King: Move Salem Up the Ground

[Demonland 73,140]

David King would like to see Melbourne push Christian Salem further up the ground.

Salem has played 106 games for the Dees since being taken at pick nine in the 2013 National Draft, mostly across half back.

King believes the skilful ball user could help solve Melbourne’s woes going forward, given they’re one of the least efficient sides in the competition kicking inside 50.

“It’s a great call to get more out of him. How do you maximise your best talents? Where do you place them?” King told SEN Breakfast.

“How do you get the ball in his hands as often as possible? I think you want your best kicks kicking the ball inside 50 and that’s been Melbourne’s problem, capitalising on inside 50 opportunities.

“I think he has to be challenged to go to a wing or even half forward."

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,939]

I'm happy for him to remain at half back as the kick from D 50 is the most important kick in footy.

 

[Gorgoroth 13,019]

Been saying this for ages, if the younger guys like Rivers take replace him then Salem on ball/around the middle is a massive asset.

[WERRIDEE 5,505]

If he could play on the wing that's fair and good but half forward a bit of a stretch we already have Fritsch and Melksham there.

[Accepting Mediocrity 1,418]

It's not as though we've never played him up the ground. But Salem's produced his best footy (by far) at half back. I do think he should be encouraged to take more risks though.

[DeeSpencer 26,081]

Wingmen mainly get the ball at half back. It's a furphy that wings deliver the ball inside 50. The wing isn't a precision ball use position either. Mostly it's about busting your backside getting in to space then moving the ball on safely often with long kicks.

Half forward is the same. Gut running with the occasional hit up kick. Kozzie and Spargo are actually far better at that than most supporters give them credit.

For Salem it's either half back or on ball. 

If we move him on ball then we're weaker at half back and even more congested on ball. I'm not against doing that. But we didn't make any moves in trade week to remove a midfielder and find a half back flanker.

If we did Brayshaw or Viney out for Saad, Zac Williams etc in then Salem on ball would be a lock. 

We need to wait and see what we get from the draft, but the designated half back kicker is a vital position. We need more classy ball use on ball but I actually think if it's one of Rivers or Salem to move on ball I prefer Rivers.

[DeeSpencer 26,081]

Also, I freaking hate this.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

“I think he has to be challenged to go to a wing or even half forward."

The last challenge David King had was to pass a breathalyzer. 

Salem isn't coasting at half back, he's working really hard. Could he be given more responsibilities by going on ball - yes. But it's hardly a challenge.

The challenge is for our coaches and list management team to build a more complete side.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

He did play forward in his first year or 2 and was good.

He is the master of those little kicks that find a target, and they would be more useful at half forward leading to direct shots on goal rather than slowing momentum at half back imo.

[Little Goffy 14,639]

Very handy to have a player who is effective at half back but has the body and attitude to get into the thick of it when needed.  I daresay he would have been used a lot more up the ground in 2020 if the quarters hadn't been shortened so much.

King isn't exactly breaking new ground with this suggestion; it has been discussed pretty thoroughly on here by wiser heads than his! 

[deebug 1,754]

I would like to see Salem, move up the ground, just to see what he can do, you never know, it may just work out???

[nosoupforme 3,085]

He doesn't need to be shifted up the ground to be effective Christian is playing his role from half back and breaking the lines consistently  He has the capacity to run forward and hit his target, He is so good at it.

We have one Salem and he plays an important role for us. As the saying goes Rob Peter to pay Paul.  Not in this case.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,510]

Would rather see Rivers move up the ground and Salem stay put.

 

 

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

If Melksham really is as cooked as he looked this year, maybe Salem can move into that role.

He should be way more damaging than he currently is.

[Pates 9,660]

8 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

If Melksham really is as cooked as he looked this year, maybe Salem can move into that role.

He should be way more damaging than he currently is.

One of Melksham's attributes (at least in the past) has been his ability to one on one aerial contests with clever body positioning and good overhead abilities. I think this is one of the major things that allowed him to survive the chop, despite him deserving it IMHO. I'm not sure that Salem has that ability to affect contests in the air.

