Newton Given Another Chance

[dees 1858 0]

why oh why......?

surely he has been given enough chances?

I totally agree, how many more chances does this guy need??

[Weedster 174]

Miller and Johnson or Campbell and Newton.............I think I prefer dynamic duo 1 !!

Spot on .. this is ridiculous B)

[Roost It 1,434]

Not all positions filled

[Grand New Flag 3,227]

I have great faith in our current FD. They have had a great record of picking talent over the last few years. However, this Newton thing is something that I can't get my head around. Firstly it was a complete embarrassment that Newton was given an extension to his contract over Miller. As limited as Miller was he has and will always be a better player than Newton. The juice has embarrassed himself, the club and all those who play in it and support it with a almost unbelievable lack of skill and inept talent. To add to this at times he has shown poor attitude, yet he continues to survive on our list.

I must say that bringing Newton into our team while we were tanking was a master stroke, but since we are now looking to win games I can't understand why we would pursue with this greatest of duds. Clearly the FD see's something I don't, clearly they see him as a chance to make contests in the goal square while relieving in the ruck. Personally I think our FD is dreaming. In 8 years he has never shown me anything that would suggest he has a future in AFL football, I mean nothing.

[Redleg 41,933]

Campbell injury is surely worse than they are saying.

Heard that from another source and then spoke to Rob who said it was coming along quite well. Not sure it is coming along well. Has anyone seen him on the track at all lately?

[dee-luded 2,959]

Heard that from another source and then spoke to Rob who said it was coming along quite well. Not sure it is coming along well. Has anyone seen him on the track at all lately?

If I wanted to rookie a ruck, to be a back up to Jamar, but he had a chronic injury, and he had the necessary skills and experience already,,, I would want to keep him fit, and keep him away from injury. Not to play him too much, but to keep him on the shelf, as it where.

I'd want to break him out, in the second half of the season, as my main men where starting to, 'feel the pinch'....

I'd hope to see him starting at Casey, I guess around Rnd 10 - 13.

This gives us the chance to put game time into the young ones, both @ Casey and in the Melbourne team. Then we can start to play him and give the necessary R & R to those when they need it.

[GOLF 13]

Newton has played 24 games for 30 goals. Thats 1.25 per game, or 27 for a full H&A. Not good enough to warrant playing as a forward. He has to get this up to 2 per game (44 per season) or even 2.5, to get a regular run. But bear in mind that he is only 23 (24 on April 27) and is 193cm (talls take longer ...) so they might see he should be given 1 last chance. His objectives should be to average 5 per game at Casey, and at least 2 per game if elevated. Hopefully if they do elevate him he will be given a reasonable run of games. (Note: Miller had 133 games for 89 goals. That's less than one per)

Forget his soi-disant "rucking". He's 193 cm. Just imagine him up against Sandilands. And forget defending. One game down back on the end of season trip when nobody was trying much is slim credentials indeed. He either makes it as a forward or dies.

And who else to promote? Campbell as frequently noted was picked as insurance for Jamar. You don't push up a young rookie unless (a la McKenzie) he is showing loads. Only other choice realistically was Tom McMamara. Any takers?

[Guest Thomo]

I have great faith in our current FD. They have had a great record of picking talent over the last few years.

They don't have a great record yet. The club and fans are talking up players, but we won't know about the current FD's ability to pick players for another couple of years.

Watts, Scully and Trengove were picks one and two - have shown that they should be good players, where they sit amoungst the best in the draft is not yet known.

Blease, Strauss, Tapscott, Maric, Morton, Grimes were all top 20 picks, but for various resons it's still too early to tell if they we be the players the football department hopes.

[old dee 23,998]

They don't have a great record yet. The club and fans are talking up players, but we won't know about the current FD's ability to pick players for another couple of years.

Watts, Scully and Trengove were picks one and two - have shown that they should be good players, where they sit amoungst the best in the draft is not yet known.

Blease, Strauss, Tapscott, Maric, Morton, Grimes were all top 20 picks, but for various resons it's still too early to tell if they we be the players the football department hopes.

