WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - CHRISTIAN SALEM

[Arrow 1,257]

Dan Hannebery didn't rack up huge amounts of possessions and in his draft year had a very ordinary championship for Vic Metro.

I see no reason Salem can't at least be the equal of Hannebery. He has him covered skill wise and Hannabery wasn't any more "inside" as a junior.

He may well end up being the equal of him but it'll be as different players. The body shapes are completely opposite. Salem will fill out, but nothing close to how big Hanneburys upper body and upper legs are and that is the core reason he's become as good as what he is.

[Jarka 767]

Played with Salem since u12s.

Beat him in League B&F by a couple votes in u13 - i guess that ll be my claim to fame.

Any questions about the kid, just ask and ill answer.

Trained with him 2-3 times a week for the past 4 years. Ripper bloke, loves fifa

Thanks for that, how good is his disposal under pressure? Can he get boot to ball quickly?

[Bonkers 994]

He may well end up being the equal of him but it'll be as different players. The body shapes are completely opposite. Salem will fill out, but nothing close to how big Hanneburys upper body and upper legs are and that is the core reason he's become as good as what he is.

I'm not really sure if this is true. According to hannebery's profile on the Sydney website he weighs 81kg @ 1.82m tall. Salem is already as heavy & tall so I'd expect him to put more size on. Salem also averages 5 tackles per game at TAC cup level so he does have a physical side to his game to build on at AFL level that may see him become a similar style player with better disposal.

[inRooswetrust 5]

The only knock on him is that he doesn't rack up huge possies in that TAC Cup. Did he manage bigger numbers in previous years? Where do you see him playing most of his footy..mid/HB?

Yeah can accumulate the ball a fair bit. His metro games he was assigned roles and broke even on most occasions.

Most of his footy will probably be through the midfield, but may be a Luke Hodge type swing man

[Redleg 40,842]

Salem, who was one of the most sought after draft prospects this year, said he was ready to get down to business at the Demons.

“I am a hard working footballer who is respectful towards people and I’m in it to do the hard work and get the best out of myself and put the team first,” he said.

“It is everyone’s dream growing up to play AFL. Even back in Auskick I still remember thinking I just want to play AFL one day … I am so grateful and humble to be given the opportunity"

Impressive.

[inRooswetrust 5]

Thanks for that, how good is his disposal under pressure? Can he get boot to ball quickly?

Disposal under pressure is amazing - This year he kicked a clutch goal from 50m to put Dragons in front. While regularly when he has the ball, play seems to slow down as he picks the best option. Best kick i ve ever played with.

Can get boot to ball quickly but often doesn't need to

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Disposal under pressure is amazing - This year he kicked a clutch goal from 50m to put Dragons in front. While regularly when he has the ball, play seems to slow down as he picks the best option. Best kick i ve ever played with.

Can get boot to ball quickly but often doesn't need to

Some on here questioning his physical side both size wise and will.

What is the physical side of his game like?

And thanks for your input mate.

Edited November 23, 2013 by jabberwocky

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Some on here questioning his physical side both size wise and will.

What is the physical side of his game like?

And thanks for your input mate.

Most experts comment on his aggression as one of the first points about him.

Seems many on here just see a kid who isn't ripped up like Rambo and decide he is soft.

[Hannibal 5,814]

He may well end up being the equal of him but it'll be as different players. The body shapes are completely opposite. Salem will fill out, but nothing close to how big Hanneburys upper body and upper legs are and that is the core reason he's become as good as what he is.

I disagree completely. Having seen a fair bit of Hannebery as a junior I can only assume you didn't.

[Arrow 1,257]

I disagree completely. Having seen a fair bit of Hannebery as a junior I can only assume you didn't.

Perhaps why your assumptions are so often wrong. Funnily enough, played with and against him both at club level and Oakleigh Chargers.

He was drafted as a 17 year old - one of the last before the system was changed so I'll allow that to cloud your judgement given he was a year younger, however their bodies are completely different. Daniel was always bigger through the torso than everyone else, and treetrunk legs were also beyond anyone else's. He was the best on the leg press at Chargers and about 3rd best on the bench even after a minor surgery in early year 11.

Salem may be an inside player but he will never be the mould of Hannebery because whilst I'm surprised about his weight only being 81 (taken with a grain of salt regardless on those club sites) just looking at Salem tells you they're built differently.

It's okay, you saw a midfielder who likes tackling, left footer and put two and two together. I'll remember for next time.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Most experts comment on his aggression as one of the first points about him.

Seems many on here just see a kid who isn't ripped up like Rambo and decide he is soft.

