CHANGES 2010 - THE WASH UP by The Oracle

The trade and draft period is all but over and, with the influx of the rookie players, most clubs can now start reflecting on how they performed in the off season in terms of the changes to their playing lists.

For the record, the last batch of Demon newcomers via the rookie draft are:-

Pick 14 Daniel Nicholson (University Blues VAFA)

" 31 Michael Evans (Claremont WAFL)

" 48 Kelvin Lawrence (Peel Thunder WAFL)

" 63 Cameron Johnston (Geelong Falcons TAC Cup)

" 75 Robert Campbell (Box Hill Hawks VFL)

" 83 Tom McNamara (Melbourne AFL)

As the final selection was a player from last year's primary list, This brings to nine the number of new faces at the club (ten if you include father/son nominee Jack Viney).

We can now start comparing how the Demons are looking on a before and after basis. To recap, this was how their playing lists looked for the duration of the 2010 season (noting that some rookies were temporarily upgraded during the year):-

MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - PLAYING LIST (SEASON 2010)

SENIOR LIST:

Rohan Bail Clint Bartram Matthew Bate Daniel Bell Jamie Bennell Sam Blease Kyle Cheney Aaron Davey Lynden Dunn Jack Fitzpatrick James Frawley Colin Garland Max Gawn Brad Green Jack Grimes Jordan Gysberts Mark Jamar Neville Jetta Paul Johnson Nathan Jones Liam Jurrah Joel Macdonald Tom McNamara Addam Maric Stefan Martin Brad Miller Brent Moloney Cale Morton Ricky Petterd Jared Rivers Tom Scully James Strauss Colin Sylvia Luke Tapscott Jack Trengove Matthew Warnock Jack Watts Austin Wonaeamirri

VETERAN LIST: Cameron Bruce James McDonald

ROOKIE LIST:

Rhys Healey Daniel Hughes John Meesen Jordie McKenzie Michael Newton Jake Spencer

After the retirements, delistings, one trade, the national and rookie drafts and the rookie promotions the actual ins and outs are as follows:-

In: Luke Cook, Robert Campbell ®, Troy Davis, Michael Evans®, Jeremy Howe, Cameron Johnston®, Kelvin Lawrence®, Tom McDonald and Dan Nicholson ® with Tom McNamara going from the primary list to a rookie.

Out: Daniel Bell, Cameron Bruce, Kyle Cheney, Rhys Healey ®, Danny Hughes ®, Paul Johnson, James McDonald, John Meesen ® and Brad Miller.

Looking at the departures, I don't believe there's too much pain there for the Melbourne Football Club. The two senior players in McDonald and Bruce will leave a huge gap in experience but Junior was 34 years old and showing signs of wear and tear. He missed several weeks with a hamstring injury and while he looked as if he could go on for another year, there had to be some doubts and nobody wants to see a club great restrained by injuries and playing out his career in the VFL.

Bruce was a different kettle of fish who, at 31 years, was apparently not confident of his capacity to hold a place in an emerging team beyond one season. In those circumstances, it was best for all concerned that he took his chances elsewhere. The others in the "off" list were in the main Casey players by year's end with the exception of Meesen who didn't play at all on account of a debilitating foot injury and retired at the end of the season.

And that leaves us with -

MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - PLAYING LIST (SEASON 2011)

SENIOR LIST:

Rohan Bail Clint Bartram Matthew Bate Jamie Bennell Sam Blease Lucas Cook Aaron Davey Troy Davis Lynden Dunn Jack Fitzpatrick James Frawley Colin Garland Max Gawn Jack Grimes Jordan Gysberts Jeremy Howe Mark Jamar Neville Jetta Nathan Jones Liam Jurrah Joel Macdonald Addam Maric Stefan Martin Tom McDonald Brent Moloney Cale Morton Ricky Petterd Jared Rivers Tom Scully James Strauss Colin Sylvia Luke Tapscott Jack Trengove Matthew Warnock Jack Watts Austin Wonaeamirri

VETERAN LIST Brad Green

ROOKIE LIST

Robert Campbell Michael Evans Cameron Johnston Kelvin Lawrence Tom McNamara Michael Newton Daniel Nicholson

WAITING IN THE WINGS Jack Viney

Despite all of the hype in the media and the internet about the major draft prospects, we still know very little about many of the new boys and most of us have never seen them play.

