Mid-Season Review Part Three: Macdonald to Magner

[Johnny Karate 559]

Part Three: Macdonald to Magner

Joel Macdonald - a jobber. Joel Mac is a pretty good negator but struggles with the ball in his hand. He has played reasonably well in his 5 games so far this season but at this stage of his career he's probably a depth player only. Scrapes into the top 10 for most average disposals in the team (pun intended). He'll probably bow out at the end of this year as a good ordinary player. Not too many players play 100 games at the highest level, he has made the most of his ability.

Rating 4/10 - has played pretty well, when in the side.

James Sellar - was a bit of a surprise selection in the 2011 draft. Sellar was quite underwhelming in his first few outings for the Dees. As a CHF he couldn't lead or mark & as a ruck he couldn't win hitouts. However, he appears to have found his niche as a gorilla taming backman. At 24 & boasting a 196cm, 100kg frame he is significantly bigger than other KPDs on Melbourne's list & has the potential to be a Presti/Al Nicho/Merrett 'see ball, spoil ball' type of KPD. Initially he may be a horses for courses type of player but he's shown he is good enough to play a strictly negating role.

Rating 4/10 - recent outings against Collingwood & Essendon have increased his stocks.

Stefan Martin - has suffered an injury cruelled year. It is bitterly disappointing as he showed great improvement in 2011. With Mitch Clark doing well as a number 2 ruck as well as Garland & Rivers seemingly having first dibs on forward line try outs, Martin will not walk back into the team. He is a player with plenty to offer so hopefully he can find his way back into the line up before the season is out.

Rating: 1/10 - hard to judge on 1.5 games but his form wasn't great.

Luke Tapscott - love his aggression. But he really needs to get his hands on the ball more to utilize his raking boot. Averaging 10 disposals a game just won't cut it & he needs a clearly defined role in the team. The backline is over crowded (although Bartram's role is a possibility), he lacks the pace to play midfield & seemingly the endurance to play forward. He does play with a lot of spirit, which is what the side needs. Hopefully he can find some form upon his return from suspension.

Rating: 3/10 - has a crack but just isn't quite there at the moment.

Aaron Davey - see Green. Davey's pace has faded in recent years which has really limited him as a player. When he has played he is trying but his body just won't follow. The lack of pace means he can't repeatedly chase down opposition defenders when he was a young whippet, nor be the line busting quarterback he was in 2009 nor swoop on spilled crumbs in the forwardline as he can't accelerate to the fall of a contest. The lack of pace has further exacerbated omnipresent problems in his game such as commitment to ground and aerial one-on-one contests, he used to be able to use his pace to stack the odds in his favor but now he shirks the genuine 50/50's. Like Green, Davey has been a wonderful servant of the club & should be acknowledged as such despite recent form. His leadership with the club's other Aboriginal players has been invaluable & he should be congratulated for it. Again like Green, he will probably be in & out of the side for the remainder of 2012 & whatever else is left of his career.

Rating: 3/10 - better than 2011 but his body looks shot.

Jeremy Howe - has added another string to his bow in 2012 playing through the midfield. Howe's aerial theatrics have been as impressive as ever in 2012 following his promising debut season. His work through the middle as a link player has also been good. However, his set shot kicking has left a lot to be desired which has been a blot on an otherwise good season. With increased experience & endurance Howe could develop into the player Colin Sylvia should've been, maybe even better. Hopefully Neeld continues to give Howe & others a chance through the midfield because the old Melbourne midfield setup was B grade at best, D4 Ammos at worst.

Rating: 6/10 - a good season but some of his set shot misses have been laughable. 

Mark Jamar - a bit of a worry. Jamar hasn't had the greatest year & his weaknesses are being further exposed as his body wearies. He has no real competition for the number 1 ruck spot, which is a greater problem for the club than Jamar with the ink fresh on his new 3 year deal. He wins a lot of hitouts but so few go to advantage which is chicken or the egg? Is it Jamar's fault for not hitting it to the midfielders? Or - is it the midfielders fault for not capitalizing on the Russian's good work? Jamar has never been a high disposal getter but his ability to get to contests, provide an out, be a link, clunk marks & kick goals are almost non-existent in 2012. It is good that he showed faith by sticking with the club but he still owes more than his current output.

Rating: 3/10 - a pretty poor year from the Russian. You tend to expect more from an AA ruckman.

Rohan Bail - at the crossroads. Bail has been cursed with injury since arriving with the club. Every time he seems to be getting some momentum into his game he gets injured. 2012 has been no exception. Bail has good pace, is strong over the ball & at the contest but his kicking often lets him down. He does have an opportunity, with an injury free run, to claim Clint Batram's spot in the backline. He will need to lift his disposal but it isn't an insurmountable task. If the injuries & errant kicks persist though, he's not long for this world.

