WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - ALEX NEAL-BULLEN

[McQueen 17,864]

Has anyone got mail on what's happening with ANB?

Nothing mentioned via the club as to whether he's injured.

Hasn't featured in the first two NAB matches and not named in the third.

Training reports have him rated reasonably for a developing 2nd year player.

A bit of a mystery...?

[TRIGON 4,719]

Too right. Bloody mystery. Liked the way he played last year, though he'd get at least one hit-out during the NAB challenge. How's he been looking at training this year?

[chook fowler 18,359]

11 minutes ago, McQueen said:

Has anyone got mail on what's happening with ANB?

Nothing mentioned via the club as to whether he's injured.

Hasn't featured in the first two NAB matches and not named in the third.

Training reports have him rated reasonably for a developing 2nd year player.

A bit of a mystery...?

I agree - hard to fathom

[P-man 13,239]

Could it be a disciplinary thing? Am also scratching my head.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

I had high hopes for him this year.

I remember a poster on BF saying he was homesick etc etc, so read into that whatever you want.

Mitch White was another who I really liked the look of, that has dropped off the face of the planet. Assuming he is injured as I have heard nothing of him since Christmas.

 

Disclaimer: this was the same BF thread that said Jack Viney wanted to go to Port, so I'm not taking it too seriously

Edited March 10, 2016 by Forest Demon

[daisycutter 28,640]

Just now, Forest Demon said:

I had high hopes for him this year.

I remember a poster on BF saying he was homesick etc etc, so read into that whatever you want.

Mitch White was another who I really liked the look of, that has dropped off the face of the planet. Assuming he is injured as I have heard nothing of him since Christmas.

can add jkh to that list too

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Just now, daisycutter said:

can add jkh to that list too

Definitely. JKH is a mystery. Remember his first pre-season and he was the stand out in just about every training report, went well in the intra club, then again in the nab cup, and then put in some very impressive cameos during the season regular. 2 years later, I barely ever even read his name.

[Copuchas 756]

Just now, daisycutter said:

can add jkh to that list too

JKH has been injured (and has just resumed full training).  Should play Casey this weekend.  White was injured too but not sure of his rehab status.  Ditto Newton (ankle) who seems to have fallen off a lot of people's radar screens (but was talked about as best 22 in the 1st half of last season)

[McQueen 17,864]

8 minutes ago, Forest Demon said:

I had high hopes for him this year.

I remember a poster on BF saying he was homesick etc etc, so read into that whatever you want.

Mitch White was another who I really liked the look of, that has dropped off the face of the planet. Assuming he is injured as I have heard nothing of him since Christmas.

 

Disclaimer: this was the same BF thread that said Jack Viney wanted to go to Port, so I'm not taking it too seriously

I agree.

It's ANB and Mitch White who we've not heard any reasoning for their absences. The rest are pretty well explainable.

 

[Ted Lasso 16,968]

i think it's just that we've had a strong side and these guys haven't been in the best 25 or so, but no doubt ANB will build some form and feature.

 

don't buy the rumours that he's homesick at all.

[DubDee 21,065]

I agree PG.  i see it as a good sign that 2nd year players cant just walk into the 22.  we have unusually decided to play the best fit players in all 3 games and he hasnt made the cut as our midfield is actually decent now.  Matt jones is probably the one taking his spot.  so now - unlike other years - the young guy will have to knuckle down and lift his game and training strandards to a higher level

Good signs!  Hopefully he dominates at casey as he did last year and knocks the door down

I think Mitch White had an injury concerns a few weeks back so maybe not fully fit

[P-man 13,239]

1 hour ago, Peter Griffen said:

i think it's just that we've had a strong side and these guys haven't been in the best 25 or so, but no doubt ANB will build some form and feature.

 

don't buy the rumours that he's homesick at all.

 

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

I agree PG.  i see it as a good sign that 2nd year players cant just walk into the 22.  we have unusually decided to play the best fit players in all 3 games and he hasnt made the cut as our midfield is actually decent now.  Matt jones is probably the one taking his spot.  so now - unlike other years - the young guy will have to knuckle down and lift his game and training strandards to a higher level

Good signs!  Hopefully he dominates at casey as he did last year and knocks the door down

I think Mitch White had an injury concerns a few weeks back so maybe not fully fit

Which other fully fit players have not featured in any of the NAB Cup games? Are Hunt, Michie or Wagner in the best 25?

No game time at all in the pre-season just seems a bit odd considering that we know he can play.

[Ted Lasso 16,968]

40 minutes ago, P-man said:

 

Which other fully fit players have not featured in any of the NAB Cup games? Are Hunt, Michie or Wagner in the best 25?

No game time at all in the pre-season just seems a bit odd considering that we know he can play.

Hunt and Wagner are playing as defenders, i think ANB is probably a mid/forward and Michie i personally have ahead, i think he is a little under rated at times

[rjay 23,970]

50 minutes ago, P-man said:

 

Which other fully fit players have not featured in any of the NAB Cup games? Are Hunt, Michie or Wagner in the best 25?

No game time at all in the pre-season just seems a bit odd considering that we know he can play.

