Christian Salem : What's the Latest?

[hoopla 418]

8 hours ago, rjay said:

 

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."

So .... this is hyper thyroid then.

Can someone explain what this means long term. Is it curable ? Is it just a matter of settling down on the right medication - and living happily ever after? Or are there symptoms that can recur at any time with little rhyme or reason?

I feel much better about it now that Mahoney has said he's itching to get back. But an unchanging 3-2-4 weeks is often code for "it shouldn't  be too long but we haven't really got a clue where he's at"

 

[Whispering_Jack 29,236]

Apparently has lost a fair bit of weight which makes it difficult to predict a return date when his condition is brought under control. Expect a fair bit of 324 weeks in future reports.

[Pates 9,625]

I rate him, when he's been able to play with a clean run of injuries he's looked very good. Sadly he hasn't had a great opportunity at a clean run. I really hope we can get this thyroid issue under control and he is given the opportunity at a close to full season. We've barely scratched the surface of his potential.

I just want to sit back and remember his match winning goal against Essendon!

[Dee Dee 1,101]

That last game in 2015 against GWS showed what he could do. His attack from half back was excellent, including running down down - if I remember correctly - Jeremy Cameron.

Christian Salem is a great lad and the sort of player I'm very happy to have at the club. (And if he has lost weight he can pig out at his family restaurant ).

[Jaded No More 67,758]

On 17 June 2016 at 0:02 AM, hoopla said:

So .... this is hyper thyroid then.

Can someone explain what this means long term. Is it curable ? Is it just a matter of settling down on the right medication - and living happily ever after? Or are there symptoms that can recur at any time with little rhyme or reason?

I feel much better about it now that Mahoney has said he's itching to get back. But an unchanging 3-2-4 weeks is often code for "it shouldn't  be too long but we haven't really got a clue where he's at"

 

Thyroid problems can't be cured. They can be well managed by medication. 

An overactive thyroid, which is what it sounds like he has, is harder to manage than an underactive one. We just need to hope they get the medication levels right. It's something you need to keep testing and adjusting as your thyroid functions are never really stable.  

I'm concerned that this isn't a new issue, but an issue that has resurfaced. Either it wasn't managed properly, or its gotten much worse really quickly. 

[Biffen 12,840]

On 16/06/2016 at 5:34 PM, DaisyDeeciple said:

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

This kid already has a thyroid problem and now an enlarged heart.

Delist.

[Demi Dee 578]

Let's hope he stays away from the 'nerve tonic' Rodger Clemmens, from the Yankees, made famous.

If that episode of the Simpsons serves correctly, it either caused gigantism or made him act like a chicken. 

[Satyriconhome 10,340]

I had a chat to him at training on Friday

Yes it is the return of the same issue

Yes he has shed a bit of weight

Yes he is on a different medication

Yes he thinks the medicos are on track to 'fix' the issue

Yes he is seeing a specialist in the condition

Yes he is [censored] off the issue has returned

 

[DEE fence 4,923]

13 hours ago, Biffen said:

This kid already has a thyroid problem and now an enlarged heart.

Delist.

Ya funny bugget-Didn't hurt Pharlap

[Demon Jack 6,741]

On 19 June 2016 at 6:51 AM, Whispering_Jack said:

Apparently has lost a fair bit of weight which makes it difficult to predict a return date when his condition is brought under control. Expect a fair bit of 324 weeks in future reports.

Should slot right back into our backline when the 2024 season comes along.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,380]

Conditions like this are difficult, particularly when they reveal themselves in adulthood.  It'll be a case of equal parts specialists getting his treatment right, and Christian himself learning about how his body is feeling and what it's trying to tell him.

Zero concerns about him as a footballer, and until I hear otherwise, very few concerns about him coming back fit, strong and healthy.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Salem will be a gun for us. For many years.

He's such a clean player. And he's brave.

He'll be back. In a big way.

 

[Jaded No More 67,758]

5 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

 

Yes he is [censored] off the issue has returned

 

My biggest worry, as this should have been monitored.

Thyroid issues never "go away" so they can't just return. They are always there. It's like having type 1 diabetes, it has to be managed, it doesn't just go away.

Salem should be having 6 monthly blood tests, maybe even quarterly given his profession, to check his thyroid levels and adjust his meds if required. Now maybe this was happening already, but such a drastic change in thyroid function which causes weight loss etc... seems odd and concerning. 

Hopefully a switch of meds will do the trick. 

[Winners at last 5,158]

I really like the expression "as hard as a cat's head". 

[Lucifers Hero 38,985]

Good news it seems!  Latest injury report says he is 2 weeks away from playing.

Great to see he is getting healthy again.

Hope he gets a few games in, in the last month of the season.

Edited July 5, 2016 by Lucifer's Hero

[Ted Lasso 18,784]

Really want to see salem play the devon smith role, creative half forward 

[nutbean 8,838]

On 6/16/2016 at 0:45 PM, DemonDave said:

Tell that to all the Oscar McDonald bashers as well!

I am not an Oscar McDonald basher. I am firm believer in having to get games ( be it Casey or the seniors) , preseasons, stronger bodies  and a touch of maturity into players before judging. I don't write off 20 year old's. I think you need to give even a little more leeway to Key position players and ruckman as they do tend to take a little longer to develop ( there are always exceptions). 

I will say the Salem has shown a lot more maturity, smarts and the probability of a good AFL career in his brief time than Omac has. I am absolutely not dismissing Omac only stating that Salem IMO is way more advanced in showing what he can be than OMac is. 

