Christian Salem

[Ted Lasso 19,518]

has anyone on here ever seen a player look more comfortable so early at AFL level?

on the weekend, kicking to give us the lead against the top side late in the game slots it through the middle like it's nothing

reckon we have an absolute gem here

[Satyriconhome 10,878]

He is a bit like Dane Swan in attitude, it is just footy, it's your job so you do it the best you can, hardly watches footy when he isn't playing, prefers to watch soccer

[Machsy 2,858]

Tom Langdon comes to mind, for a start.

[Ted Lasso 19,518]

Tom Langdon comes to mind, for a start.

Langdon is a good player, not sure how he was overlooked twice.

[Machsy 2,858]

Once

[TheoX 1,222]

Chris Judd was awesome from day 1

[Ted Lasso 19,518]

Once

My apologies.

[dazzledavey36 54,946]

has anyone on here ever seen a player look more comfortable so early at AFL level?

on the weekend, kicking to give us the lead against the top side late in the game slots it through the middle like it's nothing

reckon we have an absolute gem here

Overreacting much? I could name about 30 players who have looked comfortable from get go.

[hardtack 10,537]

Chris Judd was awesome from day 1

As was Woey from memory.

[nutbean 8,838]

The kick from the boundary under pressure to hit Bail (I think) running into an open goal was an absolute gem. And the dragging the ball down one hand was pretty good too.

[Satyriconhome 10,878]

Oh no! the Club has just called him a 'young gun' on it's official Twitter feed

[Ted Lasso 19,518]

Overreacting much? I could name about 30 players who have looked comfortable from get go.

So that means i am not allowed to be stoked that Salem looks a good player so early? some of the things he did on the weekend were just magic, i bet not all could stop a ball at full stretch with one hand in traffic, lose his man and effect a perfect kick through port players to a dees player running full speed in hot alice springs conditions.

his kick was 2% off it would have missed bail and he did it with no time to measure, pure instinct.

[Satyriconhome 10,878]

So that means i am not allowed to be stoked that Salem looks a good player so early? some of the things he did on the weekend were just magic, i bet not all could stop a ball at full stretch with one hand in traffic, lose his man and effect a perfect kick through port players to a dees player running full speed in hot alice springs conditions.

his kick was 2% off it would have missed bail and he did it with no time to measure, pure instinct.

Chap, saw a bit of his magic when he was a junior, but Mr Pedersen gave him a valuable couple of seconds with a drive by sheperd, which he utilised

[Guest]

Oh no! the Club has just called him a 'young gun' on it's official Twitter feed

Put a fork in him. He's done.

[Ted Lasso 19,518]

Chap, saw a bit of his magic when he was a junior, but Mr Pedersen gave him a valuable couple of seconds with a drive by sheperd, which he utilised

sure, but i still think there was an amazing degree of difficulty involved in what he was able to pull off, for a bloke of 5 games or whatever he has played, and you add the magic we have seen from young Jay, seems like exciting times ahead.

[Bagdana 58]

Is it possible that we got a bargain as his Thyroid problem was undetected pre-draft?

Now that it's been corrected I believe he's put on about 6kg.

Does this mean he'd be able to complete his tasks with more strength and confidence than previously?

Maybe not, but either way, I've been up out of my chair on multiple occasions this year with the things he's been doing.

They can keep Kelly.

[TheoX 1,222]

Oh no! the Club has just called him a 'young gun' on it's official Twitter feed

I've heard Jack Watts labelled "Melbourne star" quite a bit in the media in last week or so

Edited June 4, 2014 by TheoX

[Little Richard 6,262]

I'd argue Jordan Gysberts looked a lot more comfortable at AFL level in his first two games - look what happened there.

Obviously the club is a very different place and our personnel are far superior to what we had back then but expectations should be tempered a little.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Django

[dazzledavey36 54,946]

So that means i am not allowed to be stoked that Salem looks a good player so early? some of the things he did on the weekend were just magic, i bet not all could stop a ball at full stretch with one hand in traffic, lose his man and effect a perfect kick through port players to a dees player running full speed in hot alice springs conditions.

his kick was 2% off it would have missed bail and he did it with no time to measure, pure instinct.

No theres a difference between been stoked with someones performance then sayingg have we have ever seen a player look so comfortable at AFL level. I have seen a young Aaron Davey and Cyril Rioli do some even extraordinary things then what Salem has. I understand what your saying but your going over the top, making out that he will be the next Chriss Judd.

If anything he reminds me of Chad Wingard.

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

Is it possible that we got a bargain as his Thyroid problem was undetected pre-draft?

Very likely. I read somewhere that he slipped to 9 because of his underwhelming performance in the 2013 championships, which in retrospect was probably due to his medical problems. Diagnosed, treated and look what you get!

[monoccular 17,431]

Is it possible that we got a bargain as his Thyroid problem was undetected pre-draft?

Now that it's been corrected I believe he's put on about 6kg.

Does this mean he'd be able to complete his tasks with more strength and confidence than previously?

Maybe not, but either way, I've been up out of my chair on multiple occasions this year with the things he's been doing.

They can keep Kelly.

The guy is acquitting himself pretty well already physically as well as mentally and with sound judgement and poise, in a modest manner without appearing to be getting ahead of himself in any manner.

What little I have been able to see of him excites me more than any of our first year players in my memory.

The pick up, quick thinking and pass to the running Bail was awesome; but I think even more impressive was the teaming with Toumpas, laying the solid shepherd (very un-Melbourne like pre 2014 - the Port guy actually fell over, when have we seen that from a MFC shepherd?) then running on to receive the beautifully weighted and timed pass from Jimmy (even more un-Melbourne like pre 2014).

The underlined bits are totally new to this year's team. I remain stunned by the change.

Edited June 4, 2014 by monoccular

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

A few weeks ago he kicked a nice goal on the run and continued, running into the goalsquare and shouldering the guy standing there. He'll be hard to intimidate.

[JackVineyForPresident 310]

has anyone on here ever seen a player look more comfortable so early at AFL level?

on the weekend, kicking to give us the lead against the top side late in the game slots it through the middle like it's nothing

reckon we have an absolute gem here

He looks really good, but plenty of players have been just as comfortable or even more impressive at such early stages.

Gysberts, Selwood, Viney, Wines.. just to name a few.

I believe he is more creative then these players, which is a huge bonus.

But yes, he does look comfortable

[TheoX 1,222]

He looks really good, but plenty of players have been just as comfortable or even more impressive at such early stages.

Gysberts, Selwood, Viney, Wines.. just to name a few.

pick the odd one out

[SaberFang 7,151]

Amazing what a solid game plan, good drafting and a renowned coach can do for a club.