Swan Match

Who has been in form at Sandy who deserves the call up?

Buckley?

Valenti?

Holland?

Martin?

Holland hasn't been playing at all so I doubt that he's been in any sort of form!

Would like to see Valenti back in.

I dont want to see Buckley come back in until his defensive game has stepped up a few notches, may take some time to develop that through Sandy.

Whelan assuming the reason he didn't play for sandy last week (on sat) was because he was the emergency for the seniors (on sun)

whelan and valenti in, bode and morton out is my prediction...

He also said that while the side was not winning games players still needed to perform and “play at a level that was acceptable to their teammates and the club.”

this coming from Bailey suggests Cale will get a run at Sandy...

i'd like to see juice come in for someone like yze too, but i think just the two changes will take place...

Valenti will definately get a run this weekend....

Purely due to the fact of the amount of stoppages there will be....

Would love to see Whelan, but will wait and see...

Valenti will definately get a run this weekend....

Purely due to the fact of the amount of stoppages there will be....

Would love to see Whelan, but will wait and see...

Interchange from: Valenti, Whelan, Morton, Frawley, Yze, Jamar

Melbourne Squad

Backs: J.McDonald, C.Garland, M.Warnock

Half backs: B.Green, P.Wheatley, C.Bruce

Centreline: C.Sylvia, B.McLean, L.Dunn

Half forwards: J.Bode, M.Bate, A.Davey

Forwards: P.Johnson, B.Miller, A.Wonaeamirri

Followers: J.White, C.Bartram, N.Jones

Interchange from: J.Frawley, M.Jamar, C.Johnson, C.Morton, S.Valenti, M.Whelan, A.Yze

In: Whelan, Valenti, Jamar

Outs: None

IMO I hope the final bench is:

Interchange from: J.Frawley, C.Morton, S.Valenti, M.Whelan

IMO I hope the final bench is:

Interchange from: J.Frawley, C.Morton, S.Valenti, M.Whelan

C.Johnson needs a few weeks in the team to see if he can hack it. thats wat this season is all about!

imo Frawley, Morton, Valenti and CJ.

If i had it my way tho, Bode would be replaced by Whelan

Good to see Valenti given another crack given his Sandy form.

Let's hope he's given some consistent game time over the next few matches to make any call on his future.