Salem is a little bit of a tough cookie, I like him off half back but I'm not entirely sure if that's utilising his abilities. I'd like to see him tried potentially on the wing opposite to Langdon but I don't think he's quick enough or has a big enough tank. Half forward I'm not sure there's a place for him with a number of similar sized players already there.

I'd really love to see him further up the ground but I'm not sure how it would work.

[Gawndog98 364]

I'm big in the camp of Salem moving up to the wing where I think he'd be the perfect compliment to Langdon. Problem with Salem at half back is that he's not a line breaking kick. He's very good at hitting targets but his kicks don't travel fast through the air, they are more chip kicks which is what you want for your forwards to lead to because they are easier to mark, hence why he should be pushed up to a wing. 

Salem was actually second in our team for distance run per game, he has gradually been building his tank, which he could work on even more as his last pre season was interrupted by a bout of glandular fever if my memory serves me correctly. Whilst he's not the quickest we have Langdon on the other wing who is quick where Salem compliments him with the ball use.

Salem also does some of his best work around stoppages where some his best attributes is his vision, decision making, clean foot and hand skills. I'd like to see him played in a specialised "inside winger" at stoppages where he roams the back of the stoppages looking for the handball receive where he hits up a target inside 50, a high half forward, or can make the handball to start a scoring chain. Sort of like how Collingwood play Sidebottom or GWS play Kelly I think Salem has similar traits and could make much more of a difference on a wing in a specialised role than he does at half back. 

[58er 6,562]

6 hours ago, Gawndog98 said:

I'm big in the camp of Salem moving up to the wing where I think he'd be the perfect compliment to Langdon. Problem with Salem at half back is that he's not a line breaking kick. He's very good at hitting targets but his kicks don't travel fast through the air, they are more chip kicks which is what you want for your forwards to lead to because they are easier to mark, hence why he should be pushed up to a wing. 

Salem was actually second in our team for distance run per game, he has gradually been building his tank, which he could work on even more as his last pre season was interrupted by a bout of glandular fever if my memory serves me correctly. Whilst he's not the quickest we have Langdon on the other wing who is quick where Salem compliments him with the ball use.

Salem also does some of his best work around stoppages where some his best attributes is his vision, decision making, clean foot and hand skills. I'd like to see him played in a specialised "inside winger" at stoppages where he roams the back of the stoppages looking for the handball receive where he hits up a target inside 50, a high half forward, or can make the handball to start a scoring chain. Sort of like how Collingwood play Sidebottom or GWS play Kelly I think Salem has similar traits and could make much more of a difference on a wing in a specialised role than he does at half back. 

Great points GD98 I have called this  in about half a dozen posts since the end of 2020.
Salos last 6 games this season had real impact with greater speed running urgency and the tank he built from going to USA with Trac last preseason For that training camp/workshops.

Half forward for me and an occasional run  on the ball maybe  changing with Viney at forward stoppages to utilise his elite skills of disposal or even kicking goals!

[Bates Mate 4,510]

12 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Also, I freaking hate this.

The last challenge David King had was to pass a breathalyzer. 

Salem isn't coasting at half back, he's working really hard. Could he be given more responsibilities by going on ball - yes. But it's hardly a challenge.

The challenge is for our coaches and list management team to build a more complete side

Breathalyzer Comment is up there for the best of the year

[BDA 22,880]

Who replaces him at half back?

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Our record converting players isn’t too flash. We’ve tried players on the wing with more suitable attributes that have been a bust and Salem will be no different. Leave him where he is and where he’s been learning his trade for the last 100 odd games. 

[Demons1858 1,766]

moving him up field is good in theory and mfc have tried him up field a couple of times and his deficiencies show through. maybe he has matured since but lacks a yard of pace, instinctive thinking, and is very. one sided.  love him at half back

Edited December 4, 2020 by Demons1858

[Gawndog98 364]

37 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

Who replaces him at half back?

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Our record converting players isn’t too flash. We’ve tried players on the wing with more suitable attributes that have been a bust and Salem will be no different. Leave him where he is and where he’s been learning his trade for the last 100 odd games. 

