2015 Player Review - # 3 Christian Salem

[poita 3,877]

My only concern about him after year 1 was whether he could consistently get 20 plus touches a week. He showed very early this year that he could, and he will clearly be a super player for many years to come, fitness permitting.

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

He's a gun. Will be one of our most valuable players over the next decade

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Love everything about him.

If he can have a huge summer of running without injuring himself, I reckon he'll have a proper breakout year.

[bjDee 1,249]

He just looks Hungry. That's the main thing I want from our guys. A Hunger to do just what it takes when its your turn to go. And then back it up again and again.

I'm hoping Christian has a good set of Evereadys or Duracells on board to meet my expectations.

[rpfc 28,052]

Destined for the midfield but that left leg has to stay in the backline next year unless we get a couple of HBs with some kicking ability.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Destined for the midfield but that left leg has to stay in the backline next year unless we get a couple of HBs with some kicking ability.

Good rotating mid for the future.

Hodge-like role.

Get him in the midfield for some grunt at times and then he can rest on the HB-line and use that sexy left foot.

[H_T 3,032]

Liken him to a Jordan Lewis. Smarter with a longer fuse.

[What 18,810]

Hes better than Josh Kelly. Therefore we got Dom Tyson for free.

Whoever engineered this trade is a genius.

[Pates 9,625]

His biggest barrier appears to be staying on the park consistently, when he gets out there he looks really good. Still don't quite know his best position, I reckon he persist with his off half back as we need someone in that area that's a good user. Liked his game to end the season.

[Gator 17,261]

Hes better than Josh Kelly. Therefore we got Dom Tyson for free.

Not quite. We also gave up pick 20 and shuffled later picks.

Still, it's been a very good trade.

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 4,806]

Interesting interview with Christian on the club website includes this regarding the Hawthorn game where he sustained his first hammy: “From a workload point of view, I played on Brad Hill, Cyril Rioli and Paul Puopolo in that first quarter. That quarter is when I did it and they were coming on fresh each time [off the interchange] and just blew me up...Looking at the GPS numbers a couple of days after the game...I did more long distance sprints in that first quarter than a normal game average for me, which is ridiculous.”

It's certainly impressive, from Christian's point of view in terms of his effort, but possibly also an indictment on game-day management that the young fellow played apparently unchanged (relatively?) on those 3, vastly more experienced and playing fresh.

Views on the latter?

[rpfc 28,052]

Interesting interview with Christian on the club website includes this regarding the Hawthorn game where he sustained his first hammy: “From a workload point of view, I played on Brad Hill, Cyril Rioli and Paul Puopolo in that first quarter. That quarter is when I did it and they were coming on fresh each time [off the interchange] and just blew me up...Looking at the GPS numbers a couple of days after the game...I did more long distance sprints in that first quarter than a normal game average for me, which is ridiculous.”

It's certainly impressive, from Christian's point of view in terms of his effort, but possibly also an indictment on game-day management that the young fellow played apparently unchanged (relatively?) on those 3, vastly more experienced and playing fresh.

Views on the latter?

That the Hawks worked him over.

We could have helped him but we would have wanted him in certain spots from a 'rebound from the backline' aspect.

[Lucifers Hero 38,985]

At first glance this is a 'feel good' article about Salem. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-09-30/salem-no-longer-hamstrung-by-injury

But some things I found interesting about his hamstring injury:

-he pulled up sore after week 6.

-the next week (7) he tore his hamstring when he played on: "Brad Hill, Cyril Rioli and Paul Puopolo in that first quarter...they were coming on fresh each time [off the interchange] and just blew me up.”

-Then Salem says: “Looking at the GPS numbers a couple of days after the game I did more long distance sprints in that first quarter than a normal game average for me, which is ridiculous.”

-And: "After reinjuring his hamstring again at training..."

It surprises me all the coaches/medical staff couldn't see he was doing a lot of long distance sprints against fresh players...do they really need a GPS to tell them?

And why wasn't he getting rotations, especially after being sore, a 2nd year player and playing on speedy players?

And why were we told the 2nd hamstring injury was in the 'other' leg not the same hamstring?

Maybe we weren't as conservative managing young players as we should have been.

[DeeSpencer 24,795]

Just read this on the website and went to see if others had picked up on it.

There's a few issues. But there's also the solution and the catch 22 of the situation.

You can say it's poor management but how do we know that the bench weren't trying to get him off. What I believe clubs use is a special digital team board that goes green, yellow and red for when a player needs to rotate.

I think the 7 defenders often rotate 1 by 1 and so you have to make sure each if going off before they hit the red time. But getting off isn't easy if the ball is trapped down the backline.

There's a few things we can do to prevent a repeat of this type injury:

1) Add versatility with more wingman capable of playing half back and therefore greater rotations. Lumumba, Stretch, Grimes, Howe are all to varying degrees capable of swapping between the spots. Rotate backs closer to goal for more rest ie. swap Jetta and Salem after they've had a spell

2) Rest young players when they are sore earlier. We took too long to rest Salem and then Brayshaw and Harmes later in the year

3). Score more ourselves! The hawks forwards were likely interchanging as they goaled and as they lined up for goal. It's easy to do that when you're winning. When the ball is locked in your backline the natural reaction is to man up and man the mark, not go sprinting to the bench.

4). Get fitter! Salem was run of his legs by fit mature players. He'll build his base over time.

I'm sure the fitness staff know this. I think Roosy said when it happened that Salem was about due for a rest which is a real shame. He'll get fitter with time and no doubt we are hopefully adding better and more versatile players.

With it cut down to 90 players it will require longer stints on the ground for both sides which might help us. But still if we score more and get the game on our terms it will be easier to interchange post goals instead of being caught in general play. If you swap 4 players at once you only get 22.5 changes so I think you'll most happen after goals these days anyway.