The midfield is going to get a big boost when Salem is finally moved there

Hopefully thats sooner rather than later

Great to see him get mid 20 possessions, iirc he was always a great user of the ball but wouldn't get 30 poddies often, just 20 quality ones.

I was sceptical of him playing back but he is doing well, but i like to see him play midfield in the last 2-3 games this year.

Our half back line is seriously good as it is.

I would be reluctant to tinker with it.

He is a top player.

Getting better.

I said on here I'd be taking a concerned interest in Christian after Taberner's hit on him last week. Christian took a similar mark last night; overhead, eyes up, pack bearing down. So I'm deleting "concerned" now!

He is an example of good recruiting and good development. When he came to the club, he was a skinny kid and couldn't find much of the ball in his early games (although when he did, he looked good). Now, he is bulked up and his form is on an upward spiral. The way it should be.

One instance in the second quarter last night, he was being chased and just as the Swans player (I think it was Rohan) was about to tackle him, he did a little shimmy to the left to buy himself more time. It was class and poise on show!

Those who criticised the Tyson/Salem deal are looking sillier by the day. They combined for 50 possessions on the weekend and that's even with one of them playing well below their best.

Well done to the list management and recruiters on this one.

While never critical of Salem, I was disappointed we didn't select Freeman.

Love Salem's footy smarts, skills and passion for the contest - will develop into a midfield beast IMHO.

Happy for him to play the season at half back if his form holds up with a move into the midfield next year.

(on a side note, it was good to see a few different faces in the centre for bounces on Saturday night - Garlett, vandenBerg, etc)

I'm happy to see him stay in the back half with stints in the middle. We desperately need his classy disposal in the back line so I think he should stay there. What we do need though is more big bodied ball winners. We are getting belted around the stoppages at the moment.

I imagine once Brayshaw and Petracca are fit enough to play full midfield minutes we will see this improve a lot!

Would seriously consider moving him to the midfield midway through the season if not now. That combination of pure class and hardness is gold.

Edited May 10, 201510 yr by Demon Jack

Salem reminds me a lot of a young Luke Hodge, with his accurate left boot and the poise he has displayed thus far. Along with viney, petracca, brayshaw, Tyson and even toumpas (if he delivers on his pre-draft potential) we could have quite a special midfield in a few years time. Haven't even seen much of ANB and Stretch yet!

While never critical of Salem, I was disappointed we didn't select Freeman.

Love Salem's footy smarts, skills and passion for the contest - will develop into a midfield beast IMHO.

Happy for him to play the season at half back if his form holds up with a move into the midfield next year.

(on a side note, it was good to see a few different faces in the centre for bounces on Saturday night - Garlett, vandenBerg, etc)

Even Brayshaw got a run in there. It's exciting.

I'm happy to see him stay in the back half with stints in the middle. We desperately need his classy disposal in the back line so I think he should stay there. What we do need though is more big bodied ball winners. We are getting belted around the stoppages at the moment.

I imagine once Brayshaw and Petracca are fit enough to play full midfield minutes we will see this improve a lot!

Yeah, those two will make a difference. Imagine Tyson alongside them and a fit and firing ruckman. If we could nab one of those GWS or GCS mids (Treloar, Shiel or Prestia), that becomes a very exciting bunch in two years time.

Edited May 10, 201510 yr by AdamFarr

Loved when he took on buddy coming out of defence, quickly becoming one of our better players

While never critical of Salem, I was disappointed we didn't select Freeman.

Love Salem's footy smarts, skills and passion for the contest - will develop into a midfield beast IMHO.

Happy for him to play the season at half back if his form holds up with a move into the midfield next year.

(on a side note, it was good to see a few different faces in the centre for bounces on Saturday night - Garlett, vandenBerg, etc)

And Freeman has done what exactly?

He hasn't played a game.......

Edited May 10, 201510 yr by jnrmac

And Freeman has done what exactly?

He hasn't played a game.......

Nothing! Thats what even makes it sweeter

Edited May 10, 201510 yr by dazzledavey36

Looks like "future dual Brownlow medallist" Josh Kelly was dropped for this week's game also.

Looks like "future dual Brownlow medallist" Josh Kelly was dropped for this week's game also.

Now might be the time to get in Kelly's ear then.

Looks like "future dual Brownlow medallist" Josh Kelly was dropped for this week's game also.

If we had kept pick 2 and drafted Kelly, then the same idiots involved with that infamous article would be criticising us for overlooking Bontempelli.

I actually rate Kelly very highly though. He always kills us!

One instance in the second quarter last night, he was being chased and just as the Swans player (I think it was Rohan) was about to tackle him, he did a little shimmy to the left to buy himself more time. It was class and poise on show!

He did it twice. It worked out better when he did it to Rohan, but he did it to Buddy as well.

Christian is going to be our next Superstar. Whilst I rate Hogan as much as everyone else, Salem is going to be it and a bit more! What a class act. Great Kick, excellent evasion skills, very good tackling, quickish speed, smart, but most importantly an absolute machine!!!

Hard at it, great tackle...

I love that we're building a hard group of young players, we're going to be tough to play against in the next few years.

Salem, Brayshaw, Viney already show it.

Christian is going to be our next Superstar. Whilst I rate Hogan as much as everyone else, Salem is going to be it and a bit more! What a class act. Great Kick, excellent evasion skills, very good tackling, quickish speed, smart, but most importantly an absolute machine!!!

I actaully agree with you. Out of all our young players, i reckon he will be the best. Hopefully the next Luke Hodge!

The type of player that could play all over the ground and get used to any position quickly.

The back flank is an excellent place to play and get plenty of the pill to build confidence.

Salem has made the biggest leap of any player in the first 6 weeks. Becoming important with each passing week and looks likely to be one of our best by seasons end.

He did it twice. It worked out better when he did it to Rohan, but he did it to Buddy as well.

The best part was he gave off the ball then Buddy gave up, and Salem ran on to receive a follow up handball

Could we have... dare I say it... got an early draft pick right?

Could we have... dare I say it... got an early draft pick right?

I think we have got most picks right in the last two years. Salem (plus Tyson), Brayshaw, Petracca, Stretch, ANB, JKH, O-Mac. They all look like they will be able to add to the side in the coming years, hard to say yet for Omac but the others have definitely shown promise.