I think Salem has much better attributes as a wingman than many of the players we've tried to play on a wing who have mostly been slow, poor kicking inside mids. Salem is a good half back flank, but I think he can be a very good wingman.

As for who to replace him at half back if he moves up the ground, that's where we can target this position at the draft. Jack Carroll and Nathan O'Driscoll will be around our first two picks and could slot in straight onto a half back flank, as could Jake Bowey and Isiah Winder who will be around the mark at our second and third rounders. If it doesn't work out all those just mentioned can also play on a wing to great effect. 

Otherwise I'd move Hunt back to a half back flank as a short term fix. I still think it's his best position and can really break games back there, and he's a bit awkward as a forward where he kicks goals but doesn't put on much pressure and doesn't get involved much in scoring chains.

[Kent 2,914]

59 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

Who replaces him at half back?

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Our record converting players isn’t too flash. We’ve tried players on the wing with more suitable attributes that have been a bust and Salem will be no different. Leave him where he is and where he’s been learning his trade for the last 100 odd games. 

Yes Jones on the wing was a great move

 

[BDA 22,880]

29 minutes ago, Gawndog98 said:

I think Salem has much better attributes as a wingman than many of the players we've tried to play on a wing who have mostly been slow, poor kicking inside mids. Salem is a good half back flank, but I think he can be a very good wingman.

As for who to replace him at half back if he moves up the ground, that's where we can target this position at the draft. Jack Carroll and Nathan O'Driscoll will be around our first two picks and could slot in straight onto a half back flank, as could Jake Bowey and Isiah Winder who will be around the mark at our second and third rounders. If it doesn't work out all those just mentioned can also play on a wing to great effect. 

Otherwise I'd move Hunt back to a half back flank as a short term fix. I still think it's his best position and can really break games back there, and he's a bit awkward as a forward where he kicks goals but doesn't put on much pressure and doesn't get involved much in scoring chains.

I wouldn’t be using a pick on a half back on the assumption Salem will be a success on the wing. I wouldn’t be moving Hunt back there either. He has found his role in support up forward.

I would definitely use a pick to find a winger.

If its an itch we have to scratch play him there after Baker has had a run (quite likely he’ll be dropped but you never know). If it doesn’t work then revert back quickly. But don’t be wasting picks on a position where we have a perfectly good player in situ.

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

10 hours ago, Pates said:

One of Melksham's attributes (at least in the past) has been his ability to one on one aerial contests with clever body positioning and good overhead abilities. I think this is one of the major things that allowed him to survive the chop, despite him deserving it IMHO. I'm not sure that Salem has that ability to affect contests in the air.

Salem is a little bit of a tough cookie, I like him off half back but I'm not entirely sure if that's utilising his abilities. I'd like to see him tried potentially on the wing opposite to Langdon but I don't think he's quick enough or has a big enough tank. Half forward I'm not sure there's a place for him with a number of similar sized players already there.

I'd really love to see him further up the ground but I'm not sure how it would work.

 

I would try him as a defensive half forward and see how he goes.  He can always move to half back if it doesn't work out.

All I know is that he is not a midfielder / winger.

[jnrmac 20,186]

17 hours ago, Forest Demon said:

He did play forward in his first year or 2 and was good.

He is the master of those little kicks that find a target, and they would be more useful at half forward leading to direct shots on goal rather than slowing momentum at half back imo.

That's the issue. Its a good thing BUT we're not getting the best value out of that.

He and Melksham have the ability to kick those flat 50m darts through the corridor  that can break open the play and oppo defences.

If he's going to play defence we need to get more out of his kicking ability than dinky 15m chip passes.

[McQueen 17,867]

I’d be more open to rotating him thru the guts if we’re looking to improve our connection from clearance/stoppage. 
 

He said in his draft year that he models his game on Luke Hodge - he certainly doesn’t have the brutality of Hodge but around the ball and making smart decisions and delivering efficiently is a lot of potential imv. 
Should look to work a rotation with Gus.