However, while they might be unknown quantities we have an inkling about the types the club has drafted and, on the face of it, the club recruiters have covered the team's need well. There are key forwards, defenders, speedy midfielders and a back up ruckman.

A few have already seen the new boys at training while the first practice matches and the NAB Cup are still a couple of months away.

In the interim, one of the big questions on everyone's lips might well be:

Have we missed anything?

CHANGES 2010 - THE WASH UP by The Oracle

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Despite all of the hype in the media and the internet about the major draft prospects, we still know very little about many of the new boys and most of us have never seen them play. 

However, while they might be unknown quantities we have an inkling about the   types the club has drafted and, on the face of it, the club recruiters have covered the team's need well. There are key forwards, defenders, speedy midfielders and a back up ruckman. 

A few have already seen the new boys at training while the first practice matches and the NAB Cup are still a couple of months away.

In the interim, one of the big questions on everyone's lips might well be:

Have we missed anything?

This is the key point for me. While acknowledging that we know very little about the newbies, I reckon that, on paper, we have done a brilliant job covering the apparent gaps and potential weaknesses in our list. Time will tell whether the paper version becomes reality, but for me it's very hard to keep a lid on my excitement about the prospects of the Melbourne Football Club over the next five years or so.

Likewise, I'm excited but cautious especially about next year. Not so much because we've lost a lot of experience but we now have a young inexperienced side which is likely to be inconsistent and to fade at the end of the season. What we really need is for some players to step up next year just as quickly as Jamar, Frawley and Dunn did last year.

I don't expect very much from our new players so we need everyone to be healthy and for there to be general improvement right across the the spectrum if we're to challenge for the eight in 2011.

 

WAITING IN THE WINGS Jack Viney

Can we add to waiting further in the wings, Billy Stretch, Greg Healy's son and maybe one of Garry Lyon's boys.

Can we add to waiting further in the wings, Billy Stretch, Greg Healy's son and maybe one of Garry Lyon's boys.

No because they have to be old enough to sign their names to a contract.

No because they have to be old enough to sign their names to a contract.

Firstly, Jack Viney is not old enough to sign a contract.

Secondly, is the definition of waiting in the wings "someone who is old enough to sign a contract" or merely "someone who in the future could play for us"?

Firstly, Jack Viney is not old enough to sign a contract.

Secondly, is the definition of waiting in the wings "someone who is old enough to sign a contract" or merely "someone who in the future could play for us"?

Thanks for the free legal advice Redleg but the difference is that the AFL recognises that Jack Viney, as a 16 year old, is now able to commit himself to his father/son club through his father and thereby contract himself to the Melbourne Football Club when he becomes eligible. This prevents GWS from claiming him under the special bonus 17 year olds rule the AFL concocted to strengthen Sheedy's mob and make them viable on field from year dot.

This angelic looking choir boy couldn't do that just yet -

Nor could Greg Healy and Gary Lyons' off spring ATM or Brad and Anna Green's 6 month old little tacker but if you like perhaps The Oracle could put them all in the wings together with a complete sperm bank from the entire senior list.

I too am excited, and cautiously optimistic about further vast improvements in 2011, though this may not always translate to the scoreboard.

But as has been pointed out, a young very inexperienced side can be immensely exciting bit also cannot realistically be expected to show consistency and more so durability towards the end of a long season.

Looking at 7-10 finish!

Need to keep Jurrah on the field all season

VETERAN LIST Brad Green

ROOKIE LIST

Robert Campbell Michael Evans Cameron Johnston Kelvin Lawrence Tom McNamara Michael Newton Daniel Nicholson 

Have we missed anything?

With only one veteran, we will also have the option of nominating a rookie who can play all season. (Essentially one of those rookies will be a senior listed player)

Will it be Robert Campbell as a back up or the cat Juice Newton. Here's hoping a Evans or a Nicholson surprise.

With only one veteran, we will also have the option of nominating a rookie who can play all season. (Essentially one of those rookies will be a senior listed player)

Will it be Robert Campbell as a back up or the cat Juice Newton. Here's hoping a Evans or a Nicholson surprise.

It's an interesting question. I'd think the only genuine contenders at this ridiculously early stage would be Nicholson and Campbell, as these two are the only ones whose writeups scream "ready for senior action now" to me. Newton an outside chance of Campbell's body is not up to scratch. It will greatly add to my interest in the pre-season - plenty of water to pass under the bridge yet before this is settled.

The answer could also be nobody, of course.