MELBOURNE TEAM FOR ROUND 1, 2014

[Bitter but optimistic 21,560]

In reading this thread and the other similar one (vs StKilda round 1) it is interesting to look at who "selectors" choose to leave out or name as emergencies. In the dark days under Neeld we were bemoaning the fact that player A was dropped for being useless one week but reincluded 2 weeks later because his replacement was more useless. Or, even worse, player A still useless was not dropped because we had no one better to replace him.

Many of the above sides leave out the likes of Fitzy, McKenzie, Matt Jones, Terlich and Strauss. Not superstars but at least a luxury we have not had for a while. Some depth!

[rpfc 27,662]

20 uncontested possessions possible 6 inside 50's probably unlikely,meanwhile a Sam Mitchell playing the same position has 35 possessions 6 inside 50's and 10 tackles...oh plus 1 goal to his name, and what about clearences? How would Watts compare to a Swan or Selwood. My point being Watts can not match it with the best midfielders and should not be played as a center or RR.

I have friend's who have followed Michie, and they have HUGE raps on him. I think we will be surprised by him.

So unless Watts can be as good a midfielder as Swan, Selwood, or Mitchell we shouldn't bother playing him there?

So I guess the only midfielder that earns a guernsey is Nat Jones - going to be lonely in there...

Certainly Michie won't be at that level - should we bother with him?

Oh, and BTW:

Mitchell averages 18.3 Uncontested Possessions a game, 9.7 Contested Possessions, 4.4 Clearances, and 3.5 Inside 50s.

Swan: 19 UPs, 11.5 CPs, 5 Cs, and 5 I50s.

Selwood: 12 UPs, 12.8 CPs, 5.1 Cs and 4.1 I50s.

Jones: 12.3 UPs, 10.9 CPs, 5.9 Cs and 2.7 I50s.

Pendlebury: 17.3 UPs, 12.6 CPs, 5.6 Cs and 4.1 I50s.

My point is that Uncontested Possessions fuel the modern game and some of the best midfielders of this generation get high numbers of them and that is what drives their effectiveness. It also helps if you are as skilled as Watts.

[Jarka 767]

Only rarely do I engage, but being stuck at home behind a computer writing another drab booklet for a client sends me a bit silly at times unless I can daydream about potentail line-ups for 2014. This idle navel leather gazing has been a past time of mine, rather sadly, since the 70s. Eventually I'll select one that wins a premiership.

Anyhow, here's one of my all too infrequent contributions.

FB: Terlich Frawley Garland

HB: Toumpas McDonald Grimes

C: Watts N Jones Viney

HF: Howe Dawes Vince

FF: Hogan Clark Kent

R: Gawn Tyson Michie

I: Trengove Cross Jones

Sub: Salem (P9 - like the sound of this kid)

Thanks pdees, post more often!!

[jabberwocky 2,301]

If Watts can spread and get 20 Uncontested Possessions a game and 6 Inside 50s we will be a much better team.

Not if his opponent gets 20 and half of them are contested RP.

The mids that you have mentioned get 30 - 50% CPS. At this point in time I cannot imagine a universe in which Watts averages 10 CPs a game.

Clearances would be even more of a stretch.

[Alcho Dee 269]

So unless Watts can be as good a midfielder as Swan, Selwood, or Mitchell we shouldn't bother playing him there?

So I guess the only midfielder that earns a guernsey is Nat Jones - going to be lonely in there...

Certainly Michie won't be at that level - should we bother with him?

Oh, and BTW:

Mitchell averages 18.3 Uncontested Possessions a game, 9.7 Contested Possessions, 4.4 Clearances, and 3.5 Inside 50s.

Swan: 19 UPs, 11.5 CPs, 5 Cs, and 5 I50s.

Selwood: 12 UPs, 12.8 CPs, 5.1 Cs and 4.1 I50s.

Jones: 12.3 UPs, 10.9 CPs, 5.9 Cs and 2.7 I50s.

Pendlebury: 17.3 UPs, 12.6 CPs, 5.6 Cs and 4.1 I50s.

