WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - CHRISTIAN SALEM

[Demoneyes 562]

Well you can shock the s%&t out of me! Obviously we did an about face. Not unhappy though as the kid looks the goods. Opening a bottle of Argentinian Malbec to digest the news!

[Akum 2,660]

Hate to say it but Pies have killed it again.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,136]

Well you can shock the s%&t out of me! Obviously we did an about face. Not unhappy though as the kid looks the goods. Opening a bottle of Argentinian Malbec to digest the news!

FFS Clint Argentinian wine is overated - since we have to suffer your [censored] at least get [censored] on good aussie stuff

[Dr. Gonzo 23,931]

Hate to say it but Pies have killed it again.

Yep what I was thinking too. As well as getting Adams from GWS.

[DeeSpencer 24,979]

The new wizard?

Will his left foot burn up the turf and the witches?

[Vitamin Dee 863]

He reminds me a little of Nigel Lappin

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Agree re: Pies unfortunately. I have got a feeling Scharenberg will one of the top couple of players from the draft, and will be a far more influential than many taken before him such as Bontempelli etc, but we will see I guess.

As for Christian, welcome to the club mate, and must admit his selection sits a little easier with me than Freeman would have.

[Dockett 32 1,238]

Yep what I was thinking too. As well as getting Adams from GWS.

Our recruiters don't seem to travel much. Midfield crunch does not seem evident to me. Realise they are only kids but sooner or later they are going to cop Lewis, Sewell, Selwood, Fyffe etc coming straight at them in tough midfield bone crunching stuff. We shall see I guess.

[CBDees 3,165]

Agree re: Pies unfortunately. I have got a feeling Scharenberg will one of the top couple of players from the draft, and will be a far more influential than many taken before him such as Bontempelli etc, but we will see I guess.

As for Christian, welcome to the club mate, and must admit his selection sits a little easier with me than Freeman would have.

I agree re Scharenberg however we did get Salem rather thah Freeman and I suspect that Dysom will work out the better player than Adams. Overall we did not do too bad when you factor in Hogan as well (and the guys we picked up in the trades). Biggest shame is that we did not get the PP that we deserved as Hogan and Boyd would haveeen unstoppable.

[DeeSpencer 24,979]

Our recruiters don't seem to travel much. Midfield crunch does not seem evident to me. Realise they are only kids but sooner or later they are going to cop Lewis, Sewell, Selwood, Fyffe etc coming straight at them in tough midfield bone crunching stuff. We shall see I guess.

Agree but if it's not there to be picked it's not there. We've got Jones, Viney, Tyson, Michie and McKenzie as very good inside players, add in Trengove maybe even Kent and I have a level of confidence that Toumpas and Salem can develop inside game.

For every Lewis and Sewell the Hawks have a Brad Hill and Isaac carving you up on the outside as well.

[beelzebub 23,254]

Go Dees

its all good I suppose.

looks the goods how can we be disappointed

2014 here we come

[rpfc 28,084]

Freeman standing next to Salem made quite the juxtaposition...

I really am not interested with what Collingwood did - we obviously believe that Salem can get near to being as good as his idol Luke Hodge and I hope he gets there.

But as Roos said on Fox Footy - don't expect him to play in 2014.

Kennedy-Harris seems far more mature right now so I think from the draft he would be the only one that could play a dozen or more games.

[Dee-licious 1,949]

Missed Fox Footy. What was the Roos thing?

[dazzledavey36 53,433]

Callum Twomey ‏@AFL_CalTwomey 20h

Big call between Salem and Freeman for Dees but in the end Salem is the more complete player at this stage. Good call Melbourne.

[Yeats8 21]

Salem reminds me of a young Adem Yze. Happy with this selection over Freeman.

[jumbo returns 6,715]

Fair enough. Who did you want?

Sheed.

[DeeSpencer 24,979]

Salem reminds me of a young Adem Yze. Happy with this selection over Freeman.

Left foot kick, strong hands, decent speed. If he's Yze we'd be happy! But if Roos can make him Yze but without some of the flaws we will be over the moon!

[rpfc 28,084]

Missed Fox Footy. What was the Roos thing?

MFC patronised as The Challenge of the 21st Century effectively and Roos said "competitive for longer" again. None of the players are expected to play games next year. He said there were no ceilings but settling in and showing good habits and good form in the NAB Cup for Casey will happen before any games are given.

[jumbo returns 6,715]

And over-bored, self assured and all I know are dirty words.

Settle down, Robot thingy.

[Lordweaver 235]

My view is I would have liked freeman but I have faith in the recruiters that they know what they are doing

[Carlos Danger 380]

Freeman standing next to Salem made quite the juxtaposition...

I really am not interested with what Collingwood did - we obviously believe that Salem can get near to being as good as his idol Luke Hodge and I hope he gets there.

But as Roos said on Fox Footy - don't expect him to play in 2014.

Kennedy-Harris seems far more mature right now so I think from the draft he would be the only one that could play a dozen or more games.

I wouldn't read into that as "he definitely won't play" but more as "don't get hyped about it".

Would make a lot more sense for the brunt of attention to go to Tyson, Vince, Cross and Michie in the midfield without any additional pressure going to the younger developing #9 pick.

He's extremely competitive, got a genuine hardness about him and an exceptional left foot. I'd be surprised if he doesn't play next year.

[beelzebub 23,254]

Hmmm Chrisitan Salem... a bit like oooze , but plays mid and has team ethos. ???

ok Ill sleep tonight

[jumbo returns 6,715]

My view is I would have liked freeman but I have faith in the recruiters that they know what they are doing

Blind zealotry, LW?

I suppose it's not Bailey or Prendergasp.

[Dr. Gonzo 23,931]

Unsure how I feel about the pick - I probably would have preferred Sheed but Salem is probably better again than Freeman. Seems a similar player to Toumpas however possibly with a bit more "aggro"/desire for the physical. Reminds a bit of Whelan like that and seems to have a decent boot on him so could be a good pick up. I think the value of this pick will come down to how well our other recruits (Tyson, Michie, Vince, Cross) perform. I would have thought that with Vince & Cross being mature aged players our quota of "inside"/contested ball winners wasn't complete but he could complement us for the next two years. Overall in what could be a pretty weak draft we'll just have to wait and see how this plays out.

[Akum 2,660]

My view is I would have liked freeman but I have faith in the recruiters that they know what they are doing

This is exactly how I feel.

I also think Salem is the safer choice. Freeman is probably a better chance of being an absolute star, but also a bigger chance of being a bust. Salem won't be a bust, but his ceiling is probably "a very good player".

And for where we are at this point in time, that's probably the wiser choice. Even if I would have preferred Freeman.