Agree with the first part but I think Morton and Grimes are proven good players.

I think the worth of selection people is how well they do at picking talent after the 30+ mark.

The likes of Fizpatrick, Gawn, Spencer, Jetta, Howe, Lawerence and Bennel will show us how clever they are.

[Guest Thomo]

Agree with the first part but I think Morton and Grimes are proven good players.

I think the worth of selection people is how well they do at picking talent after the 30+ mark.

The likes of Fizpatrick, Gawn, Spencer, Jetta, Howe, Lawerence and Bennel will show us how clever they are.

I should have clarified the reasons. Gimes could be a gun, but so far he has missed two thirds of games due to injury. Morton last year was also down to injury. I think these two players could be great, but it's too early to tell if they will be worthy of an early pick long term due to injury.

Hopefully you are right with that list, time will tell.

I think the worth of the recruiters is shown in the 10-30 picks. Top ten should be easy, and barring injury should produce good players. After thirty they have passed on them twice, so can be a bit of speculation and room for error. I think what they do with the late first and seconund round picks when there are still plenty of players to choose from is the real value. For example - Gysberts, Tapscott, Maric, Grimes Strauss and Blease. They were chosen ahead of other highly rated players, and it can be easy to choose the low risk 'names'. This is where I hope they earn their money, and hopefully get it right, and set us apart from Essendon and North Melbourne who have picked what many would consider the safe options.

I'm not saying the recruiters are good or bad, just that we will not know for a few years.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I think the worth of the recruiters is shown in the 10-30 picks. Top ten should be easy, and barring injury should produce good players. After thirty they have passed on them twice, so can be a bit of speculation and room for error. I think what they do with the late first and seconund round picks when there are still plenty of players to choose from is the real value. For example - Gysberts, Tapscott, Maric, Grimes Strauss and Blease. They were chosen ahead of other highly rated players, and it can be easy to choose the low risk 'names'. This is where I hope they earn their money, and hopefully get it right, and set us apart from Essendon and North Melbourne who have picked what many would consider the safe options.

I'm not saying the recruiters are good or bad, just that we will not know for a few years.

Whether the Dees are going to win a flag is dependent on the ability of Watts, Scully, Trengove, Morton, Frawley,Gysberts Viney and Sylvia to become the nucleus of stars MFC crave. Most of these players are first round picks that selectors will stake their reputation. They get it right they are deities. They get it wrong they are chumps. Its as simple as that. If we dont get the nucleus from the squad with perhaps one or two others (eg Jurrah etc) then MFC are stuffed. Its quite easy for selectors to stuff the first round picks. The rewards are great if you get it right. Its awful if you get it wrong. Richmond stuffed in 2001 and 2004. The Hawks have stuffed it 2005 and 2006.

But you are right that we wont know of Prendergasts pedigree until 4 to 5 years in the job.

[titan_uranus 25,174]

Meh. Won't get a game. If he does the world really will be ending.

Possible merit to KS's theory that he is there to put pressure on Martin. Then again, it wouldn't exactly be a credible threat.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Whether the Dees are going to win a flag is dependent on the ability of Watts, Scully, Trengove, Morton, Frawley,Gysberts Viney and Sylvia to become the nucleus of stars MFC crave. Most of these players are first round picks that selectors will stake their reputation. They get it right they are deities. They get it wrong they are chumps. Its as simple as that. If we dont get the nucleus from the squad with perhaps one or two others (eg Jurrah etc) then MFC are stuffed. Its quite easy for selectors to stuff the first round picks. The rewards are great if you get it right. Its awful if you get it wrong. Richmond stuffed in 2001 and 2004. The Hawks have stuffed it 2005 and 2006.

But you are right that we wont know of Prendergasts pedigree until 4 to 5 years in the job.

Just out of interest, what was Prendergast's own pedigree and football background coming into the job? Anyone know?

[dee-luded 2,959]

Just out of interest, what was Prendergast's own pedigree and football background coming into the job? Anyone know?

