Match Preview and Team Selection - Round 16

[rjay 24,054]

So do I have faith in this coaching panel ? Absolutely. I therefore must be missing a piece of the puzzle as to why Salem has had such a modest return ( granted - every time he gets the ball something happens) and is getting a game as opposed to some at Casey who appear to be banging the door down.

That's why the Casey match reports are valuable to us supporters. It's pretty easy to see why Salem retains his spot as no one is banging the door down at Casey.

[Axis of Bob 10,381]

Yeah I'm aware of all that but Blease has shown improvement in his defensive e game which has been noted in several reviews. He is getting more of the pill and whilst his use of it may not always be fantastic, who in the current Melbourne side can lay claim to that?

This is about a kid like Salem keeping his spot at the expense of Blease. To me that isn't justified.

If he's not playing his role then it doesn't matter how much of the pill he gets. If you were Salem, who is focussing on doing the right thing for the team by applying defensive pressure at the cost of his own attacking game (as the coach has instructed him), and you were dropped for a player who wasn't, then how would you feel?

Furthermore, if you were dropped and then got into a situation in the future where you could either play your role or you could 'cheat' and pick up an easy possession, which option would you take?

The logical answer is that you'd pick up the possession because you knew that it was more likely to get you a game. But the coaching staff clearly rate players' ability to play their role well before the number of possessions they get. And that is good for the team and future of it.

[Ted Lasso 17,135]

That's why the Casey match reports are valuable to us supporters. It's pretty easy to see why Salem retains his spot as no one is banging the door down at Casey.

Exactly, I also think supporters see a player has had 30 touches and assume he has played a good game, if a player goes out it opens up a role, the role might not be anything more than applying defensive pressure so 30 touches and no tackles means that player is overlooked

[pitchfork 181]

Very concerned about a small-forward kicking A LOT of goals on us this week. Jetta absence seems huge.

[John Crow Batty 8,317]

Stephen Hill out and Clancy Pearce back in for Freo.

[P-man 13,277]

Have you ever seen Blease create goals with clever smothers and intercepts like Salem has? Or get run at full on and nail the tackle as Salem did in the Essendon game.

They've decided the model is that in order to be promoted to the senior team you have to be in excellent form at VFL level. To keep your spot at AFL level all you have to do is play your role and compete.

I'm pretty sure Salem will be the sub this week or at least on the edge of selection. But Blease, Tapscott or JKH need 1 more good game at least to prove eligible for selection which is the term Allison uses.

Ideally we have 8 or so guys who are in the VFL all playing well consistently and therefore all eligible to come take a spot. But Blease's form hasn't got to that level.

The real question is whether the demands on the likes of Blease at VFL level in such a bad team are too much to ask for. It's hard to be defensive and make smart decisions all the time in a rotten team when you are one of the better attacking players. It's easy for Nicholson or Barry to play defensively and do their role but guys like Michie and Blease are trying to carry the side and it's hard to play Paul Roos football in such a bad team. That's my thoughts.

One single passage of play isn't going to convince me of the merits of playing Salem right now ahead of Blease. What I have seen Blease do is kick a bag of 5 goals and provide some of the most exciting passages of play I've seen from any Melbourne player in recent years.

For all of Salem's defensive pressure, his last 4 weeks has seen him lay a combined total of 4 tackles. He is a first year player that has visibly dropped off and it's facetious to suggest there isn't a case for Blease to be given an opportunity ahead of him in Round 16 of the season.

My concern is that Blease is exactly the type of player who I can envisage going to another club and going to another level. If that happens without us even getting a glimpse of him this year (on the back of many accounts saying he looked like one of the few AFL standard players at Casey), I will be disappointed.

[nutbean 8,837]

That's why the Casey match reports are valuable to us supporters. It's pretty easy to see why Salem retains his spot as no one is banging the door down at Casey.

I get its valuable to us - not so sure it is valuable to the players but that's been debated elsewhere.

[Satyriconhome 10,010]

One single passage of play isn't going to convince me of the merits of playing Salem right now ahead of Blease. What I have seen Blease do is kick a bag of 5 goals and provide some of the most exciting passages of play I've seen from any Melbourne player in recent years.

For all of Salem's defensive pressure, his last 4 weeks has seen him lay a combined total of 4 tackles. He is a first year player that has visibly dropped off and it's facetious to suggest there isn't a case for Blease to be given an opportunity ahead of him in Round 16 of the season.

