a cautionary offering:

VFL performances dont ( often ) equate to AFL

some guys are gung ho at the VFL level only to pull up like a pollie at a budget meeting

Theres no promises in those figures.

Forget the stats...who looks like they own the game at VFL...they can be elevated....no others

Well, other than stats, how else are we meant to work out who looks like they own the game at VFL level?

Bit cold for him maybe?

Bit flippant maybe?

Flippant?

It's borderline racist.

If Dom finds it cold in a Melbourne autumn, he must have hated the winters while living in Ballarat!

If salem and Riley are finding form in the VFL then maybe playing them on our halfforward line may be a way of introducing them to AFL. they may give us more bite and give us a chance to rotate them through the midfield from time to time. Also is it worth playing Jamar in the goal square and as a second ruck, he can be the decoys decoy.

Aidan Riley 10 tackles...well done.

Bit cold for him maybe?

He did go to school in Ballarat...

And has spent how long in Melb now? Not a great one from you.

I can't wait to see what Riley does at the top level. 10 tackles and 25 touches. Machine.

Highlights are in:
http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2014-04-22/rd-3-vfl-highlights

I hate how they only show the goal related highlights. Salem barely features but we know from all accounts and the data that he was BOG.
Wish they showed highlights of passages of play etc. as well as goals.

Shirley it is now fairly obvious Jake Best should of been rookied instead of Neville Jetta.. Jetta had less instensity than watts on the weekend.. Would give a handball and then stand flat footed.. At least Best would offer some speed and endevour!

Il say it now.

Salem will be our best pickup of last years draft.

In that footage I saw him go to block with serious intent. Whilst in isolation it may seem insignificant, for me it's extremely exciting. We're all aware of how highly he is rated for his foot skills, smarts and break away speed but to see that matched with some aggression and desire and awareness to do the team things means that we have what looks like a very well rounded player.

They're the types that turn into stars. A mix of inside and outside game. An appetite and desire to learn and be the best you can be. Working as hard as possible to make it happen.

Viney, Nathan Jones and Hogan all possess similar attributes (although jones' consistent improvement year after year has surprised me)

We need more of 'em.

Edited April 22, 201411 yr by stevethemanjordan

Aidan Riley 10 tackles...well done.

That's more than the entire team did on Sunday!!!!

Is he a rookie?

Aidan Riley is on our senior list

Most annoying thing about watching that highlights footage was the guy doing the stats!

As we know Roos is big on players mastering AFL habits/non negotiables/minimum standards in the VFL. I note the comment in the VFL players review that Salem needs to work on his accountability when the ball is out of the stoppage area - otherwise all ok. Salem will have to earn his debut which could be a little while away yet. Much better for Salem to master these habits than run the risk of 'burning' another player before he is ready. By the review it seems Riley has AFL intensity already and could be only a couple of weeks away once he reaches AFL fitness levels. Garland only needs a couple more weeks to reach AFL fitness as well.

VFL player review: round three

Paul Amy of Leader Newspapers - Misfiring Casey Scorpions do enough to bank two-goal win over equally wayward Frankston Dolphins

THIS:

Jimmy Toumpas: Jimmy played half-back and had 11 disposals in the first half of the game. He was solid and gave plenty of drive when he was on the ground, but he unfortunately received a heavy knock just before half-time, after backing back with the flight of the ball. Although he tried to come back on the second half, he was ruled out with concussion by the doctor, so he took little part after half-time. But he was a good contributor while he was on.

THIS:Jimmy Toumpas: Jimmy played half-back and had 11 disposals in the first half of the game. He was solid and gave plenty of drive when he was on the ground, but he unfortunately received a heavy knock just before half-time, after backing back with the flight of the ball. Although he tried to come back on the second half, he was ruled out with concussion by the doctor, so he took little part after half-time. But he was a good contributor while he was on.

Have been saying it for a while now! This kid is not just the outside receiver people are saying he is. You just have to look at efforts like this one and he did same thing after being knocked out by Smedts in Alice. These are not the actions of a softcover--k as parlayed by some idiotic posters.

Have been saying it for a while now! This kid is not just the outside receiver people are saying he is. You just have to look at efforts like this one and he did same thing after being knocked out by Smedts in Alice. These are not the actions of a softcover--k as parlayed by some idiotic posters.

I don't think he's soft, but I will concede he has a tendency to play in a soft manner, holding on the outside to get a clean disposal as an outlet. Something that will be eradicated from his game with time.

He needs to build his body quite a bit too, before he starts busting through packs.

Also from the VFL Review:

James Strauss: James played half-back, wing and forward. He did well in all areas of the ground. He used the ball really, really well – his disposal efficiency was 95 per cent. He had 21 possessions and looked his best when he was running and carrying the ball. But he can get caught just taking it sideways and backwards at times.

Don't know where people get the impression his kicking is poor.

Strauss is an A grade kick.

The sooner he's back in the AFL side, the better for all of us.

As we know Roos is big on players mastering AFL habits/non negotiables/minimum standards in the VFL. I note the comment in the VFL players review that Salem needs to work on his accountability when the ball is out of the stoppage area - otherwise all ok. Salem will have to earn his debut which could be a little while away yet. Much better for Salem to master these habits than run the risk of 'burning' another player before he is ready. By the review it seems Riley has AFL intensity already and could be only a couple of weeks away once he reaches AFL fitness levels. Garland only needs a couple more weeks to reach AFL fitness as well.

agreed. & I think this was Salem's first topline game. he needs a month of solid form as a newbie.

But with the Swans, then Crows, back to back, Spencer will need some chopout, so Jamar for me in the pocket to ruck the forward Arc, & Frawley back as an option for buddy, with Garland or Dunn, in to our forwardline.

also Clisby onto the extended interchange.

edit:

Edited April 22, 201411 yr by dee-luded

As we know Roos is big on players mastering AFL habits/non negotiables/minimum standards in the VFL. I note the comment in the VFL players review that Salem needs to work on his accountability when the ball is out of the stoppage area - otherwise all ok. Salem will have to earn his debut which could be a little while away yet. Much better for Salem to master these habits than run the risk of 'burning' another player before he is ready. By the review it seems Riley has AFL intensity already and could be only a couple of weeks away once he reaches AFL fitness levels. Garland only needs a couple more weeks to reach AFL fitness as well.

its called development...

might be new to the MFC

Also from the VFL Review:

James Strauss: James played half-back, wing and forward. He did well in all areas of the ground. He used the ball really, really well – his disposal efficiency was 95 per cent. He had 21 possessions and looked his best when he was running and carrying the ball. But he can get caught just taking it sideways and backwards at times.

Don't know where people get the impression his kicking is poor.

Strauss is an A grade kick.

The sooner he's back in the AFL side, the better for all of us.

Statistics and damn lies Machsy. My strong recollection is that he is not an A grade kick by any stretch of the imagination.

Very much agree with Beezlebub. Stats can be incredibly deceptive. You could see a bloke get 18 possies and know he needs to play and similarly see another get 35 and know he isn't ready or good enough.

Statistics and damn lies Machsy. My strong recollection is that he is not an A grade kick by any stretch of the imagination.

This is just more evidence you've got NFI, IMO.

Laughable really.

This is just more evidence you've got NFI, IMO.

Laughable really.

Machsy, up to this point I have avoided labeling you an overly sensitive, overly angry half wit. I will continue with this approach as you are clearly capable of doing the job for me.

It seems that Salem's fitness is improving to the stage where he is now capable of playing as an inside mid at Casey.

I would think another 2 games playing in the middle and continuing his good form would see him in the side for the Bulldogs game at the MCG.