When Chris Salem joined us after the 2014 draft- he had an extra- delayed start to the pre-season because of a debilitating thyroid-related illness/condition. We were told  the club was aware of the problem -that it was manageable - and would have no effect on his long-term career.

He appeared like a shoo-in for the running defender role during this pre-season - but was little more than workman-like in the first few games of the season before being dropped because of soreness/poor form. As I recall he then played 1-2 games at Casey before landing on the injury list with an illness that would keep him out for 3-2-4 weeks. We've heard nothing since - and guess how much longer he'll be out - 3-2-4 weeks - what else? Allow him a couple of extra weeks at Casey to get match fit - and we'll be getting close to Round 20 before he's in the mix for a return to the AFL - unless of course 3-2-4 weeks is shorthand for "season" or "indefinite"? 

I think I'm one of many who really rate him - but the thyroid problem which limited him in his first year is now about to rip his second year apart. I don't like it when the club says nothing about the progress of an ill or injured player. The club invested a Top 10 pick in Chris - and on football ability/attitude etc  looked to have got it right.. I just hope this condition isn't going to railroad what we all hoped would be a long successful footy career .

Does anybody know anything about Chris' health right now - and/or the prognosis for the future?

 

Edited June 15, 20169 yr by hoopla

Update from Josh Mahoney in there. Unfortunate but I'm still very very confident with Salem and happy to wait for him to show his best. He's still only 20 years old. Just a baby in the scheme of things. 

Was one of may off in the Essendon game but otherwise was doing his job reasonably well despite some soreness and a concussion against the Saints and probably the thyroid issue surfacing before anyone knew it. Particularly in the wins against Richmond and Collingwood where the team gave him a bit more cover I thought he was excellent with the ball. 

I'm not convinced. 

Neat kick, reasonable smarts but hasn't shown enough to give confidence that he'll be a long term player.

For a bloke who reckons he models his game around Luke Hodge, he's got a lot left to show.

Edited June 15, 20169 yr by McQueen

16 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Update from Josh Mahoney in there. Unfortunate but I'm still very very confident with Salem and happy to wait for him to show his best. He's still only 20 years old. Just a baby in the scheme of things. 

Was one of may off in the Essendon game but otherwise was doing his job reasonably well despite some soreness and a concussion against the Saints and probably the thyroid issue surfacing before anyone knew it. Particularly in the wins against Richmond and Collingwood where the team gave him a bit more cover I thought he was excellent with the ball. 

Most worrying aspect of that report is the update on Hurley, Hibberd and Prestia, which makes no mention of the Dees.

8 hours ago, hoopla said:

We were told  the club was aware of the problem -that it was manageable - and would have no effect on his long-term career.

So this wasn't correct? I havent seen anything that would convince me that he will make it. Its either he is suffering more from his health problem than has been explained or he isnt going to make it on pure ability. Its very unfortunate.

I spoke to a friend of his last week. He said that he will be fine, recovering really well, Dees being cautious.

 9. Melbourne: Christian Salem (Sandringham Dragons)

10. Collingwood: Nathan Freeman (Sandringham Dragons)

11. West Coast: Dominic Sheed (Subiaco)

12. Richmond: Ben Lennon (Northern Knights)

13. Carlton: Patrick Cripps (East Fremantle)

14. GWS: Cameron McCarthy (South Fremantle)

15. Sydney Swans: Zak Jones (Dandenong Stingrays)

16. Geelong: Darcy Lang (Geelong Falcons)

17. Fremantle: Michael Appness (Eastern Ranges)

18. St Kilda: Luke Dunstan (Woodville West Torrens)

19. St Kilda: Blake Acres (West Perth)

20. Gold Coast: Jack Leslie (Gippsland Power)

There doesnt appear to have been  much better available if we had not taken Salem

Lets hope he recovers fully and has a great pre-season next year

11 minutes ago, ManDee said:

I spoke to a friend of his last week. He said that he will be fine, recovering really well, Dees being cautious.

Great news if true, as he is a nice young man and a talented footballer, who like some others, hasn't  really had a clear run at it yet. 

18 minutes ago, ManDee said:

I spoke to a friend of his last week. He said that he will be fine, recovering really well, Dees being cautious.

I suspect he and the club are learning how to manage the issue and once both parties nail it he will be flying again. I think he will have a long and solid career.

