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2019 Player Reviews: #3 Christian Salem

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Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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Salem had a great first half for the season but petered off a little at season’s end. He still managed seventh place in the Club Champion award. Played mainly in defence but was called on to take a number of roles as the season unfolded. 

Date of Birth: 15 July, 1995 

Height: 183cm 

Weight: 81kg 

Games MFC 2019: 20 

Career Total: 90 

Goals MFC 2019: 0 

Career Total: 19 

Votes 2019 Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy: 213 votes (seventh) 

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    • Like 1
     

    Probably one of Christian's best years. averaging 24 disposals this season with 73% efficiency.

    Undervalued in my opinion & this was clearly evident with his seventh position finish in the B & F. McCartney's influence obvious here as he prefers the bulls ahead of the skillful runners.

    Should be used more as a mid as his skill set is better than most.

     

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    • Like 2

    Was a huge win to get through the season without injury or illness; hopefully he can build on that and enter the preseason with 100% confidence in his body.

    Would love to see him used up the ground where his disposal could cause a lot of damage.

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    • Like 5
     

    doesn't seem to hurt the opposition enough. Doesn't gain meterage Doesn't always win his one on one contests

    Vanilla B grade in my view 

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    • Shocked 1

    Love him BUT needs to kick it further and not ALWAYS play the safest option. Bite off a bit more and he could be seriously damaging.

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    • Like 2

    Still have no idea what his best role in the team is. 

    I hope for his sake he was carrying injuries  in the back half of 2019, because his output dropped right off. 

    A preseason under a new fitness regime may be exactly what Salem needs

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    Agree with you SWYL he was red hot early in the year but fell away badly in the second half. Hopefully he had some kind of niggle..!!

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    • Like 1
    4 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

    Still have no idea what his best role in the team is. 

    I hope for his sake he was carrying injuries  in the back half of 2019, because his output dropped right off. 

    A preseason under a new fitness regime may be exactly what Salem needs

    I still think half back but we need someone as equally or more skilled with speed on the other flank, giving us options and harder to defend against. The Giants at times last week tried to continually go through Whitfield and were found out because of it.

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    • Like 2
     

    I will get smashed for this.

    Salem is a standard good AFL player. Not a great player, but your standard get to 90 games without really anything that have stood out.

    In my honest opinion he has the potential to become a fantastic AFL player. I see a lot of similarities to Bachar Houli across half back to increase his dash and drive and become a 80m player. At times he likes to play it safe by going the short 30cm chip pass.

    For him to take the next step its watching the likes of Houli and Shaun Burgoyne and how the impact the footy offensively when they don't have the footy and providing that offensive drive to hit up lead forwards or inside 50 entries.

    In my opinion he hasn't lived up to a top 10 pick standard, but he's been a good role player. For us to begin climbing back up in the ladder we need more then anything Christian Salem to elevate his game to a whole new level.

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    • Like 3
    5 hours ago, Kent said:

    doesn't seem to hurt the opposition enough. Doesn't gain meterage Doesn't always win his one on one contests

    Vanilla B grade in my view 

    Ranked number 1 at the Dees for metres gained this year.

    Ranked number 2 for effective disposals per game.

    Ranked number 2 for rebound 50s per game.

    Not sure the stats backup your assertions.

     

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    • Like 3

    15 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

    Ranked number 1 at the Dees for metres gained this year.

    Ranked number 2 for effective disposals per game.

    Ranked number 2 for rebound 50s per game.

    Not sure the stats backup your assertions.

     

    Those stats back up how bad we were this season. 

    Salem didn’t have a good year at all

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    21 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

    Those stats back up how bad we were this season. 

    Salem didn’t have a good year at all

    Was a response to a poster who listed weaknesses that aren't backed up by stats.

    I thought he had a very good year up until the last 4-5 games, and I think some here are influenced by those more recent games rather than looking at the whole season, which is understandable.

    Let's remember he was surrounded by an ever-changing back 6 and had an extremely unaccountable and lowly-skilled mifield ahead of him.

     

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    • Like 3
    5 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

    Was a response to a poster who listed weaknesses that aren't backed up by stats.

    I thought he had a very good year up until the last 4-5 games, and I think some here are influenced by those more recent games rather than looking at the whole season, which is understandable.

    Let's remember he was surrounded by an ever-changing back 6 and had an extremely unaccountable and lowly-skilled mifield ahead of him.

     

    The whole of 2019 was bad. It really was

    There was no system or cohesion whatsoever, why,  nobody has really put up their hand. The answers are behind closed doors and it will be a while before we are told much

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    2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    I will get smashed for this.

    Salem is a standard good AFL player. Not a great player, but your standard get to 90 games without really anything that have stood out.

    In my honest opinion he has the potential to become a fantastic AFL player. I see a lot of similarities to Bachar Houli across half back to increase his dash and drive and become a 80m player. At times he likes to play it safe by going the short 30cm chip pass.