It wasn't me, I was considering that this guy might be able to allay a myth or two.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Perhaps why your assumptions are so often wrong. Funnily enough, played with and against him both at club level and Oakleigh Chargers.He was drafted as a 17 year old - one of the last before the system was changed so I'll allow that to cloud your judgement given he was a year younger, however their bodies are completely different. Daniel was always bigger through the torso than everyone else, and treetrunk legs were also beyond anyone else's. He was the best on the leg press at Chargers and about 3rd best on the bench even after a minor surgery in early year 11.Salem may be an inside player but he will never be the mould of Hannebery because whilst I'm surprised about his weight only being 81 (taken with a grain of salt regardless on those club sites) just looking at Salem tells you they're built differently.It's okay, you saw a midfielder who likes tackling, left footer and put two and two together. I'll remember for next time.

Interesting. Where are you playing nowadays Arrow?

Agree their body shapes are very different regardless of what they weigh at present. Salem seems like an Ectomorph so will never become beefy. I'm sure he'll fill out but he'll always be lean.

Edited November 23, 2013 by stevethemanjordan

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Most experts comment on his aggression as one of the first points about him.Seems many on here just see a kid who isn't ripped up like Rambo and decide he is soft.

Agree 100%

Jordan Lewis and Luke Hodge are perfect examples. They've filled out now sure, but during under 18's they still played with the same aggression and ferocity.

Size can help in some cases yes, but I'd argue the way someone plays is decided by their mentality.

Edited November 23, 2013 by stevethemanjordan

[DemonOX 8,783]

Er, Chris?

Its ok rpfc I know Salem is his surname. Relax.

Edited November 23, 2013 by DemonOX

[bing181 9,193]

Paige's thought on our draft...

…...

Verdict: 8/10

Just to put that in context, apart from Adelaide/Essendon who basically had no picks, her assessment of us (8/10) was the lowest she gave. Most clubs got 9's or above.

[Akum 2,660]

Yeah can accumulate the ball a fair bit. His metro games he was assigned roles and broke even on most occasions.

...

This is the part that makes me feel better.

My biggest concern about him was the 15 possies a game average for VM, when others were racking up over 20, points to a concern about his ability to find the ball at higher levels. But if this was because he was assigned roles (which must be unusual at U18 Champs), it explains it. As well as giving an indication about what coaches think about his ability to play a disciplined game & still get a bit of the ball.

Shows why Roos would be such a big wrap for him in the interview.

[Moonshadow 17,675]

I picked it as i saw him as the more skillful between he and freeman.

Very clever, and will develop onto a luke Hodge type only quicker.

His dad owns a few restaurants around melbourne, does anyone know where they are?

Maybe Joe's Garage? Not sure.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Perhaps why your assumptions are so often wrong. Funnily enough, played with and against him both at club level and Oakleigh Chargers.

He was drafted as a 17 year old - one of the last before the system was changed so I'll allow that to cloud your judgement given he was a year younger, however their bodies are completely different. Daniel was always bigger through the torso than everyone else, and treetrunk legs were also beyond anyone else's. He was the best on the leg press at Chargers and about 3rd best on the bench even after a minor surgery in early year 11.

Salem may be an inside player but he will never be the mould of Hannebery because whilst I'm surprised about his weight only being 81 (taken with a grain of salt regardless on those club sites) just looking at Salem tells you they're built differently.

It's okay, you saw a midfielder who likes tackling, left footer and put two and two together. I'll remember for next time.

My Nephew is close mates with Hannebery and I was at school with his Father, so I've always kept a close interest. But that's by the by.

I disagree with your assertion more so about Salem than Hannebery. For one poster to call Salem an ectomorph is one of the dumbest comments I've seen on Demonland. He has an excellent frame that will fill out nicely. He clearly has hardly lifted a weight in his life, so there's little arm definition, but it's nuts to consider him a skinny kid. He'll be a very strong bodied mid. And the Hannebery comparisons are completely apt.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

My Nephew is close mates with Hannebery and I was at school with his Father, so I've always kept a close interest. But that's by the by.

I disagree with your assertion more so about Salem than Hannebery. For one poster to call Salem an ectomorph is one of the dumbest comments I've seen on Demonland. He has an excellent frame that will fill out nicely. He clearly has hardly lifted a weight in his life, so there's little arm definition, but it's nuts to consider him a skinny kid. He'll be a very strong bodied mid. And the Hannebery comparisons are completely apt.

Let's say between Ectomorph and Mesomorph. But he's on the the leaner/slimmer side of Meso. Not that this is an argument to get into because I don't believe that he'll never fill out. He just won't be built like Scott Thompson.

Regardless, players start weight training before Tac cup level and then throughout until they're drafted. He has more than 'touched' a weight.

