Here's a fun fact for the day,

Josh Kelly from GWS was the 16th player to be nominated for the AFL Rising Star Award whilst playing against Melbourne since 2007.

Yes I have too much time on my hands to have actually looked that up but I just always keep noticing when an opposition youngster plays a blinder against us and cant help but wonder, why don't any of our high draft pick do this?

These kids have been in the system as long as ours, they come from the same place (TAC Cup, state carnival, draft camp) just a few months before. Why aren't our boys able to step out on the field and make the footy world take notice?

What is it about wearing a Melbourne jumper that weighs down a kid so much even though he wasn't there through all the previous bad times?

I am concerned players may tank in the TAC cup or draft camp to avoid being a low pick and drafted by MFC.

Should have went to Luke Dunstan, Kelly's game was excellent but Dunstan's last weekend was out if this world.

Firstly, we have been a rubbish, bottom 4 team for years on end, and continue to be.

Should it be any surprise that kids perform well against similarly young players in terrible teams?

Secondly, we've had our share of NAB Rising Star nominations from our kids.

Not as many in recent years due to wasting some picks and injuries alike.

Also probably from playing kids too early, reducing the quality of their first 10 performances.

But saying the jumper weighs a kid down just doesn't wash.

I am concerned players may tank in the TAC cup or draft camp to avoid being a low pick and drafted by MFC.

And I quoted the above just for the hilarious absurdity of the suggestion.

Should have went to Luke Dunstan, Kelly's game was excellent but Dunstan's last weekend was out if this world.

I can admit in all honesty i knew Dunstan was a ready to go type, i had seen a fair bit of him and didn't think he was that special, nothing like a Wines type but he is playing some fantastic footy, i reckon he'll prove a better player than Billings

I can admit in all honesty i knew Dunstan was a ready to go type, i had seen a fair bit of him and didn't think he was that special, nothing like a Wines type but he is playing some fantastic footy, i reckon he'll prove a better player than Billings

I absolutely wanted him and Freeman for pick 9. Got absolutely howled down for suggesting we should have a serious look at him at pick 9. He was another Ollie Wines and I am not suprised he is playing good footy. His game against WC on the weekend was unbelievable!

I absolutely wanted him and Freeman for pick 9. Got absolutely howled down for suggesting we should have a serious look at him at pick 9. He was another Ollie Wines and I am not suprised he is playing good footy. His game against WC on the weekend was unbelievable!

I was all for freeman too actually, love the mix of inside grunt and outside pace

not unhappy with Salem though

Hindsight is a wonderful thing unfortunately

Should have went to Luke Dunstan, Kelly's game was excellent but Dunstan's last weekend was out if this world.

Dunstan got nominated in round 1 - hence the opening post.

Kelly will be another player I will choose to pretend does not exist.

He joins names like Wines, Macrae, Darling, Sloane...

I was expecting more than 16. It seems like every second week the rising star nominee comes from our opposition.

I was expecting more than 16. It seems like every second week the rising star nominee comes from our opposition.

My point exactly

Has Troy Menzel got one yet?

Has Troy Menzel got one yet?

Has been backed off the map for this week.

There is actually a serious problem here, in that perhaps our players (or coaches) simply do not respect the opposition. They think, 'Let's worry about shutting down Player X or Player Y', and don't bother to rate the new players. If our defender's gave Josh Kelly as much respect as they gave Jeremy Cameron, we might have been in the game for a little longer.

I might be drawing a long bow here, but maybe it's a by-product of our young players being gifted games without doing the hard yards in the VFL - they didn't have to earn their place in the AFL, so they naturally assume that opposition debutants are unable to impact on games until they've been in the system for 2-3 years.

When will Salem play?

Did he play with/against the the higher draft picks? If so, is it time to see him? Even as a sub?

Casey can only prepare for so long.....

There is actually a serious problem here, in that perhaps our players (or coaches) simply do not respect the opposition. They think, 'Let's worry about shutting down Player X or Player Y', and don't bother to rate the new players. If our defender's gave Josh Kelly as much respect as they gave Jeremy Cameron, we might have been in the game for a little longer.

I might be drawing a long bow here, but maybe it's a by-product of our young players being gifted games without doing the hard yards in the VFL - they didn't have to earn their place in the AFL, so they naturally assume that opposition debutants are unable to impact on games until they've been in the system for 2-3 years.

It would be alot easier to develop in the 2's and come into the seniors banging the door down with good form and confidence than saying, you're the saviour of our footy club, cya round 1

And that's another one. Darcy Gardiner from the lions is the latest rising star nominee against melbourne.

And that's another one. Darcy Gardiner from the lions is the latest rising star nominee against melbourne.

Taken with the pick we traded to GWS in the Tyson-Salem deal that was then ontraded to the Lions

Taken with the pick we traded to GWS in the Tyson-Salem deal that was then ontraded to the Lions

So what do you want to do give one of those players back

So what do you want to do give one of those players back

lol no i was just making the observation

the weekly Rising star nomination is a worthless award anyway

lol no i was just making the observation

the weekly Rising star nomination is a worthless award anyway

I'd rather have a player do a good solid year in and out of the side and gaining some experience and missing out and hitting the ground running for 15+ games in his second year and be ineligible.

Hopefully Salem will be like that next season

I'd rather have a player do a good solid year in and out of the side and gaining some experience and missing out and hitting the ground running for 15+ games in his second year and be ineligible.

Hopefully Salem will be like that next season

Fingers crossed PSD

I wonder what is the record for most Rising Noms against in one season, I think we are up to 3 this year.

Insipid & pathetic, not to mention it's embarrassing that we have so v us

I wonder what is the record for most Rising Noms against in one season, I think we are up to 3 this year.

Yep, with Darcy Gardiner it's three.

Three Lions who played against us are RSNs, the Saints have two as do the Giants.

We don't have very many at all for a bottom-range team.

It may well be rubbish award but it is an indicator of sorts and for us points to a significant shortage of real young talent.

Edited August 5, 201411 yr by CHAMP