Rating: 3/10 - some really poor games early & then not getting any continuity of form through injury has cost Bail.

Josh Tynan - was a bit stiff to be dropped after round 1. Injury in the VFL also halted his season & he has been unable to add to his solitary game for the club. If he can overcome injury woes & find form at Casey, Tynan is another who could vie for Bartram's spot.

Rating: NA - I can't assess player based on one game in a collectively [censored] effort. FWIW I give the whole team zero for round 1.

Jack Fitzpatrick - another who has only played one game. Fitzy had a stinker against the Hawks (he wasn't on his Pat Malone there) & still looks a gangly beanpole. He needs a few more pre seasons under his belt & kgs added to his frame if he is to become a player. His recent diagnosis of diabetes could help him & the club in better understanding what his body needs. 

Rating: NA - again it's hard to judge off one game in a horror team effort.

James Magner - Mitsubishi started like a house on fire. Hard over the ball, Magner has impressed with his strong frame & clearance work. More recently his role in the team has changed with Howe & Grimes getting more centre square action. Magner has been used as a tagger/defensive forward, his overhead marking is good for a guy his height. His disposal & general class may mean that he isn't a very long term prospect beyond 2012 but for now he is very low on the list of worries for the Melbourne Football Club.

Rating: 6/10 - started well but has tailed off in recent weeks. Would probably be top 6 in the B&F at this stage.

[beelzebub 22,244]

more ouch....and all pretty close to teh mark. Some things are a little subjective but in the main youre definitely talking about our team, thats for sure.

The two sides of the coin.. 1) Were not much better than shizenhausen currently 2)Theres plently of space for building !!

[AshaDasha 27]

Sellar in my mind was one of the worst performing players in the comp for his first 5 or so games for the Dees, but it has been good to see him perform a little in his last couple of games.

Still needs cleaner disposal of the ball.

[mauriesy 6,819]

Good reviews Jimmi, but I'm getting a bit lost alphabetically!

[beelzebub 22,244]

Its the Mayan Alphabet....starts with M...lol

[Grapeviney 8,867]

Reckon you've been pretty much right on the money with your reviews so far Jimmi but rating Seller a 4 - on par with Watts - is a bit generous methinks. Agree he has been better in recent outings though

[Johnny Karate 559]

Good reviews Jimmi, but I'm getting a bit lost alphabetically!

I tend to go numerically, I don't really know why but I've always been kind of obsessed by jumper numbers. Also FWIW I've only reviewed the 33 players that have played senior football this year - for those wondering why Gysberts, Taggert etc were excluded.

[old dee 22,945]

Really liked your rating Jimmi

I might disagree with a couple in a minor way but that would be nit picking.

You have rated most below 5 and with our results that is very much on the money.

I hate reviews that paint most players as ok when the results are poor.

Good effort .

[Johnny Karate 559]

Really liked your rating Jimmi

I might disagree with a couple in a minor way but that would be nit picking.

You have rated most below 5 and with our results that is very much on the money.

I hate reviews that paint most players as ok when the results are poor.

Good effort .

Cheers od, appreciate it.

In a season where we are 1-10, have been beaten twice by over a hundred points (which is worse than GC & GWS) & are wallowing down near the expansion clubs. Jones & Clark have been good. Bartram, McKenzie, Grimes, Garland, McDonald, Rivers, Howe & Magner have been ok in patches & the rest pretty much fail - it's been a very disappointing season to date.

[waynewussell 4,092]

Am I right in saying you rate Bail as effective as Jamar?

[poita 3,641]

Good reviews, nice to see some reality in these pieces. If anything, I reckon you have been generous in a few cases, rather than harsh, but giving most players 1 or 2 doesn't sit well with the rose coloured glasses set.

[Johnny Karate 559]

Am I right in saying you rate Bail as effective as Jamar?

All rankings are subjective & can be interpreted in different ways. The rankings werent weighted with much regard to one player's merits v anothers. Perhaps that is flawed in some peoples' view. It's more a scale of 1 to 10 based on ability & output. Ergo good/senior players are marked harder.

[jurrahcane 70]

agreed with most comments ... Howe 9/10 for speccies and 3/10 for goalkicking so 6/10 is right. He could be anything with a grunt.

Jamar is 6/10 for me as he busts his guts, with little support.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,265]

Howe's year has been better and although not AA impact 3/10 for Jamar for me is light on. Magner has been no more than a 4/10