If he was fit and healthy all year there would have been a far greater chance that we would be playing finals.

lordy...

You look at each player and what they have brought to the table to date, and most importantly, the players upside and the players ability/desire to reach the upside.

Salem in 21 and has had injury issues ( none of which should impact him reaching his full potential) - an absolute keeper for mine.

 

  On 29/08/2016 at 23:08, Clint Bizkit said:

If he was fit and healthy all year there would have been a far greater chance that we would be playing finals.

Absolutely.

With a consistent run of games he'll become our best ball user.  You don't trade out potentially your best distributor.

  On 29/08/2016 at 21:09, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Perhaps we also should have traded Patracca before he did his knee.  Big Max is another one who's currency before this year was well down due to successive knee injuries and just look at how many seasons we have wasted on the bearded warrior.

Salem has already produced more in the two or three years on our list than Cale Morton or Joydan Gysbits did in half a dozen and they are the other potential out comes of trading for a draft pick and trying a different option.

Are you from the school of thought that high draft picks should perform to their full potential from their first year?  Only a few freaks like Crisps and Judd ever managed that, but most clubs fully expect quality players to take a few years to develop and can take longer if there are a few speed bumps along the way.  Just look at Robbie Grey guess you would have traded him too.

I actually think that first round draft picks are like new cars, in so far as you pretty much loose value on them the moment you drive them out the door.

Thinking of Jaeger O'Meara. New car, hardly driven over several years, has had several crashes, may or may not run again, could be a racing car if repairs work = 2 first round picks.

I see him in the midfield rotation, strong and smart.

 

  On 26/08/2016 at 08:28, Magoo said:

The handy things is that with Salem we have a ready made replacement for Big Max if he were to go down.

I've actually heard coaches talking about him & how terrible he is  -  especially in slips.

Let's give him to the Blues for pick 11 & draft back Gysberts.

 

 

?

  On 26/08/2016 at 08:40, CP5 said:

At a time when quality users of a football have never been more valuable, largely due to a modern game based on turnovers, you don't jettison a clearly talented 21 year old former top 10 pick, who has struggled with injury. 

That would be foolish and hasty in the extreme.

I remember a young Scott Thompson, who was invariably injured at Melbourne, leave for Adelaide where he's hardly missed a game. 

Thompson had recurring soft tissue injuries that seemed to miraculously disappear when he moved home.  Maybe some of the soft tissue was cerebrum?

  On 29/08/2016 at 16:51, Deevolution said:

If he's fit & healthy he it's time to throw him into the midfield & see what he can do, with Melksham & possibly Hibberd looking set to play off half back Salem's skill can add another dimension to our team in the guts 

Just a question as I do not and have not watched Essendon games for several years.  Would Melksham, and or Hibberd were he to come across, be reliable kick ins from full back?

I would like to see Salem on a wing or HFF with runs through the middle. He is a smart footballer with good disposal and a calm demeanor - one would seriously hope that his thyroid is now under expert specialist care and should be controllable. 

  On 30/08/2016 at 01:57, monoccular said:

?

Thompson had recurring soft tissue injuries that seemed to miraculously disappear when he moved home.  Maybe some of the soft tissue was cerebrum?

Just a question as I do not and have not watched Essendon games for several years.  Would Melksham, and or Hibberd were he to come across, be reliable kick ins from full back?

I would like to see Salem on a wing or HFF with runs through the middle. He is a smart footballer with good disposal and a calm demeanor - one would seriously hope that his thyroid is now under expert specialist care and should be controllable. 

Hibberd has a cannon of a leg and is very neat with his disposal. Melksham can be a bit iffy.

Salem has been playing Wing/Fwd at Casey and had a similar role vs Geelong. 

He played (seniors) defence in 2015/early 2016 as we had no one else.  Now we have Hunt and will soon have Melksham and Hibberd.

I'm all for playing someone 'out of position' if the team needs that and it is good for their development.  Salem in defence was exactly that - I don't think it was ever intended he continue in the backline.  Will be a mid/fwd next year.

As I said early in this thread, Christian is essential in our quest for finals in 2017.

  On 30/08/2016 at 01:57, monoccular said:

?

Thompson had recurring soft tissue injuries that seemed to miraculously disappear when he moved home.  Maybe some of the soft tissue was cerebrum?

Just a question as I do not and have not watched Essendon games for several years.  Would Melksham, and or Hibberd were he to come across, be reliable kick ins from full back?

I would like to see Salem on a wing or HFF with runs through the middle. He is a smart footballer with good disposal and a calm demeanor - one would seriously hope that his thyroid is now under expert specialist care and should be controllable. 

A quick txt to an Essendon mate & i'm assured that kick in's are no problem for Hibberd, Can see Salem supplying  our forwards with silver service for many years to come *depending on health.

Is it just me or does anyone else think of Adem Yze when they watch Salem?

  On 30/08/2016 at 04:11, worldwideweb_demon said:

Is it just me or does anyone else think of Adem Yze when they watch Salem?

There's a resemblance, but Salem is harder - by a bit.

  On 30/08/2016 at 04:11, worldwideweb_demon said:

Is it just me or does anyone else think of Adem Yze when they watch Salem?

I thought Yze was selfish, more so towards the end of his career. I don't see that in Salem.

  On 30/08/2016 at 10:43, M_9 said:

I thought Yze was selfish, more so towards the end of his career. I don't see that in Salem.

