Ben Newton

[JV7 2,375]

Newton's a tough one to read at the moment. He has only played 9 games, but it is his 5th year in the system. As such my expectations for him are far closer to those of Tyson, than a Brayshaw or Salem.

For a player averaging mid-teens possessions, he needs to be contributing defensively as well. His lack of defensive accountability at present is a real concern, and he may need to head to Casey to work on this.

I didn't see him near an opponent at any stage yesterday, which would suggest he was opposed to either Danyle or Clancee Pearce. If that is the case, he was absolutely flogged from start to finish.

Think you'll find clancee Pearce was running with Vanders, seems like Vanders might have only been going one way. As for Newtown his showed enough in the first 5 rounds to show his going to be a player, he has only played 9 games as you said. His hit the scoreboard as a midfielder but as you said he doesnt seem to be a big accumulator of the footy..

[rpfc 28,966]

The difference between his best and worst is miles apart.

I can see why they are trying to develop his outside game, as a pure inside mid he gets beaten to the footy and looks clumsy in a contest.

I said after the GC game that was a 'poor mans Tyson' as a compliment but the way the both going it suits him but its not a positive...

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,525]

You'll get inconsistency when he's inexperienced at senior level.

I've liked a lot of what I've seen from him so far. He's not setting the world on fire yet, but he's shown enough to play for the next two games in my books.

[Demon Disciple 12,492]

He needs to build a bigger tank. Sure he's had a few pre-seasons under his belt, but continually playing AFL games is another step-up entirely.

[Gorgoroth 13,188]

He plays like a 10 game player. Glimpses of very solid play, glimpses of average play.

But we have something to work with.

As with all the players we have added this year, not one have I thought will def not make it at this level or how does he get a game.

Not been able to do that for a while.

[binman 44,706]

Not the only one.

[censored] of a day all round.

Yep, he most definitely was not alone. Really only Garlett and TMac could hold their head high, with some other working reasonably hard (Jamar being one, Pedo another).

I suspect though that Roos had Newton (and maybe one or two others) in mind with his rather pointed comments about players trying to pad their stats and not giving the ball off to their 'mates' to score.

Twice he burnt team mates badly, in particular the one in the last quarter where he took a very low percentage snap at goal (40 metres out, in the pocket, on the wrong side for a lefty) when he had Hogan streaming to the goals square 15 metres in the clear.

The rather considered Freo fan directly in front of me was sport on with his cry of hungry. A bad look.

[titan_uranus 25,211]

I've liked Newton's start to the year and I think he adds a valuable dimension to the midfield when he's up and about, but he needs to work a lot harder on his contested efforts. Slipping weekly, approaching the point where he can't hold his spot in the side as a midfielder.

[Pirlo 813]

Yep, he most definitely was not alone. Really only Garlett and TMac could hold their head high, with some other working reasonably hard (Jamar being one, Pedo another).

I suspect though that Roos had Newton (and maybe one or two others) in mind with his rather pointed comments about players trying to pad their stats and not giving the ball off to their 'mates' to score.

Twice he burnt team mates badly, in particular the one in the last quarter where he took a very low percentage snap at goal (40 metres out, in the pocket, on the wrong side for a lefty) when he had Hogan streaming to the goals square 15 metres in the clear.

The rather considered Freo fan directly in front of me was sport on with his cry of hungry. A bad look.

I think you'll find that was Tyson and Jamar, not Newton and Hogan.

[Demon Jack 7,155]

Reminds me a bit of Michael Evans first half of the season back in 2013. Had a couple of promising games mixed with many a "meh" 15 disposal performance. Saying that, I rate Newts far more than I did Evans.

[Moneider96 1,045]

I think you'll find that was Tyson and Jamar, not Newton and Hogan.

Nope. Separate incidents unfortunately.

[Tough Kent 2,138]

I like Newton but he is another one-paced mid that we seem to have quite a lot of. None of Newton, Michie, Tyson, Cross, Brayshaw and even Jones are particularly quick. (I know you always look slow when you haven't got the footy.) Freo ran away from us with ease when they spread and were able to keep up with us without too many difficulties when we had it. (I know conditioning also comes into calculations here.) We just looked slow.

We need a serious injection of pace into our midfield. Linebreakers apply within.

[whatwhat say what 23,633]

I like Newton but he is another one-paced mid that we seem to have quite a lot of. None of Newton, Michie, Tyson, Cross, Brayshaw and even Jones are particularly quick. (I know you always look slow when you haven't got the footy.) Freo ran away from us with ease when they spread and were able to keep up with us without too many difficulties when we had it. (I know conditioning also comes into calculations here.) We just looked slow.

We need a serious injection of pace into our midfield. Linebreakers apply within.

Freo's ability to kill us on the spread may also have had something to do with the fact that they are so much more experienced - we had 9 players with less than 50 games to their name, compared to 1.

