Round 12 Unsung Hero: Christian Salem

[Demonland 73,140]

Melbourne: Christian Salem 

The Dees jumped out of the blocks against a poor-performing Collingwood outfit and so did Christian Salem. Salem finished the game with 22 disposals at a staggering 96 per cent efficiency, took a game-high 10 marks – all of which were uncontested – and had five rebound 50s. Salem’s free-flowing performance summed up the Dees’ 56-point victory against a poor-performing Magpies side.

[Lucifers Hero 40,364]

And people on here criticise his kicking!  Posters will dig up his mistakes this year but in the big picture he is a rock in his position and gives us good drive from d50.

Greatly underrated on this site.

[dl4e 5,851]

48 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

And people on here criticise his kicking!  Posters will dig up his mistakes this year but in the big picture he is a rock in his position and gives us good drive from d50.

Greatly underrated on this site.

Could not agree more. I have always regarded Salem as one of our best players. The criticism he gets here is somewhat mystefying and the same could be said about Brayshaw. All players have highs and lows in their careers.

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

48 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

And people on here criticise his kicking!  Posters will dig up his mistakes this year but in the big picture he is a rock in his position and gives us good drive from d50.

Greatly underrated on this site.

I’ve been a Salem fan since he kicked the winning goal against Essendon in about his fifth game. But now as a 25yo with 90 games under his belt he should really be in his prime.

I can’t help but think that he could use his kicking skills as a much more attacking weapon opening up the ground 

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

Needs to do more.

He has the talent to do damage out there but he never dominates when he should.

Edited August 17, 2020 by Pickett2Jackson

[58er 6,565]

My only criticism of Salo is I would like to see more urgency in his running and delivery by foot. 
Other than that he is a rock with great disposal and good skills.
Good team man and reliable in performance over his 100 games.

Congrats  and thanks to Christian and good luck fir the future esp in 2020!

[Lucifers Hero 40,364]

2 minutes ago, 58er said:

My only criticism of Salo is I would like to see more urgency in his running and delivery by foot. 
Other than that he is a rock with great disposal and good skills.
Good team man and reliable in performance over his 100 games.

Congrats  and thanks to Christian and good luck fir the future esp in 2020!

When the whole team played ballistic, play-on-at-all-costs football he was one of the very few who stayed composed, did the old 'stop-and-prop' before finding a target.  I understand that this can look slow sometimes but to my eyes it looks smart. 

[DeeZone 10,115]

1 hour ago, FarNorthernD said:

I’ve been a Salem fan since he kicked the winning goal against Essendon in about his fifth game. But now as a 25yo with 90 games under his belt he should really be in his prime.

I can’t help but think that he could use his kicking skills as a much more attacking weapon opening up the ground 

Round 12 was his 100th game, so he is just getting into his groove...........!!

Well done christian.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DubDee 26,117]

Love Salem, probably our best decision maker under pressure.  He is critical to us retaining the ball. He could be played more through the midfield or even HF but the teams needs him on HB.

Looking forward to the next 100!

[Dees2014 2,377]

3 hours ago, dl4e said:

Could not agree more. I have always regarded Salem as one of our best players. The criticism he gets here is somewhat mystefying and the same could be said about Brayshaw. All players have highs and lows in their careers.

Both Salem and Brayshaw started the season in less than top form, but like the rest of the side they are hitting top form as we go into the business end of the season. Very like 2018 IMHO. 
 

What l like about Salem is his elite kicking, which the team is now starting to use constructively, especially as we as a team l would not generally describe as an elite disposal side. However, we are moving towards that and using Salem more constructively is a great start. The current momentum is a great sign as it was in 2018. 

[layzie 34,003]

Played a good game, back to his surgeon best.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,878]

6 hours ago, 58er said:

My only criticism of Salo is I would like to see more urgency in his running and delivery by foot. 
Other than that he is a rock with great disposal and good skills.
Good team man and reliable in performance over his 100 games.

Congrats  and thanks to Christian and good luck fir the future esp in 2020!

I think his delivery by foot can look slow, because of his smooth kicking action and because he usually has good awareness of the time and space he's in.  But if he needs to quickly hit a target off one step, he's more than capable doing that - pin point pass to a leading Tom Sparrow in the last quarter vs the Pies was a good example.

[58er 6,565]

4 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I think his delivery by foot can look slow, because of his smooth kicking action and because he usually has good awareness of the time and space he's in.  But if he needs to quickly hit a target off one step, he's more than capable doing that - pin point pass to a leading Tom Sparrow in the last quarter vs the Pies was a good example.

Good point Rod that was a great piece of play by both players. Maybe it's just his perfectly relaxed and smooth motion but sometimes I think the ball seems to be in slow motion When passed.

Wonder if he will ever play in the middle or up forward again. Sometimes I hope he gets switched if we need a boost in either position.

Love the family Northpoint  Cafe at Brighton Beach North Rd location.

 

[spirit of norm smith 16,589]

Salem has a good game v Pies.  I wouldn’t say he was in our best 7-8 but did what he had to do.  
 

Stats can be deceiving sometimes.  In the last quarter, he had 8 kicks and 6 marks.  Five of those kicks and marks were in the final 3 minutes when he and Hibbo and May chipped it to each other from side to side aka soccer defenders.  

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

On 8/17/2020 at 4:03 PM, Pickett2Jackson said:

Needs to do more.

He has the talent to do damage out there but he never dominates when he should.

 

Another impactless performance from Salem today.  But him on the trade table and see what nibbles we get.

[Elegt 872]

Salem never seems to lay his body on the line and apply pressure

[Half forward flank 1,022]

1 minute ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

 

Another impactless performance from Salem today.  But him on the trade table and see what nibbles we get.

Absolutely. Commentators build him up so value is higher than ability or performances.

[ProperDee 1,698]

Fairy footsteps to contests and can’t take a one on one contested mark to save himself.