Yze was a freak - his 2000 season as a defender was amazing and later he was able to play some incredible games asa small forward because his kicking and evasive skills were a bit like Cyril. If Salem gets to that level then we'll be playing finals.

Salem may be part of an impressive back seven (one rotating) next season with T-Mac, O-Mac, Frost, Hibberd, Jetta, Hunt. Apart from Hibberd, I don't know why O-Mac can't be used as the kick-in man on occasions - he's one of the longest and best kicks we have now. 

Or if Melky, Harmes or Smith are showing form down back, then Salem might find himself up on the left wing, where he could be the clever kick inside 50m or play a more defensive role on someone like a Gaff or Sidebottom. That role depends on whether he can get his tank up to a really high level.

I can't really see him going inside - nowadays you have to be either a big body like Cripps or Bont or a gung-ho small like Viney or Libba or Mitchell.

 

 

Having seen so little of Salem this year, I had kind of forgotten his class and value to the team. Watching that dismal game vs Geelong, it was clear the poise, decision making and calm disposal was excellent, and I would be well and truly [censored] off if he was traded. With an uninterrupted preseason, I get the feeling he will quickly become top 10-12 on our list.

  On 30/08/2016 at 11:37, Moonshadow said:

Having seen so little of Salem this year, I had kind of forgotten his class and value to the team. Watching that dismal game vs Geelong, it was clear the poise, decision making and calm disposal was excellent, and I would be well and truly [censored] off if he was traded. With an uninterrupted preseason, I get the feeling he will quickly become top 10-12 on our list.

I think you'll find the only ones that want to trade him, are some less informed Demonland posters.

He will be a mainstay of our side for some years to come, a very good player.

I'm looking forward to seeing him play along side our other young players with a full pre season under their belts.

 

  On 30/08/2016 at 11:46, Dante said:

I think you'll find the only ones that want to trade him, are some less informed Demonland posters.

He will be a mainstay of our side for some years to come, a very good player.

I'm looking forward to seeing him play along side our other young players with a full pre season under their belts.

 

Probably the same guys who wanted us to trade Watts at the same time last year!

You know when Watts gets the ball at Half Forward it will more often than not hit the next target.  Salem will be another like that off Half Forward.  

Hibberd, Melksham and Jetta off Half Back.  Bernie becomes a role player/tagger.

Thats how I see next year.

The elephant in the room with Salem is his illness. I know nothing about such illnesses and how they affect sports persons performing at an elite level.

This is one where I will trust the club and assume it has the best advice from sports doctors wherever they maybe in the world.

The one dilemna I have (and more importantly the club would have) is what if the medical advice is that re-occurrence is a 50/50 chance. (Glad we have the club to make those calls.)

I really hope this guy makes it. Exciting skilful players are what we all come to watch. The comments about Scott Thompson earlier in this thread (I know there were personal circumstances etc) are very apposite. He deserves time to show his wares.

  On 26/08/2016 at 08:28, Magoo said:

The handy things is that with Salem we have a ready made replacement for Big Max if he were to go down.

I've actually heard coaches talking about him & how terrible he is  -  especially in slips.

Let's give him to the Blues for pick 11 & draft back Gysberts.

 

 

Finally a poster who makes a bit of sense, Oh Magoo...you've done it again.

  On 30/08/2016 at 12:10, hells bells said:

You know when Watts gets the ball at Half Forward it will more often than not hit the next target.  Salem will be another like that off Half Forward.  

Hibberd, Melksham and Jetta off Half Back.  Bernie becomes a role player/tagger.

Thats how I see next year.

No room for Jaydn Hunt? Or have you got him playing elsewhere?

  On 30/08/2016 at 04:11, worldwideweb_demon said:

Is it just me or does anyone else think of Adem Yze when they watch Salem?

Yes and no.  Great skills, but to me Salem seems to have a harder edge and probably more 'footy smarts'.  

  On 30/08/2016 at 12:36, Diamond_Jim said:

The elephant in the room with Salem is his illness. I know nothing about such illnesses and how they affect sports persons performing at an elite level.

This is one where I will trust the club and assume it has the best advice from sports doctors wherever they maybe in the world.

The one dilemna I have (and more importantly the club would have) is what if the medical advice is that re-occurrence is a 50/50 chance. (Glad we have the club to make those calls.)

I really hope this guy makes it. Exciting skilful players are what we all come to watch. The comments about Scott Thompson earlier in this thread (I know there were personal circumstances etc) are very apposite. He deserves time to show his wares.

I believe that with careful and regular monitoring and medical fine tuning with (perfectly legal) drugs he should be free of further problems.  

Any endocrinologists on this forum?

  On 30/08/2016 at 15:03, Bobby McKenzie said:

No room for Jaydn Hunt? Or have you got him playing elsewhere?

Wing

Salem looked good on the weekend. Very clean and classy player. Will be important for us next year. With the addition of Hibberd (hopefully), and further improvement in OMAC, Wagner and Hunt, our back line is starting to take shape.

  On 30/08/2016 at 12:08, CBDees said:

Probably the same guys who wanted us to trade Watts at the same time last year!

Google non sequitur.

Played in the guts for the first time I can recall, and was probably our best. 

We are crying out for good ball users in the middle, so leave him there. It's where he is most natural and most needed.