Michael Newton - will he go or will he stay?

[demonlishious 0]

Does anyone know whether he has signed a new contract?

Picked up the same year as Bate and Dunn but yet to debut. Will he feature in a mfc fixture by the end of this year?

Playing again in the Sandringham 2s this week. Watched him in the 2s last week, he kicked 4 but looked a bit low on confidence after watching him earlier in the year where he dominated the reserve grade. Maybe from his short stints in the Sandy 1sts on and off the bench may have lowered his confidence?

He looks like a very likely type but where would he fit in the mfc lineup?

[dees_rule_4eva 22]

Been touted as the replacement for Neitz when he retires. Bit early to be calling for him to be traded I would have thought. Has been performing well in his second year on the list, and looks to be a good long term prospect. Leave him be I think.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

How can you trade someone who is out of contract?

Secondly what trade value do you have for someone who has played VFL 2nds?

MFC wont let him go. It will be resolved by the start of next year.

[JJJ 570]

He will stay. he's tall, athletic and can take a mark. he was a bottom aged recruit as well which should allow him more time on the MFC list due to the "big guys take longer to develop" theory.

[John Dee 439]

This one is a no-brainer. CAC mentioned to us at the start of the year that he considered Newton had the greatest physical talent of the 2004 draftees. He is still only 19, I think. Will definately be retained.

[Melon22 174]

He would have been playing VFL seniors for the last two years if Sautner wasn't at Sandy.

We would be crazy to let him go now.

[Whispering_Jack 28,094]

He would have been playing VFL seniors for the last two years if Sautner wasn't at Sandy.

We would be crazy to let him go now.

The question's a no brainer all right.

He'll stay unless someone wants to give up a top five draft pick for him.

[Finks 19]

Juice is a JC Stand love child, and will be going nowhere.

[Guest dee'viator]

This one is a no-brainer. CAC mentioned to us at the start of the year that he considered Newton had the greatest physical talent of the 2004 draftees. He is still only 19, I think. Will definately be retained.

I'm glad you said that 'undeeniable', because thats exactly what I think of him. I've watched him play numerous times & in my estimation he is the most naturally gifted with natural skills of balance, poise, timing, leaping ability, kicking, marking & so on & so forth.

Bate & Dunn have arrived early for kids, Bate is physically advanced for his age & Dunn talented & clever & a Key Posi was open for him even though he's still a little raw as a footballer.

Newton is a kid who's not pre advanced for his age & is 'ripening' naturally on the tree. I think he has the gifts that could possibly develope into 'Robert Floweresque' or 'James Hirdesque', hopefully. We should under no circumstances let him go...

[davey_magik 1]

I'm glad you said that 'undeeniable', because thats exactly what I think of him. I've watched him play numerous times & in my estimation he is the most naturally gifted with natural skills of balance, poise, timing, leaping ability, kicking, marking & so on & so forth.

Bate & Dunn have arrived early for kids, Bate is physically advanced for his age & Dunn talented & clever & a Key Posi was open for him even though he's still a little raw as a footballer.

Newton is a kid who's not pre advanced for his age & is 'ripening' naturally on the tree. I think he has the gifts that could possibly develope into 'Robert Floweresque' or 'James Hirdesque', hopefully. We should under no circumstances let him go...

That is a very, very big call.

I think they'll keep him on and hopefully instead clear out the deadwood in Godders and Read.

[Finks 19]

That is a very, very big call.

I have little doubt that if Juice gets his head geared up to playing AFL, gets a little hungrier and truly believes, that he could be "Hirdesque".

[Guest dee'viator]

That is a very, very big call.

I think they'll keep him on and hopefully instead clear out the deadwood in Godders and Read.

He's got the gifts, lets hope he also has the mental requirements, the burning hunger, the steadfast determination, the selflessness & the honesty to carry his talent along enough to develope it...

[H.B.K 0]

If he turns out anything like Flower (not that I ever saw him play) or Hird we will be sitting on a goldmine and should stick with him for 2 more seasons at least.

