15 hours ago, Skuit said:

What I learned from that article: they're persisting with Vince in defence unfortunately.

Agreed. For the life of me i don't know why. a good creative midfielder, good shot for goal, excellent elite tagger as well, is played where he is least suited.

Play him mid/half forward and he will do a decent job and kick 20-30 goals.

 

personally i'd be tempted to give him 'run with' rolls on the stars. it suits him and he is very good at it.

7 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Would still like to see Vince more up forward.  He has good sense around goals and can sink them from a mile out, which I think keeps the oppo guessing and relieves a bit of congestion in our forward 50 arc.

Too slow IMO. I think he's competing for a spot with Lewis, but time will tell.

7 hours ago, Fifty-5 said:

Someone has to take the kick ins and that someone has to play in the defensive zone.  Bernard is not the ideal solution.  Sounds like Salem is in the midfield group.  They don't seem to like Hibberd for this. Maybe Lewis will take it on.

That's exciting. Time to take that next step, Salo. I'd keep Gus coming off the back of the square though. 

If Salo and Gus can take that next step, Oliver, Viney and Petracca can contribute, along with Tyson and stints of Jones in there as well, we'll have a combative ball-winning group of mids with a nice mixture of skill and explosiveness. 

7 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

That is correct.  When he took the 1yr contract he was told he may have Casey time to give developing players game experience and he was ok with that.

 

Re some other posts in this thread on Lewis and Vince.  They are over 30, past their best and slowing down.  Our youngsters have yet to reach that critical 5 pre-seasons mark, that is generally considered when full AFL conditioning is reached.  So imv Lewis and Vince still have an important role - to keep the opp honest and 'protect' the youngsters from snipers and man-handlers - opp will be out to work over our young stars next year.  (Hopefully Lewis, Vince et al can do that without suspensions).  It is not something Jones does often and he turns 30 in January so his days are numbered (if age is the criteria for a mid fielder).

imv neither Vince or Lewis are in our bottom six and until they are I'm happy to see them on the ground.  And they aren't the worst 'butchers' of the ball in the team.  We still need their experience in all facets of the game not just possessions and kicks etc. 

I agree with most of this, mate, but not the last paragraph concerning Vince. I'd have him comfortably in my bottom six. The follow 18 are all ahead of him: Hogan, Jones, Salem, Petracca, Lewis, Viney, Lever, Brayshaw, Gawn, Tyson, Oliver, Hibberd, Melksham, TMac, OMac, Hunt, Jeffy and Jetta. I'd also have Frost, ANB and Hannan ahead of him on their day. He's in the 25, but if things go to plan, he won't make the 25 by half way through 2018 either.

Edited November 30, 20177 yr by A F

We need the experience of Lewis and Vince for another year, however, they are slowing up at a time when speed of decision making and speed and decisive movement has become all important.

As the body ages, injury is always around the corner. Slower to recover and slower to pick up the speed of the game upon return. 

I think we all saw Lewis and Vince struggle this year. 

We will have arrived as a footy team when these two guys are not cracking the 22 and become depth players.  It will also mean that others are stepping up to the plate and assuming leadership roles.

 

I just see this as trying to free up Hibberd as much as possible.

He is such a weapon but had to be third man up a lot - let's get Lever to do that.

He is also required to set up from behind with Tom McD going forward - let's get Lewis to do that.

This just pushes Hibberd and Hunt that much further up the ground in my eyes.

Really valuable if Lewis can find his feet.

Back 6

Jetta. Omcd. Lever

Salem. Frost. Hibberd

Assume Lewis may step into half back role with Salem moving into midfield/wing type role. 

Obviously Hunt on a wing is a similar move

12 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Back 6

Jetta. Omcd. Lever

Salem. Frost. Hibberd

Assume Lewis may step into half back role with Salem moving into midfield/wing type role. 

Obviously Hunt on a wing is a similar move

I am yet to be convinced that Salem has earned a position in the first 18

I hope he does this year barring injury

Still something missing in his game for me.Needs to make a statement early in the season by being in the top players using the skills we know he posseses and hurting the opposition.

 

I want Salem to be the go to guy for kick outs!

The Lewis to defence line confuses people because they don't recognize how defence is played these days.  

The old traditional 6 man line up isn't played.  Melbourne set up with a 4 man diamond and have done so since the Gold Coast game in 2016.  Then there is a line of players "in defence" across the old half back area.  That number varies upon the game plan, sometimes 1 sometimes 4 or 5.  

Lewis will play in this "defensive line".  Sometimes it is to run forward, sometimes to hold back.  The message is that he will not be used in the mid-field any more. 

Vince was probably played in defence last year because he broke his toe early on and couldn't kick more than 40m after that.  Normally he is a 60m kick.  Truth is he is a horrible defender, so I would think he will be moved to his natural position further up the field this year.  

Salem is the best kick in the side, and if selected he should be the designated kick in player.