26 minutes ago, rpfc said:

We didn't get Hurley, but Hibberd and Melksham mean Slaem can start to do what he did yesterday.

"Christian Slay 'em" has a certain ring to it.

2 minutes ago, Nasher said:

"Christian Slay 'em" has a certain ring to it.

Totally meant that...

2 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Salem with be in our top players whatever position he plays in.

The main reason Roos played him in the back line is because we didn't have the right people to play there.  Anyway, it was good for his development. 

We now have several players who can be attacking and accurate out of the backline so don't see a reason for him to play back again.  He is much more dangerous around the middle and forward.

I agree. He was one of the few who could hit a target from half back  - Roos needed at least some quality in past years.  He was great yesterday and this will be his year.

 

Also he wears No.3 and is the dead ringer for Garry Lyon.

He's a ripper!!

Exactly what I was about to type - he's a 'little ripper' this kid.

Recruiting Lewis, Hibberd and Melksham now allows several of our players to play roles they are probably naturally more suited to.

In the case of Salem, I think that's in the midfield regularly floating forward. He's a smart player and his disposal is elite. Bodes super well for the future.

 

Like the way he drifts forward and kicks goals. Reads the play really well and is developing elite disposal. He is up there with the very best of our talent. And Billy Stretch isn't too far behind.

If he carries his preseason form through to the season proper then the Tyson/Salem trade is starting to look pretty good Damien....

4 minutes ago, rjay said:

If he carries his preseason form through to the season proper then the Tyson/Salem trade is starting to look pretty good Damien....

Shhh. He's reading this

I'm astonished people wanted to trade him. I must've missed those posts. He'll be one of our best once he strings a season or 2 of games together. He has all the attributes, maybe minus the x factor 

He's probably the best kick in the team, along with Jack W when he gets back in

This kid just needs to consistently play, He could be our best midfielder come 2018/19. As hard as viney and he is as skilled as Watts. Need an inside mid?, Salem can do it, Need some foot skills on the outside? Salem can do it. We only have 1 other midfielder who is skilled enough to do that... and he has spent his whole career up untill now at Hawthorn. Give Salem a really good run at it. I still have pretty hopes.

15 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

I was one of those people. It was never about his ability, he is clearly a very talented footballer. It was because he could never get on the park. It doesn't matter if you're Chris Judd, if you play less than 10 games a year on average then you're of no use. I'm glad he's playing well and I hope he continues to play well and stay fit and healthy. He deserves a good run at it to build some form and show everyone what he can do.

I like him in the midfield and forward. He's a liability down back, teams would often target his opponent for attacking forays (source: opposition coaches) as he was poor in defensive one on one contests and often caught on the wrong side of his opponent or losing body contacts at crucial times. In the midfield he is tough, fast and skilled. Love him there and resting forward as he can chip in with a few goals. He's got a great balance of inside and outside skill. If he can stay fit he'll be one of our best midfielders for years to come. Hoping he turns into a harder version of Adem Yze.

I agree almost wholeheartedly with this, except for the bit about being a defensive liability.

I think Christian was simply not adept at playing defence, so yes, he would get caught on the wrong side or get his body positioning incorrect, but I think in years to come with greater experience, he'll be able to play at either end of the ground. But as LH says, we don't need him to now with Lewis, Jones, Hibberd and Melksham.

My questions were never around his ability or hardness. Silky smooth, good decision maker and happy to get his own ball. He just has had a bad run with injury/illness. 

It is amazing ( not really) what an uninterrupted preseason can do for you. Over and over I keep hearing players spruik the benefits of an uninterrupted preseason and it still comes as a surprise to me when a player finally has one and his form takes off (it really shouldn't). 

Edited February 26, 20178 yr by nutbean

22 minutes ago, nutbean said:

My questions were never around his ability or hardness. Silky smooth, good decision maker and happy to get his own ball. He just has had a bad run with injury/illness. 

It is amazing ( not really) what an interrupted preseason can do for you. Over and over I keep hearing players spruik the benefits of an interrupted preseason and it still comes as a surprise to me when a player finally has one and his form takes off (it really shouldn't). 

I'll assume you mean "uninterrupted preseason".

I know it will seem too coincidental to appear an original thought, but ever since he started I had hoped he would turn into our Jordan Lewis.  A smooth, left-foot, precise-kicking, hard-as-nails (insert any other cliche you like) midfielder.

 

7 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I'll assume you mean "uninterrupted preseason".

I know it will seem too coincidental to appear an original thought, but ever since he started I had hoped he would turn into our Jordan Lewis.  A smooth, left-foot, precise-kicking, hard-as-nails (insert any other cliche you like) midfielder.

 

good pick up - uninterrupted.

Just watched Salem's draft video and he said he models his game on Luke Hodge. Very interesting, hopefuls he can become our Luke Hodge

We have the grunt, this guy is our class through the middle just has so much time when he gets the Football. 

Hard as a cat's head

The final missing piece in our midfield

Must be in midfield, Slay 'Em will become our best midfielder if his body lets him IMO.

On 27/02/2017 at 10:48 AM, Bobby Clark said:

Just watched Salem's draft video and he said he models his game on Luke Hodge. Very interesting, hopefuls he can become our Luke Hodge

closest I can come up with for comparison is Malceski. not overly quick, great footy smarts, very good disposal and calm under pressure. Will end up highly rated internally and underrated externally.

23 hours ago, bingers said:

Hard as a cat's head

As evidenced by the dented brick in his rucksack at the pre Xmas camp that hit him in the scone

On 26/02/2017 at 6:33 PM, Nasher said:

"Christian Slay 'em" has a certain ring to it.

Are you suggesting that he is on a crusade?

Jack Watts should probably rotate between high half forward and then run back explosively towards goal. Kick straight and train well.

Haha Salem is a beauty has polish and agression. Can he read the play? I don't know either way but if he can he will be a weapon.

Trade Salem? You'd want to get your head checked.