[Jaded No More 67,758]

4 hours ago, nutbean said:

I am not an Oscar McDonald basher. I am firm believer in having to get games ( be it Casey or the seniors) , preseasons, stronger bodies  and a touch of maturity into players before judging. I don't write off 20 year old's. I think you need to give even a little more leeway to Key position players and ruckman as they do tend to take a little longer to develop ( there are always exceptions). 

I will say the Salem has shown a lot more maturity, smarts and the probability of a good AFL career in his brief time than Omac has. I am absolutely not dismissing Omac only stating that Salem IMO is way more advanced in showing what he can be than OMac is. 

You can't compare the difficulty of the role of OMac versus the role of Salem

Being a key position defender is much harder than playing on the 6th best forward and being an attacking defender

Defensively Salem is average, but offensively he is excellent

Comparing the two is like comparing oranges to chickens

 

[Vogon Poetry 2,095]

In his one game for Casey before his last bout of illness he played mainly midfield.  It was the most impressive game I've seen him play albeit at VFL level.  I'm hoping his fitness allows him to move from HBF.  His clearance work for Casey in that game was an eye opener for me.

He hasn't had a run at it at all yet.  Hammy's ruined last year and illness this year.  Everyone outside MFC tragics have forgotten him and in a good team he will be even better.

I hold high hopes for this kid, I think he has it all.

[Goodvibes 3,596]

33 minutes ago, Vogon Poetry said:

In his one game for Casey before his last bout of illness he played mainly midfield.  It was the most impressive game I've seen him play albeit at VFL level.  I'm hoping his fitness allows him to move from HBF.  His clearance work for Casey in that game was an eye opener for me.

He hasn't had a run at it at all yet.  Hammy's ruined last year and illness this year.  Everyone outside MFC tragics have forgotten him and in a good team he will be even better.

I hold high hopes for this kid, I think he has it all.

I agree. His left boot gets your attention straight away but for me it was his work in close, clever use of hands and the ease with which he dealt with the pace of the game when he first started that got me excited. It's great to hear that he gained greater exposure (albeit one VFL game) to the midfield and did well. Like Hunt, I think he has the potential to play in the square but Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Tyson and Brayshaw may mean that rarely happens. These seven form an incredible young midfield group. If they realize their collective potential, I can't see how we won't be competing for premierships in the near future.

[nutbean 8,838]

51 minutes ago, Jaded said:

You can't compare the difficulty of the role of OMac versus the role of Salem

Being a key position defender is much harder than playing on the 6th best forward and being an attacking defender

Defensively Salem is average, but offensively he is excellent

Comparing the two is like comparing oranges to chickens

 

I agree - but you can still compare their progress as footballers . I was clear that you need a few seasons at least before you mark a players report card as a pass or fail and I was clear that I think it is too early to stamp OMac's either way. 

But it is also clear that some players stamp themselves earlier than others irrespective of what position they play. 

 

 

[whatwhat say what 22,185]

Was chatting with a blues mate who likes to rub it in that we took Salem over Cripps, and I was saying one of the things I'd love in our team next season is a gun run and carry half back - he asked whether I'd 'given up' on Salem but I don't think it's quite that simplistic.

 

He's another that I've put in my 'nice to have...if he can come back' category, alongside Clark, Trengove et al.

 

I think when a player of his ability is unavailable due to an odd condition like this you hope he can come back more than depend on it.

 

It's not like a hammy or even a knee these days, which seem to be easier to come back than a foot injury or a compound leg break or a thyroid issue.

 

Until such a time I think you have to build the side without his availability factored in.

 

(FWIW we were talking about Scrimshaw as a player who may be available in Melbourne's second draft pick range - classic left footed rebounding half back playing for Vic Metro and Sandringham Dragons.)

[waynewussell 4,872]

Salem worked well today at training, away from the main group, he was put through a variety of skill and maneuverability exercises with assistant coaches. He came over to where I was standing for a drink at one stage and I complimented him on how fit he looked. He thanked me and said he was two weeks away from resuming. He didn't look significantly lighter to the naked eye.

[Beats 190]

What's Salem's trade value? He's out of contract next year, so a trade now might be our best chance at getting value for him.

He is competing with the likes of Hunt, Melksham, Bugg, Lumumba, Wagner (and Hibberd if we pick him up) for that rotating hbf/ mid spot. You can also add the likes of Vandenburg, Stretch, Harmes, Trengove, M.jones as others who are competing for rotating hbf/ hff/ part time mid roles. While his kicking is an asset, I don't see him as a class above many of those I've listed above and I don't think he's guaranteed a game when he's fit.

If a club offered up a pick in the late teens for him, would you do it? Would you be happy to see him go as part of a trade if it nets us a big fish?

Edited July 7, 2016 by Beats

[Mach5 4,643]

1 hour ago, Beats said:

What's Salem's trade value? He's out of contract next year, so a trade now might be our best chance at getting value for him.

He is competing with the likes of Hunt, Melksham, Bugg, Lumumba, Wagner (and Hibberd if we pick him up) for that rotating hbf/ mid spot. You can also add the likes of Vandenburg, Stretch, Harmes, Trengove, M.jones as others who are competing for rotating hbf/ hff/ part time mid roles. While his kicking is an asset, I don't see him as a class above many of those I've listed above and I don't think he's guaranteed a game when he's fit.

If a club offered up a pick in the late teens for him, would you do it? Would you be happy to see him go as part of a trade if it nets us a big fish?

I think we'd have to be mad.

Salem isn't competing with those listed; they are competing for the spots left over once he is named in the side.
Those names don't beat him for a place in the team when fully fit.