WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - CHRISTIAN SALEM

[KingDingAling 3,750]

Every club during every pre-season tout their first draft pick as tearing up the track with no significant weakness. They all say how well they are improving and making in roads, they are building a good exciting environment... etc etc etc.

No, Freeman is tearing up the track and will have a good first year, he has that body that will allow for it.

I think it was expected before he was drafted, if you see him standing next to Salem in the line up - the difference is massive in build.

But the difference is also massive in skills, Salem has far better skills and is better in most areas of his games than Freeman.

The debate won't die down, it will keep raising it's head, but I'd of taken Salem ahead of Freeman every day of the week

[jayceebee31 759]

Who reckons we should've picked up Freeman instead?

Me...however, I met him on his first training run.He came across as a fully committed young man whom will give it all.

[Biffen 12,937]

My only concern is that Salem has a chance to develop properly .

If this doesn't happen then the discussion around Salem could easily turn into a Witch hunt.

[old dee 23,560]

Give the kid a break for god sake

First pre season

Has been ill

Has great skills

Also and I must stress this point .... We actually have players that may keep him out of the side

Don't put the kid on a pedestal yet, he hasn't even played a VFL game

You have my vote

[DemonFrog 1,347]

You have my vote

OD what are you saying, he not going to be a Club champion by round 1? Surely we need to sack the recruiting staff!

But on a serious note there is so many factors that going into making a success AFL player beside potential skill level. Give the kid some time to learn how to play the game before placing high expectations on him.

Clearly he has potential as a future AFL player. Lets see what our new coach staff can do to develop him further both as a person and player.

I for one am interested to see his development.

[monoccular 17,359]

My only concern is that Salem has a chance to develop properly .

If this doesn't happen then the discussion around Salem could easily turn into a Witch hunt.

Ah.......there is much at stake, but he appears to be burning and surviving, witch is good. Not so sure about Hunt, at this stage, but less at stake. Edited January 23, 2014 by monoccular

[rpfc 28,084]

The bigger debate will be Tyson and Salem vs Kelly/Aish/Billings.

If Tyson can get over his injuries of the last year, this trade will play a large role in moving us up the ladder.

[P-man 13,366]

The bigger debate will be Tyson and Salem vs Kelly/Aish/Billings.

If Tyson can get over his injuries of the last year, this trade will play a large role in moving us up the ladder.

*Tyson + Salem vs Kelly/Aish/Billings + Pick 20

Happy with the trade, but it wasn't exactly the 2 for 1 steal that is often touted. Can still get value at that pick.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

The bigger debate will be Tyson and Salem vs Kelly/Aish/Billings. If Tyson can get over his injuries of the last year, this trade will play a large role in moving us up the ladder.

Indeed.

It will be an interesting few years. I'm quietly confident.

I've a feeling we've got a very special player on our hands in Tyson.

Edited January 24, 2014 by stevethemanjordan

[Slartibartfast 16,968]

*Tyson + Salem vs Kelly/Aish/Billings + Pick 20

I spoke to someone who was involved with the Oakleigh Chargers coaching group and he also is well connected around junior TAC footy. He said the blokes at Oakleigh rated Salem ahead of Billings and equal with Kelly and thought we had a ripper. He also rated Salem miles ahead of Freeman.

All opinions but it's interesting that those involved at TAC level thought we'd done well.

[CBDees 3,165]

I spoke to someone who was involved with the Oakleigh Chargers coaching group and he also is well connected around junior TAC footy. He said the blokes at Oakleigh rated Salem ahead of Billings and equal with Kelly and thought we had a ripper. He also rated Salem miles ahead of Freeman.

All opinions but it's interesting that those involved at TAC level thought we'd done well.

The reports from training today confirm these views. Most Demonland reporters had both Salem and Toumpas as elite.

[Arrow 1,257]

I spoke to someone who was involved with the Oakleigh Chargers coaching group and he also is well connected around junior TAC footy. He said the blokes at Oakleigh rated Salem ahead of Billings and equal with Kelly and thought we had a ripper. He also rated Salem miles ahead of Freeman.

All opinions but it's interesting that those involved at TAC level thought we'd done well.

I seriously doubt it. Billings played at Oakleigh, Salem at the Dragons and Jack had been the first player at each squad since 14s. I know Jim Honey, the big dog down there and skill wise he rates Jack as the best player ever at Chargers.

[rjay 24,689]

The bigger debate will be Tyson and Salem vs Kelly/Aish/Billings.

If Tyson can get over his injuries of the last year, this trade will play a large role in moving us up the ladder.

Tyson will be an absolute gun so we will be one up before we even talk about the others. Salem is a bonus and by the look of it a good one.

[monoccular 17,359]

Tyson will be an absolute gun so we will be one up before we even talk about the others. Salem is a bonus and by the look of it a good one.

