WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - BEN NEWTON

[pantaloons 2,019]

Don't know if this article has been shared here but it's stamped as 6.30pm so here goes:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/port-adelaide-midfielder-ben-newton-joins-melbourne-as-major-winner-of-afl-player-rules/story-fnia6ojc-1227113479756

[deanox 10,051]

Had to be another in the line of "Juice"'s at Melbourne.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,059]

I'd just call him The Force.

[Uncle Fester 2,848]

Nice freebie pick up. If he's a bust we haven't lost anything. If he's a boom then we come out miles on top.

And I like the name 'Bert' for some reason even thought the real one annoys me.

[monoccular 17,680]

The right thing by him, but not the evenness of the comp. While he has gone to the second worst team, what if he went to another top team? The PSD (and the nat draft) is structured so that the worst teams have access to the best players.

The PSD is designed to give the worst teams access to those players that wish to move on for more opportunities.

Newton was a prime candidate to go through that route.

I don't like hypotheticals, but why does he get to go where he wants as a wanted player but other wanted players around the league are told their fate is through the PSD?

PA did the right thing by him, but they should not have been allowed to IMO. As soon as you are offered a contract for next season and you turn it down - you should be made to head for the PSD/ND.

They don't all go to the worst teams - Matt Spangher says "hi"! Listed player in I think two other premiership clubs, and emergency again for Hawks 2013 flag, then gets the ultimate prize. Well done. Persistence pays.

[rpfc 28,956]

They don't all go to the worst teams - Matt Spangher says "hi"! Listed player in I think two other premiership clubs, and emergency again for Hawks 2013 flag, then gets the ultimate prize. Well done. Persistence pays.

Spangher was traded for a low pick. Not sure of the connection.

[DeeSpencer 26,446]

The right thing by him, but not the evenness of the comp. While he has gone to the second worst team, what if he went to another top team? The PSD (and the nat draft) is structured so that the worst teams have access to the best players.

The PSD is designed to give the worst teams access to those players that wish to move on for more opportunities.

Newton was a prime candidate to go through that route.

I don't like hypotheticals, but why does he get to go where he wants as a wanted player but other wanted players around the league are told their fate is through the PSD?

PA did the right thing by him, but they should not have been allowed to IMO. As soon as you are offered a contract for next season and you turn it down - you should be made to head for the PSD/ND.

I agree. I don't really like the PSD, but maybe for players in their first 4 or 5 years they should be subjected to a waiver wire, which is a similar prospect. If you walk out of a club before you've reached a relevant free agency period then name your price of contract and be subjected to a process where the lowest clubs have first pick. Don't like it, then organise a trade.

It's just another mixed up version of the current system.

Anyway maybe it's all a conspiracy. Port say they aren't letting him go. Melbourne say we'll take him in the PSD. Port say ok then sucked in you're going to Melbourne we may as well let you go now. In some ways it helps Port as we are committed to him now. If we waited until the PSD he could've been injured or otherwise and instead of taking him we might have plucked the guy Port wanted with pick 53.

If he said he was going to Hawthorn or Sydney then Port might've said, no thanks, you can go the PSD.

[autocol 448]

Is it my imagination, that whenever we are chasing someone, it doesn't happen quickly. Other clubs seem to get targetted players far more quickly.

It's your imagination. "A watched pot never boils", and you spend your time watching Melbourne FC. The other clubs are holding your attention so your brain doesn't process the time passing in the same way.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,101]

Nice freebie pick up. If he's a bust we haven't lost anything. If he's a boom then we come out miles on top.

And I like the name 'Bert' for some reason even thought the real one annoys me.

If he is Bert, then who is Ernie?

[P-man 13,367]

If he is Bert, then who is Ernie?

Looked up famous Ernies.

Ernie Kent - Basketball coach who won two Pac-10 Tournament Championships with the Oregon Ducks in 2003 and 2007.

But I think he gets edged out by....drum roll.....

Ernie Watts - Grammy Award-winning saxophonist best known for his work with The Rolling Stones and Charlie Haden's Quartet West.

Watts is Ernie.

[Pennant St Dee 13,406]

Looked up famous Ernies.

Ernie Kent - Basketball coach who won two Pac-10 Tournament Championships with the Oregon Ducks in 2003 and 2007.

