2014 Player Review - # 3 Christian Salem

[Demonland 73,157]

The highlight of Salem's low key debut season was the winning goal he kicked in the Round 13 game against Essendon. Salem showed that he has the skills and endeavour to enjoy a long and successful AFL career.

Games MFC 2014 12 Career Total 12

Goals MFC 2014 6

Career Total 6

Games CSFC 2014 6

Goals CSFC 2014 6

Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 27 votes

[ILLDieADemon 804]

I like his guy, his hard at it and can kick straight.

[Earl Hood 6,101]

Sorry the jury still has to be out on Salem as a number 8 pick. He has skills and yes I like his willingness to back into a pack and take a hit but he had several games where he hardly had a touch and lacks physical presence. I hope for the best outcome but what I do want to point out is that I am not yet convinced that our recruitment team can spot the best young talent yet. Many posters are saying they have confidence now that MFC will get the early picks right. I am still to be convinced.

NB I am not including Tyson in this as we had some chance to gauge Dom's ability in seniors at GWS for several seasons. The Tyson pick fits in with Roosey's strategy of trading picks for proven talent.

[Biffen 12,947]

Yeah Bonza.

Gun.

[dazzledavey36 55,360]

Jury still out for me.

*ducks for cover*

[Davos 923]

I'll go early and say he will be a jet.

[Deeoldfart 8,065]

First and foremost, CS is an all-round real footballer - not player we have drafted simply because he has a skill-set that fills a hole on our list. I like him a lot! None of his skills are elite (although they might develop to that level) but he does most things well. He has a touch of attitude, a bit of class, and shows a willingness to stand up for himself. For a kid in his debut season, coming off a limited and illness affected start, he was a real positive and earns 8 out of 10 from me (admittedly based heavily on that horrible word 'potential'). The Tyson / Salem deal is looking a real winner in my eyes. Two high class mids for one is exactly what the MFC needed.

[monoccular 17,574]

First year, incomplete preseason.

He showed glimpses of absolute class, especially a couple of memorable mature moments at Alice Springs (oh, so long ago it seems).

I am really looking forward to seeing him with greater fitness and endurance following a hard preseason.

IMVHO one of the brightest lights at MFC that I have seen for many a long year.

[Nasher 33,617]

Jury still out for me.

*ducks for cover*

Jury out after one season?

Get. Out.

[Earl Hood 6,101]

I'll go early and say he will be a jet.

Big call given our MFC history! I hope you are right though.

[dazzledavey36 55,360]

Jury out after one season?

Get. Out.

Already debated this a while ago.

But yes its still out for me. With our history of first rounders not being much chop and Salem playing one good game out of 12 I didn't really see much to be convinced why he was worthy of pick 9 especially seeing the likes of Lewis Taylor and Luke Dunstan have impressive years.

Not writing him off completely at all just didn't impress me like he has with other supporters. Simple.

Edited September 9, 2014 by dazzledavey36

[angrydee 842]

Good ball user.

My criticism of him as an under 18 was that he didn't get enough ball.

It is still what worries me.

[tappysquads 618]

Great user of the ball, very strong body in the contest, cool head under pressure, knows where the goals are.

His highlight package from this year would be amazing.

Low possession numbers is the least of our worries, he is a quality footballer and stats will increase with experience and improvement of the mfc.

Will be a gun

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

Showed some really good flashes, needs to get more involved

[poita 3,902]

Looks fantastic with ball in hand. Unfortunately that doesn't happen enough (yet).

As a first year player, anything he did this year was a bonus. If we still have the same concerns in twelve months time, then we have a problem.

[beelzebub 23,383]

Will benefit from another preseason ( who won't lol)

Has the elements but needs the cohesion. It will come. Hes got something. A keeper

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

will be better with another pre-season there. Showed plenty of poise and endeavor, and looked the player, just still very slight and "boyish" in size which meant he was knocked off the ball quite a bit. But what he was trying to do was correct.
Not worried about him at all.

[jackaub 1,402]

Does any player at Melbourne ever ever get a full preseason? It seems a precursor to every player analysis "If only he had a full preseason" must be a very small group that trains preseason at Melbourne.

[praha 11,240]

He does a lot off the ball that goes unnoticed. Taps, knocks, body-on-body stuff that a lot of people miss. Doesn't win a lot of it but can develop in that area. Has the skills.

[watchtheeyes 1,422]

No preseason is more important than the one before your first year, surely. So from the glimpses we've seen, I'm hopeful.

He often didn't get the ball enough because he didn't have the fitness to get himself in to a useful position, I reckon he spent most of his time on the ground running effective beep tests as the ball went one way then spat back the other.

Looking forward to seeing him in action with a few more km's in his legs.

[Maggot 1977 263]

Would be in my starting 22 for season 2015. A great effort for a first year player !!

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Performed as a young first year player is expected to. Alternated between Casey and the side and showed some glimpses.

Will be allowed to develop naturally and learn the game.

Edited September 10, 2014 by jabberwocky

[whatwhat say what 22,948]

Looks to have a heap of class, but we need to see him get a hell of a lot more ball at afl level.

He's very much a work in progress at this stage, but looks like he has more ability than four-fifths of the list.

[Breggsy 123]

Really liked what I saw

Kicked some memorable goals including Sydney, Adelaide and essendon.

Didn't get much of it but I'll put that down to playing more of a forward role than a mid.

I also liked that he spent time in both the seniors and casey, whereas seasons gone by he would have been flogged in the seniors

[Go the Biff 3,442]

First year, incomplete preseason.

He showed glimpses of absolute class, especially a couple of memorable mature moments at Alice Springs (oh, so long ago it seems).

I am really looking forward to seeing him with greater fitness and endurance following a hard preseason.

That's pretty much my thoughts on Salem