If fit I'm sure ANB & White will be playing at Casey this weekend, so they will be getting some game time.

If they're not playing then I think the question answers itself, they are injured...

[Tough Kent 2,049]

ANB has had some slight injury concerns over the pre-season. His knee felt unstable very early on and the club put him into re-hab. He tweaked his groin in Qld and missed all bar the last session up there. He also hurt an ankle, but he is fit and ready to go now. The coaches have given him some areas to work on. He'll have to earn his spot through good form in the Casey practice matches. ANB is playing this Saturday.

Edited March 10, 2016 by Tough Kent

[Cards13 9,117]

1 hour ago, Tough Kent said:

ANB has had some slight injury concerns over the pre-season. His knee felt unstable very early on and the club put him into re-hab. He tweaked his groin in Qld and missed all bar the last session up there. He also hurt an ankle, but he is fit and ready to go now. The coaches have given him some areas to work on. He'll have to earn his spot through good form in the Casey practice matches. ANB is playing this Saturday.

Thanks TK

[DeeSpencer 23,318]

1 hour ago, Tough Kent said:

ANB has had some slight injury concerns over the pre-season. His knee felt unstable very early on and the club put him into re-hab. He tweaked his groin in Qld and missed all bar the last session up there. He also hurt an ankle, but he is fit and ready to go now. The coaches have given him some areas to work on. He'll have to earn his spot through good form in the Casey practice matches. ANB is playing this Saturday.

Cleared that up pretty well. 

Personally I don't mind the idea of him having to wait a bit and work on rounding out his game. If his skills pick up a bit with his tank and natural ability to find the ball he'll be a valuable addition to the team as an inside mid, on the wing, half back or half forward. 

He'll get 25-40 touches in the VFL no trouble and each one represents a chance to use the ball well, compared to running around a bit out of position at AFL level and struggling to learn. 

[P-man 13,239]

2 hours ago, Tough Kent said:

ANB has had some slight injury concerns over the pre-season. His knee felt unstable very early on and the club put him into re-hab. He tweaked his groin in Qld and missed all bar the last session up there. He also hurt an ankle, but he is fit and ready to go now. The coaches have given him some areas to work on. He'll have to earn his spot through good form in the Casey practice matches. ANB is playing this Saturday.

Cheers.

[whatwhat say what 19,313]

25-40 possessions a game would be amazing, but if our game style is the same at vfl level as at afl it's unlikely if he's playing anywhere other than as an inside mid role, which he should play, even if we are fully fit. it's only when he comes up to senior level that you'd imagine he'd be more second or third rotation as opposed to starting in the centre.

fully fit senior 22?

B: Jett - Dunn - Garland
HB: Salem - T McDonald - Bugg
C: Tyson - N Jones - Brayshaw
HF: vandenBerg - Watts - Kennedy
F: Kent - Hogan - Garlett
Foll: Gawn - Vince - Viney
I/C: Petracca - Trengove - Oliver - Pedersen

fully fit second 22?

B: Hunt - Frost - White
HB: Wagner  - O McDonald - Terlich
C: Lumumba - ANB - Grimes
HF: Harmes - Dawes - Stretch
F: Hulett - Weideman - Kennedy-Harris
Foll: Spencer - M Jones - Newton
I/C: Ma King - Mi King - Smith
MIA: Melksham

(obviously incredibly unlikely you ever have a fully fit list!

[Cards13 9,117]

Has really become a player. His skills yesterday in first half were a step above. He found targets when everyone else was missing them. 

He throws himself into the contest fully, he is then able to push up into dangerous spots in the fwd line.

Has grown into the team really nicely.

[Ted Lasso 16,968]

He's overtaken vandenberg and is now a best 22 lock.

[Wiseblood 24,636]

6 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Has really become a player. His skills yesterday in first half were a step above. He found targets when everyone else was missing them. 

He throws himself into the contest fully, he is then able to push up into dangerous spots in the fwd line.

Has grown into the team really nicely.

Agreed, Cards.  I'll be the first to say that I wasn't sure he could make it.  It seemed like many were hanging on to his 3 goal game against Geelong in 2015 as a beacon of hope, but I wasn't convinced.  I am now.

His worth to the team was summed up in the first term, when he did the team thing by hitting up Petracca instead of taking the low percentage option of a shot on goal.  He then hit Garlett lace out with a beauty, something he does quite regularly these days.  He's quickly turned himself into an important cog in our side and his development this season has been a joy to watch.

[Stretch Johnson 2,586]

Has a high footy IQ.

Probably as high as anyone in the team. I reckon he's a beauty and will continue to get better.

 

[Engorged Onion 9,417]

8 minutes ago, Stretch Johnson said:

Has a high footy IQ.

Probably as high as anyone in the team. I reckon he's a beauty and will continue to get better.

 

What do you mean by that exactly? Can you elaborate ?

[Stretch Johnson 2,586]

16 minutes ago, Danelska said:

What do you mean by that exactly? Can you elaborate ?

Very intelligent footballer.  Reads where it's going quickly,  sizes up the right option and his execution is improving every game.

Uses his brain rather than possessing any elite physical characteristics.

I see him as a player that could rack up big numbers in the midfield.