But I think he gets edged out by....drum roll.....

Ernie Watts - Grammy Award-winning saxophonist best known for his work with The Rolling Stones and Charlie Haden's Quartet West.

Watts is Ernie.

Wise, Merrick & Borgnine

[Tyson_Viney_Toumpas 269]

If he is Bert, then who is Ernie?

B-ernie

[Demoneyes 562]

Give your mates from golf a call.

Good get but obviously my golf mates dont know everything!

[InVINCEable 358]

Any relation to Juice?

[Ron Burgundy 8,588]

With the recruitment of Newton, in bringing in Frost, Lumumba, Newton and Garlett, we have used the trade and FA period to strengthen every line.

Bringing in Newton gives us another left footer to play in midfield alongside Salem and Viney. If we add Brayshaw, who is very good off both feet (predominantly kicks left footed in general play, right when lining up for goal), that’s a nice little group that we can bring through in a similar vein to Hawthorn.

The other plus in the Newton signing is that it helps make up for our missteps in the 2010 draft. Whilst we missed with the Cook pick, we have now added Michie and Newton in addition to Howe and McDonald who have established themselves as regular senior players. If Michie and Newton become regular contributors, our list profile all of a sudden looks a hell of a lot better. Especially if the majority of our picks from 2012 (Toumpas, Viney, Kent, Barry) 2013 (Hogan, Salem, JKH, Hunt) & 2014 (Stretch + picks 2 &3) are developed well under the current regime. 2011 was a complete write off for us, but at least we’ve ended up with Tyson and now Frost from that draft year.

What a great post. A perspective I hadn't considered previously - thanks.

[monoccular 17,680]

Looked up famous Ernies.

Ernie Kent - Basketball coach who won two Pac-10 Tournament Championships with the Oregon Ducks in 2003 and 2007.

But I think he gets edged out by....drum roll.....

Ernie Watts - Grammy Award-winning saxophonist best known for his work with The Rolling Stones and Charlie Haden's Quartet West.

Watts is Ernie.

The fastest milkman in the west ??

[Its Time for Another 4,303]

The fastest milkman in the west ??

Nice one Benny!

[Neitz the Great 555]

A great video to get an idea of Ben Newton's game!

[djr 1,605]

A great video to get an idea of Ben Newton's game!

Looking at this video I must admit I am really surprised that Port let him go.

[Moneider96 1,045]

Looking at this video I must admit I am really surprised that Port let him go.

He wanted to go. That's the only reason why they let him go. He couldn't get a regular game at port due to injury, but now that he has fully recovered and fit to go, he wanted a fresh start for more opportunity. That's why port fans think he dogged them, because they stuck by him through everything, and they could see his potential.

[djr 1,605]

He wanted to go. That's the only reason why they let him go. He couldn't get a regular game at port due to injury, but now that he has fully recovered and fit to go, he wanted a fresh start for more opportunity. That's why port fans think he dogged them, because they stuck by him through everything, and they could see his potential.

He'll be in our starting 22 that's for sure. A great pickup. A lot better than any speculative player at pick 40 if we don't delist anyone.

[Pipefitter 2,217]

He wanted to go. That's the only reason why they let him go. He couldn't get a regular game at port due to injury, but now that he has fully recovered and fit to go, he wanted a fresh start for more opportunity. That's why port fans think he dogged them, because they stuck by him through everything, and they could see his potential.

Sounds like what Thompson did to us.

[InVINCEable 358]

A great video to get an idea of Ben Newton's game!

Nev Jettas tackle on Westhoff!!

[InVINCEable 358]

He'll be in our starting 22 that's for sure. A great pickup. A lot better than any speculative player at pick 40 if we don't delist anyone.

Back: Jetta, Frost, Dunn

Half-back: Grimes, TMac, Lumumba

Mid: Vince, Viney ,Watts

Half-Forward: Kent, Dawes, Howe

Forward: JKH, Hogan, Garlett

Followers: Jamar, Jones, Tyson

I/C: Garland, Salem, Pedersen

Sub: Cross

Wouldn't have him in there just yet.

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

That's a pretty good lineup. but someone's always out injured/suspended, and once he's in he'll be hard to push out, if that video's anything to go by.