Edited November 23, 2013 by stevethemanjordan

[DeeSpencer 25,477]

Let's say between Ectomorph and Mesomorph. But he's on the the leaner/slimmer side of Meso. Not that this is an argument to get into because I don't believe that he'll never fill out. He just won't be built like Scott Thompson.

Regardless, players start weight training before Tac cup level and then throughout until they're drafted. He has more than 'touched' a weight.

The ectomorph, mesomorph is the biggest load of trash going around. Do you really think the elite sports science guys don't believe that with the right diet and training that over the course of a few years that they wont be able to get weight on to any player. Just look at Fyfe, Dale Thomas or Dustin Fletcher, some of the skinniest kids to ever play at 18, still skinny lean builds but with plenty of size in the right spots to protect them and let them excel at AFL.

And the degree of weights they do is probably largely individual and tailored. You only need to look at the 3 top 10 Sandringham boys in Kelly, Salem and Freeman to see that whatever weights program they are on isn't uniform or long term.

Salem clearly has weight in his lower body whilst still having the ability to run both in speed and endurance. That's what I care about. The size or tone of his biceps are pretty irrelevant to me.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

The ectomorph, mesomorph is the biggest load of trash going around. Do you really think the elite sports science guys don't believe that with the right diet and training that over the course of a few years that they wont be able to get weight on to any player. Just look at Fyfe, Dale Thomas or Dustin Fletcher, some of the skinniest kids to ever play at 18, still skinny lean builds but with plenty of size in the right spots to protect them and let them excel at AFL.

And the degree of weights they do is probably largely individual and tailored. You only need to look at the 3 top 10 Sandringham boys in Kelly, Salem and Freeman to see that whatever weights program they are on isn't uniform or long term.

Salem clearly has weight in his lower body whilst still having the ability to run both in speed and endurance. That's what I care about. The size or tone of his biceps are pretty irrelevant to me.

It ain't a load of trash, and you've taken the whole thing out of context Master. We were talking about the body shapes of Salem and Hannebery and that's where I made the comment.

Nobody is talking about the relevance of Salem's biceps, no need to make out that we are.

Relax.

[Arrow 1,257]

The ectomorph, mesomorph is the biggest load of trash going around. Do you really think the elite sports science guys don't believe that with the right diet and training that over the course of a few years that they wont be able to get weight on to any player. Just look at Fyfe, Dale Thomas or Dustin Fletcher, some of the skinniest kids to ever play at 18, still skinny lean builds but with plenty of size in the right spots to protect them and let them excel at AFL.

And the degree of weights they do is probably largely individual and tailored. You only need to look at the 3 top 10 Sandringham boys in Kelly, Salem and Freeman to see that whatever weights program they are on isn't uniform or long term.

Salem clearly has weight in his lower body whilst still having the ability to run both in speed and endurance. That's what I care about. The size or tone of his biceps are pretty irrelevant to me.

Please, both Steve and I aren't questioning whether he will fill out, I'm certain he will. His body does have natural tone from the few 'action' shots I've seen, and like Fyfe who was smaller it gives a good indication of potential growth. Look at Morton 07, not that we were to know, but there was no definition at all.

But on topic, we were merely referring that he doesn't resemble Dan Hannebery at all. In the TAC Cup he average 1.3 clearances a game and in the Championships just below 1 a game.

Salem isn't an inside mid, he's a predominate outside mid, with a defensive game mindset (tackles etc) . Let it be known I'm not complaining one bit, but the player comparison I most recently read compared him to Chad Wingard- great skills, short burst speed player, can extract, great agility but needs to find more of the footy. I think that comparison is the most apt.

[Whispering_Jack 29,802]

Ectomorph, schmectomorph. I don't care if his ancestors roamed the planet 100 million years ago but, whatever the case, this is a ringing endorsement of Salem that compares him with Pendlebury.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

They are both left footers.

I can't see any other similarities..

[P-man 13,366]

Ectomorph, schmectomorph. I don't care if his ancestors roamed the planet 100 million years ago but, whatever the case, this is a ringing endorsement of Salem that compares him with Pendlebury.

Compare it to Josh Kelly's write up on there. You'd swear we got the better player of the two.

There is such a broad range of opinion on these things that you almost have to take them all with pinch of salt. Everything ranging from "he can't run" to "he's a running machine", or "a ceiling of being a very good player" to "THE Pendlebury of the draft". One thing that seems beyond dispute is he's a beautiful kick of the footy. Toump, Salem and Watts delivering the ball is suddenly sounding pretty good.

We need to have a serious discussion about nicknames for this fella. A guy called Christian Salem deserves a good one.