Whats your point?

"Played in the 1980 Victorian Teal Cup side with Greg Williams and Paul Roos but suffered two knee reconstructions and a hip injury and decided to turn to coaching instead.

From 1998 to 2002 he coached Eastern Ranges in the Under 18's competition and won a premiership in his last year. After that he joined the Western Bulldogs as an assistant and coached Werribee in the VFL from 2003 to 2004."

[dee-eee 231]

I cant believe Juice has lasted so long. He takes an occasional screamer then drops a sitter . He's about as flexible and pacy as Ben Holland ! ISNT THIS BLEEDING OBVIOUS !

[Range Rover 1,935]

Whats your point?

"Played in the 1980 Victorian Teal Cup side with Greg Williams and Paul Roos but suffered two knee reconstructions and a hip injury and decided to turn to coaching instead.

From 1998 to 2002 he coached Eastern Ranges in the Under 18's competition and won a premiership in his last year. After that he joined the Western Bulldogs as an assistant and coached Werribee in the VFL from 2003 to 2004."

Wasn't making a point. Just interested to know his background. Thanks for the info.

[Rogue 585]

Still can't work out why Bails recruits an always injured,just a ruckman,Robert Campbell and lets PJ go.Sure PJ is no star but he's more than a handy backup.

Hawthorn got rid of Campbell for a reason,he's a dud,an always injured dud.

Let's see who has the better year!

Hawthorn didn't 'get rid of Campbell' because 'he's a dud', he chose to be retire, given their situation (finding it tough to keep their side together, in line for a flag tilt).

As far as I know, they were keen to pick him up in the most recent draft but got beaten by us.

Doubt he will be seeing much playing time. The only way he will make the team will be as a Sub. Even then, I doubt he'll make it.

I doubt he'll play as a sub - it'll either be in the team or not. You either choose him as the back-up ruck or don't play him. There's no value in playing that type of player as a sub IMO.

[Gooner 9]

Ok on the face of it this is ridiculous....

BUT

This could be about putting him on the list for the following reasons:

1. As all have pointed out spare ruck and have one last look at him.

2. At the end of the year we need to make 3 compulsory delistings, if Scully stays it will be tight to see who actually goes. Maybe the FD figure they get a year to really look at he and Steph Martin and then at the end of the year it makes at least one delisting off the main list. They then only need to find another two. I get the feeling they dont feel they currently have 3 certainties to delist atm due to most players being early on in their careers. This could give them at least one easy out....

Just a thought...

It's only a delisting if it's on our senior list. Therefore Martin could be one of the compulsory delistings, but Newton won't be.

The other issue is that we'll probably want to recruit at least one rookie with our first round rookie pick. If Newton doesn't perform, he'll free up one space on the rookie list. The other six rookies are on two year contracts.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Wasn't making a point. Just interested to know his background. Thanks for the info.

I thought maybe you were trying to line him up.

For mine he's doin' a great job.

[Rogue 585]

Looks like he may be able to play quite soon:

Nominated rookie Michael Newton is now just one week away from returning from a hand injury.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/109506/default.aspx

[Retrospective 104]

Unbelievable

[old55 23,833]

Newton has played 24 games for 30 goals. Thats 1.25 per game, or 27 for a full H&A. Not good enough to warrant playing as a forward. He has to get this up to 2 per game (44 per season) or even 2.5, to get a regular run.

Utter [censored] - Melbourne champion Russell Robertson averaged 1.9 per game.

In his first 32 games Robbo kicked 31 goals.

[DeeSpencer 26,266]

Players are about so much more than stats, goals per game or anything else easily read on a sheet.

We need a second ruck who can break even in hit outs and also contribute around the ground. I think Martin provides a good 3rd tall defender and isn't completely inept when in the ruck. Up forward he is rubbish.

Maybe Newton is as good as Martin in the ruck, and up forward provides the perfect target to sit 30 out and either bring the ball to ground or get sat on by Jurrah.

Time will tell.