The precedent that can be used is 426, I mean he is still on our list and how longs he been at the club. This is his 4th year

[Finks 19]

..oh crap, i forgot that Whispering reads these forums, and will get angry with me for lifting the lid on Newton.

I better check my mailbox, no doubt there's a letter from his solicitors.

Yep, it was there, and in it, a request to put the lid back on.

[jacey 333]

If he turns out anything like Flower (not that I ever saw him play) or Hird we will be sitting on a goldmine and should stick with him for 2 more seasons at least.

The precedent that can be used is 426, I mean he is still on our list and how longs he been at the club. This is his 4th year

Just wondering, if there was only one spot left on the list, who would you rather. 426 or Newton?

[H.B.K 0]

I'd say Newton, has more scope for improvement, whilst Smith hasn't reallt staked his claim for a spot in the best 22 over 4 years (althouh he has had injuries).

But to be honest I would keep the both of them. (Smith for one more year)

[Nasher 33,166]

I find the idea of retaining Smith preposterous personally. No other player other than Aaron Henneman has lasted as long as Smith has on a list without showing anything.

If it came down to a choice between Smith and Newton I'd choose Newton without any hesitation whatsoever.

[Adzman 2,085]

Here is what WILL happen with Newton.

Will be offered a 2 year deal on the base salary of slightly above. He will be groomed for the rest of this year and make an impact next year. At 19 years of age he still has plenty of time.

If any KPP is in danger of being shipped you think nick smith would be at the top of the pile. I still think Smith will be at the MFC next year and so will Newton.

[John Dee 439]

I would keep both Smith and Newton, but, if you force me to pick one - Newton.

[Slartibartfast 16,020]

I think the question is whether Newton will pick us, not the other way round.

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

I think the question is whether Newton will pick us, not the other way round.

Do you know something we don't, or is that just an indication of how certain you are the club wil retain him (which I'm sure they will)

[Guest dee'viator]

That is a very, very big call.

I think they'll keep him on and hopefully instead clear out the deadwood in Godders and Read.

Godders is great value, very fit & hard at it & will stand in front of a Diesel locomotive if its required. PS He'd at least slow it down as well, not many at Melb will do that...

[Slartibartfast 16,020]

Do you know something we don't, or is that just an indication of how certain you are the club wil retain him (which I'm sure they will)

Rod I've expressed concern before at the lack of opportunity that Newton has received as a result of the Sandy seniors having players like Sautner, Lamb and Crowe taking spots from people like Newton. That's Sandy's right, but it's nevertheless an issue for the MFC.

IMO Newton has great potential (I'll hold judgement as to whether he's the same skills as Flower and Hird) but he needs to play footy at VFL senior level to develop it. At present he isn't.

Newton has the option of putting himself into the draft in the hope of getting more opportunities elsewhere.

I just hope he picks us. I'm pretty confident he will, and I've no indication to the contrary. But it is, I believe, an issue.

[Jaded No More 59,109]

I find the idea of retaining Smith preposterous personally. No other player other than Aaron Henneman has lasted as long as Smith has on a list without showing anything.

If it came down to a choice between Smith and Newton I'd choose Newton without any hesitation whatsoever.

I'll have both of them ahead of Nicho thanks!

We have nothing to lose by retaining 426. He costs us very little, helps Sandy win games, and is insurance should one of our talls go down. He can ruck a little and play up forward. He also has the potential to become something... anything.

At 22, he is ahead of Nicho and Bizzell, but lucky for Bizz he's still under contract.

And please don't compare him to Henneman, one is crap, the other constantly injured.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

In truth, while showing glimpses (and I mean glimpses) Smith has yet to show he can string a consistent 100 minutes of football. The glimpses are often interwined with the bleeding ordinary. I am concerned that after 4 years that is all we are seeing. So far he cannot command a forward spot and will not make it in AFL as a ruckman.

Yours are words of hope rather than achievement.

He is definitely ahead of Nicho and Bizz. If I was MFC I would consider the disposition of one or both of their contracts at the Club because we aint gonna trade him.

Newton offers us the hope you pin in Smith.