An article on the melbournefc.com.au site tells of how Brent Moloney is on the mend and training confidently after groin and shoulder injuries have affected his performances over the past three seasons - Re-serviced Moloney running well. I never take a great deal of notice of these January puff pieces but on what I've seen of his body shape at the couple of training runs I've atttended, I must say he's put in a lot of work to get where he is now.

Moloney was a strong influence in our flying start to the 2005 season but his influence petered out with injury and I also felt that he was becoming a bit one-dimensional in that he would far too often go for the long thump forward and opposition sides soon worked him out. Hopefully, with some maturity and the coaching of Dean Bailey, we'll see a more versatile Monloney and that his influence in the midfield will return.

Let's face it - we've been shocking in that department lately and we need the likes of Beamer, Brock, Simon Buckley and one or two others to add to the midfield. Last year, Nathan Jones was often called on to do it all himself with the resultant decline in his output.

If you're not competitive in the midfield, you'll cop big thrashings and this is exactly what happened tom us last year.

What I do like about beamer is that I think he adds a physicality to the midfield that no-one else does. He really would be perfectly happy sizing up to anyone in the middle. The happy disposition towards bumps, blocks and sheparding might really help out the lighter boys and just remind other teams that they cannot rum amok. Getting the ball would help that too.

Moloney was a strong influence in our flying start to the 2005 season but his influence petered out with injury and I also felt that he was becoming a bit one-dimensional in that he would far too often go for the long thump forward and opposition sides soon worked him out. Hopefully, with some maturity and the coaching of Dean Bailey, we'll see a more versatile Monloney and that his influence in the midfield will return.

Conversely, our midfield was equally predictable this season by constantly going short.

There's nothing wrong with going long into the forward line on the proviso that it's done in a quick play-on situation to prevent the opposition flooding, and you have a structured forward line. Our players seemed to be encouraged to play-on, but rarely had a structured forward line to be able to kick the ball long.

Conversely, our midfield was equally predictable this season by constantly going short.

There's nothing wrong with going long into the forward line on the proviso that it's done in a quick play-on situation to prevent the opposition flooding, and you have a structured forward line. Our players seemed to be encouraged to play-on, but rarely had a structured forward line to be able to kick the ball long.

Correct on all counts.

he is a long and penetrating kick when fully fit - which was??? had a terrific first season but we need to see that again....

what he does add is another rotation - look at last year, we were severely lacking in this department...

how many times last year did we kick to a crowded forward line? allow men to drop back, flood, block gaps, etc...

this bloke also bleeds red and blue...

love the beemer!!

I keep reading he is running laps whilst the others train.

Proof is in the pudding as they say. We will see.

how many times last year did we kick to a crowded forward line? allow men to drop back, flood, block gaps, etc...

Very rarely as a forward line was often non-existent.

this bloke also bleeds red and blue...

But he isn't a Ryan O'Keefe type player.

If we are to progress in 2009 we need our players of Moloney's vintage (early to mid 20's) to step up and take greater roles on the ground> I hope he can stay fit and fulfil the promise of his first season with the club.

Him lining up josh fraser at the centre bounce queens birthday last year was one of the better things ive seen in my life.