32 minutes ago, jackaub said:

 9. Melbourne: Christian Salem (Sandringham Dragons)

10. Collingwood: Nathan Freeman (Sandringham Dragons)

11. West Coast: Dominic Sheed (Subiaco)

12. Richmond: Ben Lennon (Northern Knights)

13. Carlton: Patrick Cripps (East Fremantle)

14. GWS: Cameron McCarthy (South Fremantle)

15. Sydney Swans: Zak Jones (Dandenong Stingrays)

16. Geelong: Darcy Lang (Geelong Falcons)

17. Fremantle: Michael Appness (Eastern Ranges)

18. St Kilda: Luke Dunstan (Woodville West Torrens)

19. St Kilda: Blake Acres (West Perth)

20. Gold Coast: Jack Leslie (Gippsland Power)

There doesnt appear to have been  much better available if we had not taken Salem

Lets hope he recovers fully and has a great pre-season next year

Patrick Cripps is probably the one that got away. Would be a top 5 pick if the draft was held today.

57 minutes ago, jackaub said:

 9. Melbourne: Christian Salem (Sandringham Dragons)

10. Collingwood: Nathan Freeman (Sandringham Dragons)

11. West Coast: Dominic Sheed (Subiaco)

12. Richmond: Ben Lennon (Northern Knights)

13. Carlton: Patrick Cripps (East Fremantle)

14. GWS: Cameron McCarthy (South Fremantle)

15. Sydney Swans: Zak Jones (Dandenong Stingrays)

16. Geelong: Darcy Lang (Geelong Falcons)

17. Fremantle: Michael Appness (Eastern Ranges)

18. St Kilda: Luke Dunstan (Woodville West Torrens)

19. St Kilda: Blake Acres (West Perth)

20. Gold Coast: Jack Leslie (Gippsland Power)

There doesnt appear to have been  much better available if we had not taken Salem

Lets hope he recovers fully and has a great pre-season next year

I dont know there is some real talent there. Sheed was able to break into WC's side when they were at their best, but i havent seen much of him myself, Lennon has shown glimpses at richmond but i admit seems to be a downhill skier at the moment (like the rest of that side excluding about 4). Cripps could be a future brownlow medalist if he keeps improving. McCarthy is a KPF and a gun but as homesick as they come, so skip him. Darcy Lang I really like, he does some very nice things, skillfull, never going to be an out and out superstar but keep an eye in him, he is going places (staying in that geelong side is no easy feat). Dunstan and Acres have both shown signs of being solid B/B+ players with variable consistancy. Remeber that entire draft is still very young. Alot to like from it. 

That being said, if he can get himself right I think we can still be happy with Salem as a pickup, he is hard and skillfull, wont ever be the very best of that draft or our best player, but he doesnt have to be. Just needs to have a full preseason and a whole year injury free. 

Clearly this health issue has held him back.

His talent, desire and commitment is unquestionable.

He is the classic 'give him a pre-season and watch'.

I have no idea if the thyroid issue contributes to the following, but from last ear to this I've always thought he could shed a few kilos. He just looks unfit.

If he can strip back like Hodge and Lewis did when they were carrying a bit in their early days, I think we'll see an enormous lift in output. 

1 hour ago, jackaub said:

 9. Melbourne: Christian Salem (Sandringham Dragons)

10. Collingwood: Nathan Freeman (Sandringham Dragons)

11. West Coast: Dominic Sheed (Subiaco)

12. Richmond: Ben Lennon (Northern Knights)

13. Carlton: Patrick Cripps (East Fremantle)

14. GWS: Cameron McCarthy (South Fremantle)

15. Sydney Swans: Zak Jones (Dandenong Stingrays)

16. Geelong: Darcy Lang (Geelong Falcons)

17. Fremantle: Michael Appness (Eastern Ranges)

18. St Kilda: Luke Dunstan (Woodville West Torrens)

19. St Kilda: Blake Acres (West Perth)

20. Gold Coast: Jack Leslie (Gippsland Power)

There doesnt appear to have been  much better available if we had not taken Salem

Are you sure?

I like Salem by the way, but Cripps already is a star.

I question anyone's football nous if they don't see that if Salem gets his body right he'll be a star. He's played 29 games for gods sake, and in most of those has been asked to play a position he's never played before due to his sublime foot skills. He's the least of our worries.

10 minutes ago, Members' Wing said:

I question anyone's football nous if they don't see that if Salem gets his body right he'll be a star. He's played 29 games for gods sake, and in most of those has been asked to play a position he's never played before due to his sublime foot skills. He's the least of our worries.

