THE EMERGENCE of exciting Demon youngster Austin Wonaeamirri was one of the stories of the 2008 season and the livewire forward is determined to make sure he's no one-season wonder.

http://melbournefc.com.au/tabid/7415/Defau...px?newsid=71350

I pray he gets better and better.

he looked outstanding at training yesterday.

he looked outstanding at training yesterday.

The thing that impressed me the most last year was the fact he knows where to run to, and can actually kick the damn thing! He finds best position, in close and out in space nearly every time.

I'm really excited about Woenna, I reckon he's going to tear it up this year

The thing that impressed me the most last year was the fact he knows where to run to, and can actually kick the damn thing! He finds best position, in close and out in space nearly every time.

I'm really excited about Woenna, I reckon he's going to tear it up this year

Totally agree, even after he burst onto the seen his ability to find considerable space was unbelievable. Surely this was not arrogance from opporsition sides rather his ability loose his direct opponent and play as an impact player for us.

Totally agree, even after he burst onto the seen his ability to find considerable space was unbelievable. Surely this was not arrogance from opporsition sides rather his ability loose his direct opponent and play as an impact player for us.

And the fact he did it off such a low fitness base gives me the most hope

Without reading too much into things, I think this is a really good reflection upon the club and players also. They have obviously provided Wona with a comfortable, supportive environment which has enabled him to progress as an individual within the group and as a player professionally. Hopefully this same environment and support will draw the same benefits from our new recruits.

His best skill (IMO) was how he could weight the ball so the forward to run onto it without breaking stride, most in our side can't.

Totally agree, even after he burst onto the seen his ability to find considerable space was unbelievable. Surely this was not arrogance from opporsition sides rather his ability loose his direct opponent and play as an impact player for us.

Wona's efforts in his first season were creditable and he was rightly elevated onto the main list.

However, there is no doubt that as an uplifted rookie in a bottom dwelling club he flew under many sides radar and he was not given the respect from opponents that more experienced players would normally get. He cannot expect to get the same latitude this year.

Its great he has greater fitness and he needs to maintain that because he will need it if he is to continue to improve at AFL level.

Wona's efforts in his first season were creditable and he was rightly elevated onto the main list.

However, there is no doubt that as an uplifted rookie in a bottom dwelling club he flew under many sides radar and he was not given the respect from opponents that more experienced players would normally get. He cannot expect to get the same latitude this year.

Fair call, but I'm sure you would agree some players just have an ability to loose their direct opponent more so then others.

After 3 or 4 good even great games last year he had heavy media coverage and I can't accept that teams would have been unprofessional and arrogant and not man up on wonna. No nietz, no robbo, no davey forward, miller and wonna would have been the 1st 2 forwards i would have been looking at as an opporstition coach in the 2nd half of the season yet He still was able to find increadable space. Hopefully increase fitness will allow him to become more then just an impact player for us in 09.

Re latitude this year if our best 22 generally stay fit and a couple of this years draft come through you never know he could be given a little more lattitude then he faced in my eyes last year. But i do agree if he repeats much of last years heroics he can expect a full time shadow. I know this is contradictory but either case could prevaile - form, team balance, opporsition strengths etc are all factors

Fair call, but I'm sure you would agree some players just have an ability to loose their direct opponent more so then others.

They do. But often there were times when Wonna was found on his well clear in the forward line which often reflects that his direct opponent has exploited his lack of stamina and run off him in the effort to provide a forward attack from defence.

After 3 or 4 good even great games last year he had heavy media coverage and I can't accept that teams would have been unprofessional and arrogant and not man up on wonna. No nietz, no robbo, no davey forward, miller and wonna would have been the 1st 2 forwards i would have been looking at as an opporstition coach in the 2nd half of the season yet He still was able to find increadable space. Hopefully increase fitness will allow him to become more then just an impact player for us in 09.

Gee do you think opposition sides read the paper and say "Hey we must watch out for him!!!"? Its not a matter of not manning up but it will often be the opportunity to exploit a young inexperienced player by gaining possessions and launching attacks for your side. BTW, the opponent you would necessarily play on Wonna would not be different whether Neitz, Miller or Robbo were playing. Truth is they play different positions. I think sides will be less ambitious with their offensive zoning in defense on him.

His increased fitness should allow him if the opportunity presents itself to be more of an impact player more often. He will play FP which is very difficult position to play week in week out. He needs more than one pre season to be a contender for the midfield.

Re latitude this year if our best 22 generally stay fit and a couple of this years draft come through you never know he could be given a little more lattitude then he faced in my eyes last year. But i do agree if he repeats much of last years heroics he can expect a full time shadow. I know this is contradictory but either case could prevaile - form, team balance, opporsition strengths etc are all factors

Wona will be subject to more defensive pressure this year regardless.

Wona will be subject to more defensive pressure this year regardless.

Agree with everything else rhino, but "regardless" is not right for me. Subject to form, team balance, position etc are more likely to dictate the amount of negative pressure and attention he receives.

Agree with everything else rhino, but "regardless" is not right for me. Subject to form, team balance, position etc are more likely to dictate the amount of negative pressure and attention he receives.

