On 16/03/2016 at 04:50, Members' Wing said:

Sounds like what I do on the dunny upon waking up after a big night

A bit of over-sharing Wing.

The players must cringe.

  On 16/03/2016 at 08:42, ProDee said:

The players must cringe.

I assume you mean when I ask, actually most of them give me good information, apart from Petracca who usually winds me up, I don't share a lot of the information I glean because I don't think some posters on here deserve it

  On 16/03/2016 at 08:45, Satyriconhome said:

I assume you mean when I ask, actually most of them give me good information, apart from Petracca who usually winds me up, I don't share a lot of the information I glean because I don't think some posters on here deserve it

  On 16/03/2016 at 05:56, AdamFarr said:

Reckon Newton might be in trouble at the end of 2016. He's a distinctly different midfield prospect to the rest of our young midfield. He's not hard at it. His contested work is average, he can hurt on the scoreboard, but he doesn't get involved enough.

It'll be interesting to see how he goes this year. If he starts to attack the contest like Kennedy and Bugg and manages to get involved more we'll have 'good' selection problems. I don't see it though.

Nath Jones, Bernie Vince and Salem are probably the only 3 mids on our list who kick as well as Newton. He's still worth his value for that alone. 

Port let him leave for a 2 year deal because they didn't think he could run and wanted to give him just 1 shot at it. He's got injured again but apparently had built his tank. 

He's without a position at the moment as he doesn't get win the ball or apply defensive pressure enough for any one spot. But a weakness can be a strength, he can become solid at any position if he builds his fitness. He's not quite to the same level but he can play the same role Suckling has played at the Hawks and now Dogs. Float around from half forward, wing and half back, use the ball well and kick some goals. 

If we only pick hard at it defensive players we might put a limit on the teams growth. We have to set the standard with attack on the ball and work rate but we can't pick a team of scrubbers either. 

 

  On 16/03/2016 at 09:53, DeeSpencer said:

Nath Jones, Bernie Vince and Salem are probably the only 3 mids on our list who kick as well as Newton. He's still worth his value for that alone. 

Port let him leave for a 2 year deal because they didn't think he could run and wanted to give him just 1 shot at it. He's got injured again but apparently had built his tank. 

He's without a position at the moment as he doesn't get win the ball or apply defensive pressure enough for any one spot. But a weakness can be a strength, he can become solid at any position if he builds his fitness. He's not quite to the same level but he can play the same role Suckling has played at the Hawks and now Dogs. Float around from half forward, wing and half back, use the ball well and kick some goals. 

If we only pick hard at it defensive players we might put a limit on the teams growth. We have to set the standard with attack on the ball and work rate but we can't pick a team of scrubbers either. 

 

I agree that you want diversity in a team, but I don't see the Suckling comparison. Nothing I've seen from him tells me his disposal is elite in the way Suckling's is.

  On 16/03/2016 at 10:10, AdamFarr said:

I agree that you want diversity in a team, but I don't see the Suckling comparison. Nothing I've seen from him tells him his disposal is elite in the way Suckling's is.

Suckling's an amazing kick but so high risk he turns over a few. But I agree it's not a perfect comparison, I was just thinking a similar role without the same brilliance of Suckling. I'm trying to think of a similar player in a good side. Either way I don't think our focus on hardness and effort should preclude him. 

  On 16/03/2016 at 10:17, DeeSpencer said:

Suckling's an amazing kick but so high risk he turns over a few. But I agree it's not a perfect comparison, I was just thinking a similar role without the same brilliance of Suckling. I'm trying to think of a similar player in a good side. Either way I don't think our focus on hardness and effort should preclude him. 

For the record, I'm not entirely writing him off, I just think our list management will become more competitive at the end of this year. The first time in a while. Grimes, Matt Jones, Kennedy-Harris and Newton are the early ones on the chopping block I'd say. Each of them have a chance to stay on the list (obviously), but they'd be my first in line from the senior list.

Newton's contested work is some of the worst I've seen with us. So easily pushed off the ball. 

But if he gets another chance to squeeze into the team I wouldn't be surprised if he does make a fist of it. I like his ball use and with the grunt starting to take care of itself he could become a useful outside player as GRRM is alluding to  

A lot would need to go his way for that to happen though. 

  On 16/03/2016 at 10:31, Deestroy All said:

Newton's contested work is some of the worst I've seen with us. So easily pushed off the ball. 

But if he gets another chance to squeeze into the team I wouldn't be surprised if he does make a fist of it. I like his ball use and with the grunt starting to take care of itself he could become a useful outside player as GRRM is alluding to  

A lot would need to go his way for that to happen though. 