My point is that Uncontested Possessions fuel the modern game and some of the best midfielders of this generation get high numbers of them and that is what drives their effectiveness. It also helps if you are as skilled as Watts.

So you think Watts is capable of 20 uncontested possessions av and 6 inside 50's, if the best midfielders can't do that how can we expect that from Watts, the poor fella after 5 years in the game doesn't even know where his best position is. He has skills, always has, but he is soft.

[Deespicable 2,574]

I thought I'd join the masses with the Rd 1 guesswork.

3 tall defenders: Frawley, Garland and McDonald (having delisted Sellar, Macdonald and Davis we are light on for defensive talls. Pedersen is back up and may play Rd 1 if Saints go big. The other option is sending Hogan back).

4 medium defenders: Terlich, Grimes, Clisby, Strauss (not sure what Roos plans to do with Blease, but we are short of creative run, so he could end up there).

1 ruck: Jamar (start with him and then if he can't get involved around ground again, then it's time for Gawn or Spencer).

7 midfielders: Vince, N.Jones, Tyson, Toumpas, Viney, Cross and one tagger in McKenzie.

6 forwards: Watts (high lead-up), Clark (back-up ruck), Dawes, Trengove, Kent, Barry

Sub: Howe (I'd actually like to see him play down back, but that ain't going to happen).

Emerg: Hogan, who will play, as I can't imagine all our talls to be fit for Rd 1.

Hard to imagine all our midfielders being healthy, so Michie will most likely get a chance early.

Whoever we take with pick 9 should start in magoos like Vlastuin and work his way into side as season goes on. I don't think Roosy would rush him like Neeld did with Jimmy T.

[Alcho Dee 269]

We all have these huge expectations of Watts, Bailey played him forward (where he was drafted) Neeld played him in defence. And now Roos wants him in the midfield..... Would play him forward pocket next to Hogan.

[Green Machine 63]

FB: Clisby Garland Frawley
HB: Terlich McDonald Grimes
C: M Jones Tyson Cross
HF: Hogan Dawes Trengove
FF: Fitzpatrick Clark Howe
R: Gawn N Jones Viney

Int: Vince Michie Watts

SUB: Dunn

Emergencies: Kent Strauss Mckenzie

[rpfc 27,662]

Not if his opponent gets 20 and half of them are contested RP.

I get tired of this overtly defensive focus we have seemingly ingrained in our psyche.

Neeld had this notion that all you have to do is teach them how to play defensively and stop the other team and that's that.

But if all you are worried about is 'The Other Bloke' then who is playing footy here?

One is intent on the footy, and the other is intent on their bloke not getting the footy - who has a chance to win the footy in that scenario.

No, I want some footy hunters, I want Trengove to go out there and try to win the effing aggot.

I don't think Watts can win contested footy but if he works hard enough to spread, he can reach heights in this game by being damaging with the footy in space.

More damaging than anyone who would be playing on him.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

You have missed the point rp.

Winning a contested ball is the catalyst for the attack.

If watts and his opponent win the same amount of ball but his opponent wins some hard ball then I would suggest in most cases the opponent would be the more effective player on the day.

If you can't win a contest in today's footy you are of limited value.

It's got nothing to do with being defensive.

You just cannot be an effective midfielder these days without winning contests.

If he plays wide and is effective he will be manned up soon enough, what then?

Moral: Watts needs to change his game to be a relevant footballer.

[What 18,810]

Watts will star in 2014 regardless of where he plays.

[rpfc 27,662]

You have missed the point rp.

How can I miss the point?

It's my point...

Not every midfielder has to to win as much contested footy as the next. Some hurt teams with their spread and hard running.

Watts can be a very good outside midfielder and very damaging with the footy.

If you don't think that - that is your right.

[Thehardtackler 785]

Roos has already said Watts and Trengove will play in the midfield. The Midfielders will be Tyson, Trengove, Watts, Vince, Cross, Michie, M Jones, N Jones, Viney, Evans, Toumpas and Barry later in the season. I think Roos will rotate the squad in the midfield so that some players get a rest when we go interstate. If we draft Freeman he might not play until quite late into 2014.