Given the freedom he got last year from team he really could not get any less pressure.

Teams know that if they give him to much room he has the poise and balance to make the most of those opportunities. Competent oppositions will close those loop holes. Its that simple.

You are expecting too much too soon from a young team if you think Wonna will get the luxury of slipping away often.

Given the freedom he got last year from team he really could not get any less pressure.

I don't quite go along with that. By mid season opposition teams were sitting on him, which is one of the reasons he started to significantly wane in his output. Plus his weight and fitness levels.

I don't quite go along with that. By mid season opposition teams were sitting on him, which is one of the reasons he started to significantly wane in his output. His weight and fitness levels.

I think we are on the same track. His lack of fitness last year which was understandable with no pre season also took its toll. And certainly the light cover he had in his early games was somewhat closer as the year went on.

I would suggest this year his fitness will be tested early and if found wanting then oppositions will work him hard then run off him as he tires.

Interesting to watch nevertheless.

They do. But often there were times when Wonna was found on his well clear in the forward line which often reflects that his direct opponent has exploited his lack of stamina and run off him in the effort to provide a forward attack from defence.

No Doubt, but as a forward, the most important weapon is instinct, and wonna has it in spades. Opposition can combat many things, fitness, stratergy, form, but they can never plan for natural instinct.

No Doubt, but as a forward, the most important weapon is instinct, and wonna has it in spades. Opposition can combat many things, fitness, stratergy, form, but they can never plan for natural instinct.

Bingo - Natural instinct or as I was discussing earlier a component of this is the ability to loose your opponent. yes his impact lessend for the reasons outlined already as the year went on but he still had an ability to find a huge amount of space all the way to the end of the season at times. As Rhino put it before he will be one very interesting player to watch this year, especially off the ball work.

No Doubt, but as a forward, the most important weapon is instinct, and wonna has it in spades. Opposition can combat many things, fitness, stratergy, form, but they can never plan for natural instinct.

They dont have to directly.

All player play with some level of natural instincts.Its a given. They are not robots. The issue is what actions/responses does the player exhibit through his natural instincts in a game situation (eg where and how he leads, the way he prefers to mark, what he will do with ball in different parts of the ground and what he does when he does not have the ball) . If the actions are predictable or repetitive or they highlight a weakness then a good coach will combat that in an instant.

They dont have to directly.

All player play with some level of natural instincts.Its a given. They are not robots. The issue is what actions/responses does the player exhibit through his natural instincts in a game situation (eg where and how he leads, the way he prefers to mark, what he will do with ball in different parts of the ground and what he does when he does not have the ball) . If the actions are predictable or repetitive or they highlight a weakness then a good coach will combat that in an instant.

i hope your not coaching against him rhino, you seem to now how to hold him.

They dont have to directly.

All player play with some level of natural instincts.Its a given. They are not robots. The issue is what actions/responses does the player exhibit through his natural instincts in a game situation (eg where and how he leads, the way he prefers to mark, what he will do with ball in different parts of the ground and what he does when he does not have the ball) . If the actions are predictable or repetitive or they highlight a weakness then a good coach will combat that in an instant.

agreed and of course they are not robots, but i think it is fair to say that some players lack natural football instincts, i mean we have a players in our side who in my opinion are not natural instintive football types. i think Wonna is, and instincts can mean the difference between his type (crumbing forward) making a difference in a game. His natural instincts in a game may very well means he leads to a spot where the ball does not end up, that he handballs to the wrong spot, that he ends up out of the play when he does not have the ball, but his instincts usually net him goals or our team goals, and that is very hard to coach against!

The opposition paying more attaention to Wona could be considered a positive for us. It basically means less pressure on the other forwards like Davey, Maric & co.

If he is really fit and firing, this is also a plus as the opposition will have to put a better backman on him which hopefully free's up robbo, miller from getting double teamed and this might make things a bit easier for the other forwards but it will depended on how far he has come along a long way I hope.

Really pleased to read that he has knuckled down over the pre-season and feels stronger as well as slimmer. Also pleasing to read that many back in the Territory are jumping on board Melbourne in their support for Aussie and the club.

agreed and of course they are not robots, but i think it is fair to say that some players lack natural football instincts, i mean we have a players in our side who in my opinion are not natural instintive football types. i think Wonna is, and instincts can mean the difference between his type (crumbing forward) making a difference in a game. His natural instincts in a game may very well means he leads to a spot where the ball does not end up, that he handballs to the wrong spot, that he ends up out of the play when he does not have the ball, but his instincts usually net him goals or our team goals, and that is very hard to coach against!

Its often referred to as football ability and skill and I agree with you that footballers have differing amounts.

Wonna is still on a long education curve while coming off a good base to do so.

Really pleased to read that he has knuckled down over the pre-season and feels stronger as well as slimmer. Also pleasing to read that many back in the Territory are jumping on board Melbourne in their support for Aussie and the club.

Enough for a Major Sponsorship deal like Hawthorn perhaps?

$3 million deal with Northern Territory... Wouldn't it be nice?