 I guess what I'm saying is even Jack Watts has worked out that more physicality is required to be in the new Melbourne. There's no place to hide in our team anymore. If you can't win your own ball, you won't play. Furthermore, I'd say that applies for any team in the AFL (except for those basketcases Carlton and Essendon  ).

So while he may come in and offer some neat disposal, if he doesn't improve his contested work he'll be gone. 

Didn't Newton come to the Dees as an inside mid who was never going to get a gig at Port with their line-up (Boak, Wines, Ebert etc)? Wasn't the plan to turn him into an outside mid and reep the rewards of that kick? I think he was putting in a huge preseason prior to the ankle injury, knowing the writing was on the wall for him. I hope he gets fit enough to get on the park and show his wares. 

  On 16/03/2016 at 10:24, AdamFarr said:

For the record, I'm not entirely writing him off, I just think our list management will become more competitive at the end of this year. The first time in a while. Grimes, Matt Jones, Kennedy-Harris and Newton are the early ones on the chopping block I'd say. Each of them have a chance to stay on the list (obviously), but they'd be my first in line from the senior list.

Terlich, Spencer (replaced by another mature ruck), one of Pedo/Dawes is 3. Agree with the 4 above. Trengove might not make it back or could be downgraded for one last shot. That's 8. Could be anywhere between 0-3 rookie upgrades, but I'd set the line at 1.5. Watts and the club lose patience with each other. Unexpected trade requests. I really hope it's competitive as well, but there's a long way to go and no first round pick. 

JKH is another who lacks physicality at this stage but he's meant to be a good runner and he has good skills as well.

It's not easy to build fitness and competitiveness, certainly much easier if you have it and there's not much you can do with pure athleticism or height, you're a bit stuck with what you've got. But it's probably even harder to turn back kicks in to good kicks. So I'm willing to have some patience with those who can kick the thing. 

  On 16/03/2016 at 11:27, DeeSpencer said:

Terlich, Spencer (replaced by another mature ruck), one of Pedo/Dawes is 3. Agree with the 4 above. Trengove might not make it back or could be downgraded for one last shot. That's 8. Could be anywhere between 0-3 rookie upgrades, but I'd set the line at 1.5. Watts and the club lose patience with each other. Unexpected trade requests. I really hope it's competitive as well, but there's a long way to go and no first round pick. 

JKH is another who lacks physicality at this stage but he's meant to be a good runner and he has good skills as well.

It's not easy to build fitness and competitiveness, certainly much easier if you have it and there's not much you can do with pure athleticism or height, you're a bit stuck with what you've got. But it's probably even harder to turn back kicks in to good kicks. So I'm willing to have some patience with those who can kick the thing. 

How the hell did I forget Terlich? He'll definitely be on that list too. I think Spencer will be safe though, unless there's another ruckman on the market, as you imply.

PS. Total non-sequitur, but I'm loving watching GAS kick 12 or 13 goals on a young James Hird on FOX at the moment. Hilarious.

  On 16/03/2016 at 08:45, Satyriconhome said:

I assume you mean when I ask, actually most of them give me good information, apart from Petracca who usually winds me up, I don't share a lot of the information I glean because I don't think some posters on here deserve it

I was there when he asked Christian Salem, who was very cooperative to speak to. I would be very surprised if any major issue or any at all.

I came up with a funny test of how our list has improved.

Who on our list should never get a game? I only came up with one name.

I obviously didn't include new players to the AFL, like our draftees.

I think if I did the same thing 3 years ago, I would have ended up with several names.

I think we have bigger Salem issues. Like defensive positioning. You don't need a ring finger for that but I'm curious as to whether it's apparent at training if the coaching staff are spending much time (in public) teaching Christian the tricks of the half-back trade?

  On 16/03/2016 at 13:12, Skuit said:

I think we have bigger Salem issues. Like defensive positioning. You don't need a ring finger for that but I'm curious as to whether it's apparent at training if the coaching staff are spending much time (in public) teaching Christian the tricks of the half-back trade?

I know they put a lot of time into Salem in regards to defensive positioning etc last year. And when he played he really impressed me and rarely lost a one on one. 

He has been a bit iffy in some of these NAB games though I've noticed too. 

Also there were 2 very bizarre missed tackles from him in the Saints game, had the chance to wrap them up but didn't and both times the player just ran off him. 

Any news on Mitchel White?

  On 16/03/2016 at 13:27, Courtney_Fish said:

Any news on Mitchel White?

Played for Casey Scorpions last Saturday against Williamstown. Looked like he needed the run.

  On 16/03/2016 at 08:06, Satyriconhome said:

If you look at any pictures of Salem playing, he always has his hands strapped, I asked him if there was any issue, said no, so I believed him, perhaps the hand was a bit sore, so they scanned it, but he regards it as no issue

Salem straps his thumbs.