My concern is that Blease is exactly the type of player who I can envisage going to another club and going to another level. If that happens without us even getting a glimpse of him this year (on the back of many accounts saying he looked like one of the few AFL standard players at Casey), I will be disappointed.

Tell you what P-man, come down to Punt Rd tomorrow at 11am, and you can sit being just as frustrated with some of the MFC listed players there as I have been for the few games I have watched

Sam Blease is getting there, but he still disappears during games, or spoils a great run by either suddenly going backwards or turning it over, some of his defensive work also leaves a bit to be desired at times, but as I have said he is getting closer and closer, he has still not managed to put back to back 4 quarter games together

[rjay 24,054]

I get its valuable to us - not so sure it is valuable to the players but that's been debated elsewhere.

The point is not it's value to us but that no one is knocking the door down and until they do there will only be changes that have been forced through injury or suspension.

[nutbean 8,837]

Tell you what P-man, come down to Punt Rd tomorrow at 11am, and you can sit being just as frustrated with some of the MFC listed players there as I have been for the few games I have watched

Sam Blease is getting there, but he still disappears during games, or spoils a great run by either suddenly going backwards or turning it over, some of his defensive work also leaves a bit to be desired at times, but as I have said he is getting closer and closer, he has still not managed to put back to back 4 quarter games together

Hey Saty,

Interested in your views.

There has been some debate surrounding Allison's review of the MFC listed players at Casey.

There are fairly forthright.

Do you like the critiquing of players publicly in this manner ? Do you think the players would be peeved by this approach ( not that they are criticised but criticised so publicly - see the Evans review)

[AzzKikA 2,371]

I really like the new reviews, shows some real truths.

[monoccular 16,415]

I don't think it comes down to touches with Roos, it's more about doing the things they are supposed to do, like defensive efforts and two way running etc.

Gisberts managed to get two rising stars and a couple of 26 possession games, but he just didn't seem to be able to do the team oriented work.

- Blease/Tapscott being mentioned in the best each week but not a gig ?

- JKH getting 30 touches but not being elevated ?

- Salem having a modest return but still retaining his spot ?

- Toumpas not being given the same leniency as Salem ?

Some here are scratching their heads at what they see as odd but it just tells me one thing. We make a subjective assessment on what we see in the seniors each week and some have the extra insight of actually watching Casey. We don't have real insight into training, we don't have insight into the physical loads on young players and how they are tracking, we have zero insight into discussions between players and coaches and we don't know what the exact roles given to each players are and the coaching panels expectations.

So do I have faith in this coaching panel ? Absolutely. I therefore must be missing a piece of the puzzle as to why Salem has had such a modest return ( granted - every time he gets the ball something happens) and is getting a game as opposed to some at Casey who appear to be banging the door down.

Sure some get "mentioned in the best" but is that the club of the journos, who I suspect see a bit of the game then check the stats sheet?

[DemonOX 8,551]

Good luck to Anthony Morabito....

Yeah good luck for NEXT week.

[Deecisive 1,663]

Salem has done some really good team things, he needs more game time to bring him up. Toumpas is an excellent talant but he needs to work harder to get into the fray more often. He has had a lot more freedom to wander around and pick up kicks, etc playing on the wind and half back. So numbers alone do not tell the whole story. As for Blease and JHK Roos is making them work hard to earn a spot, its not just put in a few good games other clubs have players who have been waiting YEARS to get a game. I like the idea of keeping the side settled and making players force their way in. Salem, Blease, JHK etc will be swapped in and out during the remaining games so Roos can see who is a keeper and whos a goer. We know that our chances of winning too many more games this year is remote, so Roos will use this to provide an education experience for those players he is looking to keep.

[chook fowler 18,392]

See Stephen Hill is out for the Dockers. That makes things interesting.

[Cards13 9,117]

Jetta is a big out for us, the Freo tip rat will kick a bag. Pearce as the sub who is also a quick small forward who when on will cause us trouble as I don't see a match up from us against the smalls. .

Not inspiring ins for us, Freo by 45.

[chook fowler 18,392]

Will be good to see Maxxy versus Sandilands. They will cast a big shadow over the ground.

[Dockett 32 1,213]

Great chance for big Max if he plays. Hope he does.

[Arrow 1,257]

I see Salem alot like Chad Wingard. Maybe not as much freaky talent, but feel Salem is smoother. Regardless back on point, Wingard averaged 12 touches a game in his first year, only twice sub. Next year he upped it to 20 touches and two goals. I've seen enough in him that whilst he likely won't match that output, I've seen enough that I think he'll be a good player next year from the experience!