They're battle hardened and very much in premiership mode. With Pav, McPharlin and the human tree all in their dotage, I think it's now or never for Freo. If they don't win a premiership in 2015-16, I don't think they will with their current era of players - no matter how good Fyfe may be, losing a ruck, key forward and key back will hurt them big time.

Admittedly it's different in an era of free agency and players being able to demand trades rather than be indentured employees, but I think there's a clear reason why they're a top four side and we are, in all likelihood, a bottom four one.

[Gorgoroth 13,188]

Be interesting to see this week if the players guilty of burning teammates become over the top sharing types

[DistrACTION Jackson 10,425]

Freo's ability to kill us on the spread may also have had something to do with the fact that they are so much more experienced - we had 9 players with less than 50 games to their name, compared to 1.

They're battle hardened and very much in premiership mode. With Pav, McPharlin and the human tree all in their dotage, I think it's now or never for Freo. If they don't win a premiership in 2015-16, I don't think they will with their current era of players - no matter how good Fyfe may be, losing a ruck, key forward and key back will hurt them big time.

Admittedly it's different in an era of free agency and players being able to demand trades rather than be indentured employees, but I think there's a clear reason why they're a top four side and we are, in all likelihood, a bottom four one.

I was reading the other day that Freo is 1st in terms of list age and games played. The Roos are actually second which makes me feel a bit better seeing as they got pants'd by the Hawks.

We've just got to continue drafting and trading well and we will eventually get to that level, it won't be easy though.

[dazzledavey36 55,991]

What were peoples thoughts on him? Thought he showed a bit and at one stage he was thrown in his natural position in the center in last qtr and won a few clearences.. surprise surprise a player thats actually playing in his rightful position..

Kicked a classy goal which takes him to 8 goals from 9 games this year. Id rather pump games into him then the likes of Bail and Jones.

[FireOath 290]

Was good at the start then started to struggle a little bit. But hasn't been too bad the last couple.

[poita 3,924]

Typical Newton game. Does a few nice things, then disappears for twenty minutes. Still doesn't do much defensively.

As I said four months ago, he is 23 and in his fifth season of AFL football. People are happy to write off Toumpas, but Newton has had two years of extra development to get to a similar point.

[Adam The God 30,644]

Yeah, he doesn't work hard eniugh defensively, for mine. He can kick a goal and won a couple of clearances early on, but he fails to influence the contest for long enough or even be involved in it.

[Gorgoroth 13,188]

couldnt win a clearance in the first half...

Couldn't see him or don't even think Brayshaw in the centre.

AVB is sorely missed.

[Adam The God 30,644]

couldnt win a clearance in the first half...

Couldn't see him or don't even think Brayshaw in the centre.

AVB is sorely missed.

He won three clearances actually.

[DeeSpencer 26,489]

What were peoples thoughts on him? Thought he showed a bit and at one stage he was thrown in his natural position in the center in last qtr and won a few clearences.. surprise surprise a player thats actually playing in his rightful position..

Kicked a classy goal which takes him to 8 goals from 9 games this year. Id rather pump games into him then the likes of Bail and Jones.

What do you want? Jones, Vince, Viney, Tyson out of the centre square and Newton playing in his rightful position? He did ok in there and it was the right move after our first choice guys were getting smashed to give him a run, but I'd probably rather stick to our best mids. He should get 2 more weeks and chances in the centres square rotation. But to make a career for himself I think he'll need to show he can impact games from half forward and the wing as well.

From his first training session I said he wasn't fit enough when he was battling away with Riley at the back of the group. Saty assured me he was taking it easy on his first day but come game day he just doesn't seem to run like an AFL player.

Presumably he'll be out of contract after next season so he'll need a big preseason.

I see him as handy depth, better than the Bail and Jones' of the world for sure, but when we have a young team without a big fitness base I get why they picked the guys who can actually cover ground at speed.

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

He's got talent

But like most of our list you wonder if the have the desire to actually be good.

We do need to support his development by playing senior [censored] kickers like Howe, garland, lamumba, Dawes etc (we all know who they are.

Anyway the sooner we can get our kids to 50 - 80 games the better.... But knowing Melb we'll stuff it up and talented blokes will be underachievers as per statuesque

[JP_ 60]

Worth persisting with, for at least one more season. The rest of the depth players we have (Riley, Bail, M.Jones, McKenzie etc.) are scraggers, whereas Newton at least knows how to kick the ball. We need good disposers more than we need foot soldiers right now, and it's easier to teach players how to be fit and how to play defensively than it is how to kick properly.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

S - l - o - w

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

S - l - o - w

Sam Mitchell, Burgoyne aren't fast players

Look I'm not saying he is as classy as those players but he does show so class and is a goal kicker. But I accept he has flaws there is no doubt