OMG - I have heard those words so often over the past decade especially (Sylvia, McLean, Morton, Maric, Bell, Bate, Dunn, Gysberts, $cully, Watts, etc etc) , that I will almost regard them as a condemnation curse until and unless I see the evidence on the field as manifest by consistent top level performances. Surely that is what is required to be classified as "a gun"?

I certainly can be forgiven for a little scepticism having followed our club for over half a century.

Edited January 24, 2014 by monoccular

[dee-luded 2,959]

Give the kid a break for god sake

First pre season

Has been ill

Has great skills

Also and I must stress this point .... We actually have players that may keep him out of the side

Don't put the kid on a pedestal yet, he hasn't even played a VFL game

I don't expect any of the youngsters to be in the side ahead off their bigger bodied team-mates to start at least the first 2 months, whilst we get some hardened defensive play structured into Our culture.

hoping fore plenty of added aggression into our mix.

[dee-luded 2,959]

My only concern is that Salem has a chance to develop properly .

If this doesn't happen then the discussion around Salem could easily turn into a Witch hunt.

I'd like to see Salem’s Revenge taken on $AUDcully in the Rnd 21 clash... later this season.

[rjay 24,689]

OMG - I have heard those words so often over the past decade especially (Morton, Maric, Bell, Bate, Dunn, Gysberts, $cully, Watts, etc etc) , that I will almost regard them as a condemnation until and unless I see the evidence on the field as manifest by consistent top level performances. Surely that is what is required to be classified as "a gun"?

I certainly can be forgiven for a little scepticism having followed our club for over half a century.

Watch the kid train, find out a bit of background and check out his limited game time to date. What I see is way ahead of the players you mentioned. I'm going early on this one and I don't generally do it and yes I understand the MFC supporter bias but this kid has got it.

[dee-luded 2,959]

I spoke to someone who was involved with the Oakleigh Chargers coaching group and he also is well connected around junior TAC footy. He said the blokes at Oakleigh rated Salem ahead of Billings and equal with Kelly and thought we had a ripper. He also rated Salem miles ahead of Freeman.

All opinions but it's interesting that those involved at TAC level thought we'd done well.

Reminds me a little of Freo taking Stephen Hill @ 3, in the 2008 draft.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_drafts?year=2008&t=N&s=P

[Watts Jurrah Dunn? 735]

The bigger debate will be Tyson and Salem vs Kelly/Aish/Billings.

If Tyson can get over his injuries of the last year, this trade will play a large role in moving us up the ladder.

Tyson and Salem v Kelly/Aish/Billings and Gardiner/Crouch/Taylor/Dumont. Don't forget we gave back that 2nd round pick for 9 as well.

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

reminds me a little of Freo taking Stephen Hill @ 3, in the 2008 draft.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_drafts?year=2008&t=N&s=P

That is a ripper draft for Freo - Hill, Ballantyne and Walters.

[Meds 32]

Tyson and Salem v Kelly/Aish/Billings and Gardiner/Crouch/Taylor/Dumont. Don't forget we gave back that 2nd round pick for 9 as well.

If people want to get technical about it we shouldn't forget that the pick that was used on Jayden Hunt was also part of the trade

[dee-luded 2,959]

That is a ripper draft for Freo - Hill, Ballantyne and Walters.

maybe the template will follow Us.

[rpfc 28,084]

*Tyson + Salem vs Kelly/Aish/Billings + Pick 20

Happy with the trade, but it wasn't exactly the 2 for 1 steal that is often touted. Can still get value at that pick.

Tyson and Salem v Kelly/Aish/Billings and Gardiner/Crouch/Taylor/Dumont. Don't forget we gave back that 2nd round pick for 9 as well.

If people want to get technical about it we shouldn't forget that the pick that was used on Jayden Hunt was also part of the trade

Tyson, Salem and Hunt vs Kelly/Aish/Scharenberg and Gardiner/Crouch/Hartung.

Because there are more options for the negative (those we could have picked had the trade not happened) this may look like a worse trade than it is.

But I am hopeful, and it is always good practice to trade down if you don't think there is a discernible difference in talent over a certain number of picks.

[Slartibartfast 16,968]

I seriously doubt it. Billings played at Oakleigh, Salem at the Dragons and Jack had been the first player at each squad since 14s. I know Jim Honey, the big dog down there and skill wise he rates Jack as the best player ever at Chargers.

There were no questions about Billings skills. It was some of his other attributes. This bloke knew Billings very well.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Genuine question, did any of those who say they wanted Freeman watch a lot of junior footy last year?

My reason for asking is almost every draft guru had Salem ahead of Freeman, and Freeman wasn't great statistically, but it seemed as soon as someone said 'plays a little like Patrick Dangerfield', people starting frothing over him.