I'm not sure why, but right from the outset I had a 'soft spot for Nev Jetta ........... even though I thought he had too many limitations to truly make it as a regular AFL player, even in a lowly team like Melbourne. Neville Jetta season review.

As it turned out, he is a perfect example of what self-belief, a great attitude, and a great deal of hard work can do to take 'fringe' players to key role players in a Paul Roos coached team. It got me thinking, who else on our list is ripe to make the transition from fringe player to automatic best 22? Can fellow Demonlanders help me out?

My hope is Spencer.

He just tries so hard I want him to succeed.

Jetta: “If I can get my fitness up another ten per cent, then I’ll be really happy going into 2015 because I’ll know that I can run the smaller forwards off their feet.”

Love that comment. I reckon he will get that 10%!! Imagine our team if all our players were 10% fitter. Happy days!

Watts, McKenzie, Michie, Riley, Spencer, Fitzpatrick

To a lesser extent Toumpas and Barry but these are younger guys expected to improve.

Matt Jones, Bail and Terlich are probably playing at their level. If they can find that small margin in their games they can go from fringe to regulars but it wouldn't really be a transformation.

Fitzpatrick is an interesting one. He does a lot wrong. And was awful at the start of the year. But he was concussed early in the first game, probably wasn't right the next week, then played in the wet the third week and all 3 games where in shocking sides. He came back for 2 late games and managed to find the scoreboard against West Coast and North.

He can't have any more excuses with the body. And he needs a coach who will believe in him and stick with him through what might be some ugly moments. But he's 23 now and could improve quickly. With Dawes suspended in round 1 he has a chance to play the first game of the year.

If every player had Nev's attitude then the club would be rising the ladder.

Imagine if all players increased their workrate and intensity by 10%....

Jetta: “If I can get my fitness up another ten per cent, then I’ll be really happy going into 2015 because I’ll know that I can run the smaller forwards off their feet.”

Love that comment. I reckon he will get that 10%!! Imagine our team if all our players were 10% fitter. Happy days!

Love the comment too. But don't bother, Nev, just keep injuring everyone you play on, that works, and I enjoy it.

Two players that I think will improve dramatically in 2015, Jimmy Toumpas and Jack Viney. Viney to me was very underwhelming in 2014 tried hard but just thought he had a very average year. The Toump, if anyone watch early preseason last year he was flying he just needs a massive dose of confidence. He has the ability and the tools, just needs the belief.

I think Nev might need to sustain his improvement for another year or two before we start using him as the model for other players to aspire to. One season does not make a career.

Jetta: “If I can get my fitness up another ten per cent, then I’ll be really happy going into 2015 because I’ll know that I can run the smaller forwards off their feet.”

Love that comment. I reckon he will get that 10%!! Imagine our team if all our players were 10% fitter. Happy days!

Cant help but like him for really taking it on.

Lets hope it's infectious

I think Nev might need to sustain his improvement for another year or two before we start using him as the model for other players to aspire to. One season does not make a career.

Agree. With a record showing one decent year out of six, it is hard to say that Nev has made it yet. Hopefully he doesn't lapse back into old habits when he finds his way back on to the senior list.

Mitchie

Jeff Garlett or Viv Michie.

For the benefit of our side going forward we really need it to be Fitzy or Gawn

Would love it to be Gawn as I don't rate any of the other Ruck options on our list however a more realistic bet is Mitchie , his last couple of weeks were solid and think he can realy push into the starting 18

pigdog !

Hopefully we have about 6 of them, and there is reason now to expect natural improvement like other clubs do.

I will say that Toumpas will lead the charge.

Would love it to be Gawn as I don't rate any of the other Ruck options on our list however a more realistic bet is Mitchie , his last couple of weeks were solid and think he can realy push into the starting 18

pigdog !

Would do wonders for our midfield depth and help us around the clearances if it were both

Viv Michie ... I saw some good signs at the end of 2014.

A big preseason and a spot on the wing is calling.

Would have liked it to have been Blease but he's a goner.

Two players that I think will improve dramatically in 2015, Jimmy Toumpas and Jack Viney. Viney to me was very underwhelming in 2014 tried hard but just thought he had a very average year. The Toump, if anyone watch early preseason last year he was flying he just needs a massive dose of confidence. He has the ability and the tools, just needs the belief.

I agree on both counts. I reckon viney fly's under the radar on DL in terms of avoiding criticism - perhaps because everyone loves his spirit and hard at it grunt (as do I). But he didn't have a great year (which is OK, he's only young). Really needs to improve his kicking.

People seem to love comparing the toumps progress with wines. Few seem to measure viney against wines. At this stage he is a fair way behind

Edited October 22, 201410 yr by binman

I agree on both counts. I reckon viney fly's under the radar on DL in terms of avoiding criticism - perhaps because everyone loves his spirit and hard at it grunt (as do I). But he didn't have a great year (which is OK, he's only young). Really needs to improve his kicking.

People seem to love comparing the toumps progress with wines. Few seem to measure viney against wines. Funny

I think what Viney needs to do is learn to get an easy ball.

He is always in the thick of the action but also needs to find space more and get lots more uncontested stuff.

Bernie Vince is the perfect balance of both hardball gets and uncontested linking in space.

Agree. With a record showing one decent year out of six, it is hard to say that Nev has made it yet. Hopefully he doesn't lapse back into old habits when he finds his way back on to the senior list.

You really are relentless in your negativity. Given saty is not posting I feel obliged to respond to your nonsense post. What bad habits? The only reason jetts was the rookie list was his wretched run with injuries. He has always been a top trainer, played his role and a player who is 100% commited. He was terrific in the vfl when there and forced his way back into the side with his incredible consistency and by don't of hard work. If you think he has suddenly come good after being average you are clueless

You really are relentless in your negativity. Given saty is not posting I feel obliged to respond to your nonsense post. What bad habits? The only reason jetts was the rookie list was his wretched run with injuries. He has always been a top trainer, played his role and a player who is 100% commited. He was terrific in the vfl when there and forced his way back into the side with his incredible consistency and by don't of hard work. If you think he has suddenly come good after being average you are clueless

You noticed huh ?

Jetta has never had a decent run at it injury wise.

We keep hearing from footballers the value of a decent preseason and we see the effects on those who don't get the miles into the legs.

What I hope for NJ is that he stays injury free - if he can I think he will be a valuable contributor.

Nev Jetta Season Review on the MFC site was an interesting watch especially at the 3:17 mark the passage of play in the 4th Quarter against Hawks when we are down by 50 points and the determination to shut down his opposition player (Puopolo??) is the type of work rate I would love to see him continue into next season and I believe can.

By the way I found it strange Tapscott hasn't got the chop yet. And he did seem to have more chance than Strauss and Blease last year as well as more injury niggles.

He'd be the ultimate Jetta rebirth if he went back to the rookie list. Unlikely, but never say never I guess.