Forwards will be Clark, Hogan, Dawes, Howe, Byrnes, Kent, Tapscott, Gawn, Jetta (who may be chosen as a small defender) and maybe Pedersen. Blease may not get many games under Roos unless he improves his work ethic.

Backs are fairly obvious: Garland, Frawley, Terlich, McDonald, Strauss, Grimes and Dunn (who could play forward). I don't think that Nicholson will get selected much. Clisby will play a fair bit.

Cannot see us blooding any other new talent in the first year unless we take a mature player like Cain in the draft.

Spencer and Jamar will be rotated and could even be rested at certain times in the season.

[DemonWA 3,579]

Watts will star in 2014

Deja Vu (you could replace 2014 with 2009,10,11,12,13...)

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Deja Vu (you could replace 2014 with 2009,10,11,12,13...)

Or replace "watts" with "sylvia"

[What 18,810]

Deja Vu (you could replace 2014 with 2009,10,11,12,13...)

Not really

Only an idiot would have said that previous to now

But there were great signs this year and he took some big steps forward.

Now with Roos and Stone on board i think its fair to say Watts will explode in 2014

[Alcho Dee 269]

Not really

Only an [censored] would have said that previous to now

But there were great signs this year and he took some big steps forward.

Now with Roos and Stone on board i think its fair to say Watts will explode in 2014

or not.

[wattsjurrahdunne 88]

Clisby Frawley Garland

Grimes McDonald Dunn

Watts Jones Vince

Howe Hogan Trengove

Kent Clark Dawes

Gawn Tyson Viney

I/C Terlich Cross Fitzpatrick

Sub Toumpas

Emerg: McKenzie Michie M Jones Blease Pick 9.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Deja Vu (you could replace 2014 with 2009,10,11,12,13...)

Or replace "watts" with "sylvia"

[rpfc 27,662]

or not.

Isn't the Summer time for optimism?

Both Paul Roos and rpfc think Watts might just be a damaging midfielder/HFF.

Just hope we are right.

[GawnWithTheWind 604]

Another crack at it.

FB: Garland - Frawley - Terlich

HB: Grimes - McDonald - Dunn

C: Watts - Tyson - Vince

HF: Howe - Dawes - Trengove

FF: Hogan - Clark - Kent

R: Gawn - Jones - Cross

I: McKenzie - Viney - Blease

S: Toumpas

I understand Dunn isn't a lock for the 22, but his versatility is an asset in the backline and when he is on, can lock down on the best of opponents.

Grimes to improve his kicking ten fold over the summer, and be an asset (along with Terls) coming out of the backline.

Trengove to relish the fact he doesn't need to get 30 touches a game, just low 20s and a few goals on the HFF.

Kent to bring the much needed forward pressure down there, with Howe adding that string to his bow also.

Dawes/Clark sharing the ruck duties with Gawn. 70% to Gawn and the other boys share the 30% load.

[InVINCEable 358]

Back: Colin Garland, James Frawley, Dean Terlich

Half back: Jack Grimes, Tom McDonald, Daniel Cross

Midfield: *Nathan Freeman, Jack Trengove, Bernie Vince

Half forward: Jeremy Howe, Jesse Hogan, Jack Watts

Forward: Jack Fitzpatrick, Mitch Clark, Jimmy Toumpas

Followers: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney

I/C: Viv Michie, Dom Tyson, Chris Dawes

Sub: Dean Kent

Emergencies: Max Gawn, Mitch Clisby, Matt Jones

[CBDees 3,162]

There have been some pretty sound looking teams appearing on this post (one of which might even coincide with Roos' own selections). Listening to his latest press conference today, i am sure that he will pick us a winning team for Round 1 and I cannot recall looking forward to a match with as much confidence.

[DemonFrog 1,347]

Lets hope its a better start in 2014

[jazza 1,323]

froggy that's me next to the meatloaf memorial stage

im the one standing up with a pie in my hand.no sauce