Tell that to all the Oscar McDonald bashers as well!

 

5 hours ago, jackaub said:

 9. Melbourne: Christian Salem (Sandringham Dragons)

10. Collingwood: Nathan Freeman (Sandringham Dragons)

11. West Coast: Dominic Sheed (Subiaco)

12. Richmond: Ben Lennon (Northern Knights)

13. Carlton: Patrick Cripps (East Fremantle)

14. GWS: Cameron McCarthy (South Fremantle)

15. Sydney Swans: Zak Jones (Dandenong Stingrays)

16. Geelong: Darcy Lang (Geelong Falcons)

17. Fremantle: Michael Appness (Eastern Ranges)

18. St Kilda: Luke Dunstan (Woodville West Torrens)

19. St Kilda: Blake Acres (West Perth)

20. Gold Coast: Jack Leslie (Gippsland Power)

There doesnt appear to have been  much better available if we had not taken Salem

Lets hope he recovers fully and has a great pre-season next year

Could be worse.

St Kilda took Billings -one  pick ahead of Bontempelli.

Edited June 16, 20169 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

3 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

He is the classic 'give him a pre-season and watch'.

After what Hogan, Pettracca, Gawn and Hunt have all shown after long term/major/recurring injuries i have faith that the club knows what they are doing when it comes to long term management of our young players, Salem will be the same. 

3 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Clearly this health issue has held him back.

His talent, desire and commitment is unquestionable.

He is the classic 'give him a pre-season and watch'.

I have no idea if the thyroid issue contributes to the following, but from last ear to this I've always thought he could shed a few kilos. He just looks unfit.

If he can strip back like Hodge and Lewis did when they were carrying a bit in their early days, I think we'll see an enormous lift in output. 

The problem with the thyroid from my reading 'steve' is that he has lost too much weight.

30 minutes ago, rjay said:

The problem with the thyroid from my reading 'steve' is that he has lost too much weight.

Depends on whether it's Hyper or Hypo thyroid condition. Weight gain is a symptom of Hypo-thyroid, weight loss of Hyper.

4 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Clearly this health issue has held him back.

His talent, desire and commitment is unquestionable.

He is the classic 'give him a pre-season and watch'.

I have no idea if the thyroid issue contributes to the following, but from last ear to this I've always thought he could shed a few kilos. He just looks unfit.

If he can strip back like Hodge and Lewis did when they were carrying a bit in their early days, I think we'll see an enormous lift in output. 

Thyroid issues can cause all sorts of issues, sometimes weight gain, sometimes weight loss. It also has a large bearing on your overall health and energy levels. I know someone well who developed issues with her thyroid in her 20's and she really struggled with being completely exhausted for years until they got the issue sorted, she now comparatively has heaps of energy and is much better. 

Hopefully with Christian they have got onto it early and can manage it with medication fairly easily once it is under control. 

33 minutes ago, ladeeda said:

Depends on whether it's Hyper or Hypo thyroid condition. Weight gain is a symptom of Hypo-thyroid, weight loss of Hyper.

He is really skinny.

I think he may struggle to gain weight.

 

1 hour ago, rjay said:

The problem with the thyroid from my reading 'steve' is that he has lost too much weight.

 

51 minutes ago, ladeeda said:

Depends on whether it's Hyper or Hypo thyroid condition. Weight gain is a symptom of Hypo-thyroid, weight loss of Hyper.

Seems Salem has the weight loss version...

"Salem, pick No.9 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, first suffered the health issue in his first few months upon arriving at Melbourne. The illness saw the youngster lose six kilograms prior to the 2014 Christmas break."

I love him....another Roos' prototype....hard, uncompromising.

Get well soon, young fella!

5 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Clearly this health issue has held him back.

His talent, desire and commitment is unquestionable.

He is the classic 'give him a pre-season and watch'.

I have no idea if the thyroid issue contributes to the following, but from last ear to this I've always thought he could shed a few kilos. He just looks unfit.

If he can strip back like Hodge and Lewis did when they were carrying a bit in their early days, I think we'll see an enormous lift in output. 

Pre illness he looked to me like a young man who's bulked up a bit with much needed muscle and maybe still a bit of puppy fat, which is better than just been skinny and copping contact injuries. He might well have thinned down as the season went on. And certainly he has to build his tank but it's better than average and well on the right track. The progress of the Hawks is hopefully what Salem can do. Just a shame he's had these delays. 

Has a big heart, he'll be ok for mine.