On 3/9/2019 at 11:38 AM, Deeoldfart said:

Salo always seems to find time and space to exercise his silky skills and football smarts, and his hardness belies his demeanour.   He might fly under the radar a bit, but he's a unique and vital cog in our wheel.  I'm rapt to have him on board.  

Agree on all points.

In terms of time and space he is really skilled at getting back on his left foot kick and doesn't seem to be forced to kick with his right very often (the few kicks i can recall on his right foot have been serviceable IIRC).

Has an excellent quick drop and stab kick too when needed. And can kick of the side of his boot when required to go short and wide

Great vision of who is available to kick to completes the package.

Very happy about this signing.

On 3/13/2019 at 9:17 PM, Lord Neville X Flash said:

If he can get 23-27 touches a game, he is a great chance for AA ($51 on SB). One of only 3 AFL players rated as 'elite' in disposal efficiency in 2018. Potential emulate Laird, Simpson, a better Brent Guerra even?

I've huge hopes for the kid

 

Salem has gone to the next level.   Hope he wins the best and fairest, he could be  leading it right now.  Brilliant player.  Without his skills we could be winless, he is that important. 

Hes too good to not be hitting the scoreboard though, and the same with Oliver.   Neither has kicked a goal this season.

Edited May 11, 20195 yr by Petraccattack

1 hour ago, Petraccattack said:

 

Salem has gone to the next level.   Hope he wins the best and fairest, he could be  leading it right now.  Brilliant player.  Without his skills we could be winless, he is that important. 

Hes too good to not be hitting the scoreboard though, and the same with Oliver.   Neither has kicked a goal this season.

You can excuse Salem as he plays most of his footy the defensive side of the centre.

Oliver needs to kick goals to be considered an elite super star mid.

Love him, named for him!!

Was excellent in the finals last year, which I think has brought him to the attention of a lot of the football media and public.  Has gone to the next level this year, but I don't think it's come at a huge surprise to any MFC fans as it's always felt like a matter of time for Salem to bring it all together.  Looks fit, healthy and confident.

 

Salem is the bright spot in a pretty average season to date...

The only guy who can hit targets 

David King made an interesting comment in last night’s Fox Footy call. He said Salem should be playing forward of centre as he looks like the only one who can be relied on to hit a target.

Don’t disagree with that- although it could be robbing Peter to pay Paul. However at the moment Paul needs all the help he can get!

1 hour ago, Key Deefender said:

David King made an interesting comment in last night’s Fox Footy call. He said Salem should be playing forward of centre as he looks like the only one who can be relied on to hit a target.

Don’t disagree with that- although it could be robbing Peter to pay Paul. However at the moment Paul needs all the help he can get!

Makes no sense...you generally set up your forward targets from half back to the centre. That's where Salem is.

We don't need Salem to be a target, we need him to keep hitting them up.

Great game yesterday.   We need more like Salem who can hit a target. 

Love this player. On track for a top 5 B&F finish I reckon. Two way runner, plays tough, consistently uses the ball well. 

1 hour ago, rjay said:

Makes no sense...you generally set up your forward targets from half back to the centre. That's where Salem is.

We don't need Salem to be a target, we need him to keep hitting them up.

King wasn't suggesting Salem be a target but more that he hits up targets from forward of centre rather than from further back. And yes we obviously lose something from the backline, however our delivery inside 50 is our biggest achilles at the moment. Must be worth a try - he can always be moved back again.

Salem has done a very unDemon thing: he extended his contract and is subsequently having his best year. 

.

Edited May 12, 20195 yr by Lucifer's Hero

5 hours ago, Key Deefender said:

David King made an interesting comment in last night’s Fox Footy call. He said Salem should be playing forward of centre as he looks like the only one who can be relied on to hit a target.

Don’t disagree with that- although it could be robbing Peter to pay Paul. However at the moment Paul needs all the help he can get!

He played on the wing in the first JLT. Game but with injurys to... Everyone. They have been forced to play him as a defender. With Hibbard, Lever, May and Jetta fit I'd like to see them release him up the ground

Edited May 12, 20195 yr by ArtificialWisdom

2 hours ago, Key Deefender said:

King wasn't suggesting Salem be a target but more that he hits up targets from forward of centre rather than from further back. And yes we obviously lose something from the backline, however our delivery inside 50 is our biggest achilles at the moment. Must be worth a try - he can always be moved back again.

I get that, but my point is inside 50's are set up from the back half coming through the midfield.

If he's forward of centre then he becomes more of a target or defensive forward.

It's hard to improve delivery inside 50 if you're already inside 50...

That's why I don't think King's point stands up.

27 minutes ago, rjay said:

I get that, but my point is inside 50's are set up from the back half coming through the midfield.

If he's forward of centre then he becomes more of a target or defensive forward.

It's hard to improve delivery inside 50 if you're already inside 50...

That's why I don't think King's point stands up.

It was a passing comment from King and not really dwelt on. My feeling when he said it was that he would prefer him coming from midfield and going forward hitting up forwards rather than half back moving towards midfield. I don't think he had him already camping inside 50. Agree inside 50s are often set up from half back, but not always. His reasoning was our inside 50s are so poor changing things up couldn't hurt by using our best kick to give our forwards a chance. Times like this it would be good to have two Salems! 

I'm just going to add myself to the Salem love party here.

Not many characteristics earn a player more respect than showing consistency when your team is being highly unreliable.

As others have ntoed, he also has a 'completeness' as a footballer that would make it perfectly reasonable to wish for three or four of him on your list, without any worry about team balance or positions.

 

If the Bluey votes were tallied right now, I have little doubt that Christian Salem would be leading the board. Big difference between Brownlow votes between two teams each week and internal club voting for best player in the one side each week. If he maintains his current form I'd back him in.

 

 

2 hours ago, Key Deefender said:

My feeling when he said it was that he would prefer him coming from midfield and going forward hitting up forwards rather than half back moving towards midfield.

Why can't a Winger go into defence to receive the ball,  ahead of him bringing the ball up field Via run or foot-skills...  If he kicks it ahead,  he can run to get involved again.

It will take a lot of running.

2 hours ago, maximum bob said:

If the Bluey votes were tallied right now, I have little doubt that Christian Salem would be leading the board. Big difference between Brownlow votes between two teams each week and internal club voting for best player in the one side each week. If he maintains his current form I'd back him in.

I reckon running second to Harmes

Salem has got off to a great start in 2019 in a side that has when all is said done been pretty poor

12 hours ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Was excellent in the finals last year, which I think has brought him to the attention of a lot of the football media and public.  Has gone to the next level this year, but I don't think it's come at a huge surprise to any MFC fans as it's always felt like a matter of time for Salem to bring it all together.  Looks fit, healthy and confident.

 

Many here wanted him traded a few years ago...

The only player I want kicking the ball these days 

We can’t ever lose him. “Except for Salem” is an important element of “we have no-one who can kick except for Salem”.

Would love to see him in the midfield next year.