Fingers crossed one of the things you were told to keep to yourself is both Chip and Tommy Mac are both staying haha

Mr Nolan, we are wandering off topic, but I have faith that both will stay

Mr Nolan, we are wandering off topic, but I have faith that both will stay

Back on topic, has young Salem been training with the mids of forwards this year saty?

His first few games have reminded me of Adam Yze's first few games. Not getting ahead of myself, but boy does that excite me.

Seems to be very similar. Pure clean class, ability to read the play and goal sense.

Back on topic, has young Salem been training with the mids of forwards this year saty?

When they do the end to end he is usually with the forwards, but he does sit in on the mids talks, as in the other day I reported they stood around in a circle discussing where to stand etc, there is no need to put him in the middle just yet, Roos will probably introduce that 2/3 into the games if he plays them all this season

His first few games have reminded me of Adam Yze's first few games. Not getting ahead of myself, but boy does that excite me.

Seems to be very similar. Pure clean class, ability to read the play and goal sense.

Different types of players IMO. Yze was an absolute gun, particularly from that 1998 - 2004 period, but he was soft. Salem is hard-as-nails from what I've seen, if we're lucky (and I mean really lucky) I can see him becoming a Luke Hodge-type.

Manger got shafted. He was brought in to be an inside ball-winner with heaps of grunt. He came into the side and did that job exactly as advertised, and for two or three rounds he was notching up 30-odd possessions playing in the guts. Then for some reason they decided to start shifting him into other roles. We got him to win inside ball, so let's try him as a tagger. How about as a half-forward? Nope, obviously can't play so we'll drop him. He would have been fine if they'd just left him in the middle to do what he does best.

What does it take with you guys?

If you can't defend and run both ways you are toast in todays game. Almost anyone can rack up 30 stats.

Exhibit A Magner

Exhibit B Beemer

Exhibit C Sylvia

What does it take with you guys?

If you can't defend and run both ways you are toast in todays game. Almost anyone can rack up 30 stats.

Exhibit A Magner

Exhibit B Beemer

Exhibit C Sylvia

Not sure that was why he didn't get a game under Neeld. A little slow and not particularly good by foot. But the mystery is why he had 3 quite good opening games in the middle and then moved on as a defensive forward - it wasn't like we had an abundance of in and under footballers?

Watched this guy at training today here is a big statement

He is easily the best kick in the team.

After watching numerous crappy kicks come to the MFC over the last decade he is a revelation.

I think his best asset is his goal sense, the kid need half a second and he will find the goals

Back on to Salem. Watched him at training today do some freakishly good soccer things with a football, even had Dean Terlich joke saying he should of played soccer getting 60 mil a year.

Salem you freak!!

Back on to Salem. Watched him at training today do some freakishly good soccer things with a football, even had Dean Terlich joke saying he should of played soccer getting 60 mil a year.

Salem you freak!!

Careful - you will be accused of starting "Salem to Socceroos" rumours.

His first few games have reminded me of Adam Yze's first few games. Not getting ahead of myself, but boy does that excite me.

Seems to be very similar. Pure clean class, ability to read the play and goal sense.

Ugh. Love your posts, GNF, but I hate this comparison. Besides, Yze kicked five in his first game out at the Whitten Oval. I was there. Very different players, IMO.

i hope we see many more years of salem and toumpas running in tandem along the wing, like we did against port in the alice - that ground is essentially the dimensions of the mcg.

Ugh. Love your posts, GNF, but I hate this comparison. Besides, Yze kicked five in his first game out at the Whitten Oval. I was there. Very different players, IMO.

It must be something to do with the sublime kicking.

I know they are very different players, but I find myself being reminded of Yze when watching him too.

It must be something to do with the sublime kicking.

I know they are very different players, but I find myself being reminded of Yze when watching him too.

So do I, for me it's his set shots at goal, he is lining up and you can basically pencil it in, felt the same with Yze

his skills and his ball nous are what make him so exciting, alongside strong defensive work and heaps of energy and ability to be involved in the play.

It must be something to do with the sublime kicking.

I know they are very different players, but I find myself being reminded of Yze when watching him too.

I totally 'get it', but it's the insinuation that he could be 'as good' as Yze. He was a sublimely gifted player, but as soft as they come. By comparing him to Yze, you're giving Salem an unfair ceiling that I don't think is justified or fair. Anyway, I'll just pipe down, because I'm sick of sounding like a broken record.

Completely agree with you in that regard.

Yze was a bit soft and a front-runner.

Still one of our best during that era.

Totally endemic of that era, unfortunately. Took some great marks and kicked some wonderful goals. Loved him as a player early on, but slowly grew to find exactly those negative traits that you outline, M.

Very, very excited by Salem though. Can't wait to see him in this game.

They have asked McKenzie to not only stop but also get more of the footy and kick a few more goals ( paraphrasing what you reported earlier). The reports on McKenzie and where he has been playing at Casey - they are not changing his role

Sorry but they have. At Casey he isn't tagging, in fact a couple of games ago he was tagged. It's why he's getting such big numbers.

But you are right in the respect that they want to broaden his game and if he gets another shot he will be expected to do more than just stop his opponent.

Ugh. Love your posts, GNF, but I hate this comparison. Besides, Yze kicked five in his first game out at the Whitten Oval. I was there. Very different players, IMO.

His first game was against Richmond. 5 kicks, one behind.

His first game was against Richmond. 5 kicks, one behind.

Maybe it was his second or third game then? It's been a while, but I remember it being against FItzroy. In any case, Yze had immediate scoreboard impact with bags of goals. Salem has hit the scoreboard, but not to the same extent.

EDIT. Or was it the Bulldogs?

Maybe it was his second or third game then? It's been a while, but I remember it being against FItzroy. In any case, Yze had immediate scoreboard impact with bags of goals. Salem has hit the scoreboard, but not to the same extent.

EDIT. Or was it the Bulldogs?

It would of been in round 11 of '96 against Fitzroy which was his 19th game and second season. He only kicked 5 goals in his first 18 games and 1 in his first 8.

It would of been in round 11 of '96 against Fitzroy which was his 19th game and second season. He only kicked 5 goals in his first 18 games and 1 in his first 8.

Nice. I stand corrected.

Id compare him to Chad Wingard. Wont be long till we start seeing him kick some freakish goals.