    For him to take the next step its watching the likes of Houli and Shaun Burgoyne and how the impact the footy offensively when they don't have the footy and providing that offensive drive to hit up lead forwards or inside 50 entries.

    In my opinion he hasn't lived up to a top 10 pick standard, but he's been a good role player. For us to begin climbing back up in the ladder we need more then anything Christian Salem to elevate his game to a whole new level.

    Why would you get smashed for that ? I reckon your assessment is spot on.

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    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    Salem started the year well and at least he gave it his all. His season was a reasonable one and should have finished   higher in the B&F.  4th to 5th positions no doubt . Suffered a concussion and that stung him l recall. Missed 1 or  maybe 2 games  because of it.

    His form then dropped off a little however picked up his game late  in the season and finished well. Very valuable and our most efficient kick to position. Will be a better asset with the help of less injuries and the new recruits strengthening  our list.

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    • Like 1

    his form really dropped off at parts of the season, but he was hardly on his own there

    when he is at his best is when i think we as as football side are at our best, as he's clearly our most damaging user of the football

    i'd definitely like to see him move up the ground more, but at the same time they seem to like him coming off the back flank the most

  • Quote
    On 10/3/2019 at 5:49 PM, dazzledavey36 said:

    I will get smashed for this.

    Salem is a standard good AFL player. Not a great player, but your standard get to 90 games without really anything that have stood out.

    In my honest opinion he has the potential to become a fantastic AFL player. I see a lot of similarities to Bachar Houli across half back to increase his dash and drive and become a 80m player. At times he likes to play it safe by going the short 30cm chip pass.

    For him to take the next step its watching the likes of Houli and Shaun Burgoyne and how the impact the footy offensively when they don't have the footy and providing that offensive drive to hit up lead forwards or inside 50 entries.

    In my opinion he hasn't lived up to a top 10 pick standard, but he's been a good role player. For us to begin climbing back up in the ladder we need more then anything Christian Salem to elevate his game to a whole new level.

    Hardly a smashable offering. That’s all more or less how it is. 

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    7 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

    Hardly a smashable offering. That’s all more or less how it is. 

    There are many here who overrate Salem grossly. Just feel he hasn't really gotten out of 2nd gear as of yet, but i am hoping he can really step up next year.

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    1 minute ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    There are many here who overrate Salem grossly. Just feel he hasn't really gotten out of 2nd gear as of yet, but i am hoping he can really step up next year.

    His sure-footed disposal provides the supporters with moments of rare calm. But when that aspect of his game is off (which thankfully isn’t too often) he can be a bit of a non-presence. Hard worker though, and those stats posted above say as much. But yeah, would be great to see him go from “quiet achiever“ to “noisy dominator”. 

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    • Like 1

    On 10/3/2019 at 12:10 PM, Kent said:

    doesn't seem to hurt the opposition enough. Doesn't gain meterage Doesn't always win his one on one contests

    Vanilla B grade in my view 

    Agree, been underwhelmed from the start. Nice footballer, thats all. 

  • Quote
    On 10/3/2019 at 5:49 PM, dazzledavey36 said:

    I will get smashed for this.

    Salem is a standard good AFL player. Not a great player, but your standard get to 90 games without really anything that have stood out.

    In my honest opinion he has the potential to become a fantastic AFL player. I see a lot of similarities to Bachar Houli across half back to increase his dash and drive and become a 80m player. At times he likes to play it safe by going the short 30cm chip pass.

    For him to take the next step its watching the likes of Houli and Shaun Burgoyne and how the impact the footy offensively when they don't have the footy and providing that offensive drive to hit up lead forwards or inside 50 entries.

    In my opinion he hasn't lived up to a top 10 pick standard, but he's been a good role player. For us to begin climbing back up in the ladder we need more then anything Christian Salem to elevate his game to a whole new level.

    Perfectly sums up my perpective on Salem.

    People talk about trac needing to live up to his potential. I'm more concerned Salem won t to be honest.

    Both need to get fitter as a priorty which is why it was realy pleasing to read a week or so back on dl that rhey are self fundong a trip to colorado to do fitness training

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    • Like 1
    1 hour ago, binman said:

    Perfectly sums up my perpective on Salem.

    People talk about trac needing to live up to his potential. I'm more concerned Salem won t to be honest.

    Both need to get fitter as a priorty which is why it was realy pleasing to read a week or so back on dl that rhey are self fundong a trip to colorado to do fitness training

    Interesting. Do you know who signed up for that trip?

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    •  
    24 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

    Interesting. Do you know who signed up for that trip?

    No. I forget which poster said it but apparently Salem's dad told a mate who was eating at his restaurant it. Only mentioned trac and salem

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    Good stuff. Let’s hope they don’t do any brick-related exercises there. 

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