Geez we missed him yesterday. I understand we had a hell of a lot of other key players out yesterday. But it was blaringly obvious how important he is to our structure. He is one of our few talented leading half forwards who creates so much structure to our forward line. His linking play and an nouse of where to go and when was sorely missed yesterday.

By the way, I am perplexed as to our constant need to get the ball back into the centre square at all costs. Did anyone notice yesterday when we had the ball in the defensive 50 and North had ALL of their players zoning together in the middle of the ground. The ball went out of bounds on the wing and we had 5 of our players at our half forward line with no opponents. Why would we keep trying to put the ball back into the centre sqaure when there were always 12-15 north players firmly entrenched in it?

I wouldnt say his one of our most important players.

We did miss his influence though. You just think when we were coming back Aussie would be the one to nab two in 5 minutes.

Quick question -

Do you think he would have been rookied had Daniel Hayes remained at Melbourne?

Quick question -

Do you think he would have been rookied had Daniel Hayes remained at Melbourne?

Yep. Aussie has it all over Hayes. Where is Daniel even playing this season?

FWIW, Hayes had all the skills to make it, but somehow never ever even looked like getting close. He wasn't even playing as a regular for Sandy. Very much in the same boat to how Issac Weetra is playing now.

I meant more that maybe they wouldn't have wanted the 2 on the same list as they're both similar players.

Pretty sure Hayesy is playing for Paynesville atm

We definitely lacked some spark in the forward line yesterday. I guess it's a reflection on the state of the MFC that we are crying out for a first-year, 10-game rookie listed 19 year old to return to the team.

We definitely lacked some spark in the forward line yesterday. I guess it's a reflection on the state of the MFC that we are crying out for a first-year, 10-game rookie listed 19 year old to return to the team.

TRUE. HOwever, Wonna, is worth 2-3 goals.

Had he have played it may have beena different result.

Dissapointing that Maric couldn't fill this role while Wonna was gone. I think he has the talent as seen with his few touches, but he doesn't demand the ball as much as Wonna does, maybe it was just positioning in the forward line, something he will learn.

Did you mean hayes or hughes?

Hayes never really looked likely, but hughes looked pretty good i thought more size about him though.

Dissapointing that Maric couldn't fill this role while Wonna was gone. I think he has the talent as seen with his few touches, but he doesn't demand the ball as much as Wonna does, maybe it was just positioning in the forward line, something he will learn.

Alot can be said for a kid with about 10 games under his belt, as aposed to a first gamer.

I am sure he will learn the more we play him.

Did you mean hayes or hughes?

Hayes never really looked likely, but hughes looked pretty good i thought more size about him though.

I'm sure he meant Hayes, but point taken. Daniel Hughes was around 186cm, delisted at the end of '07 after 2 or 3 seasons on the rookie list? Is still on the Sandringham list, i think, originally being from Hampton Rovers.

FWIW, i didnt really think either of them would make it, but i remember Hughes playing well in a NAB cup match a couple of years back. Hayes had some off-field and attitude issues, but was infinitely talented and with pace to burn. Just never got it together while he was in the system.

Dissapointing that Maric couldn't fill this role while Wonna was gone. I think he has the talent as seen with his few touches, but he doesn't demand the ball as much as Wonna does, maybe it was just positioning in the forward line, something he will learn.

Hopefully he'll be a very good player for us. His positioning wasn't too bad, and his widely-acclaimed skills look very nice. It seemed more just a lack of strength playing against men that held him back IMO.. Once he gets a bit more size about him, he'll be able to compete more effectively without getting pushed off the ball, which happened a few times on Sunday, and he'll hopefully develop into a star, as he has talent to burn. (Same thing could be said about Cale, and even Col Garland and Stef Martin. A couple of pre-seasons in the gym and these guys'll be great!).

Aussie does seem to demand the footy a lot more, even at this early stage of his career, and is also a lot more solid and nuggety in build than Maric. More ready-made for AFL, you could say, though he'll improve so much too with a full pre-season.

Exciting times ahead for our small-forwards. Lots to look forward to with these two young fellas..