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21 minutes ago, Redleg said:

We now have Salem, Hunt and Rosman from that deal, via Tyson for Preuss and then Preuss pick for Rosman. If I got that right that is pretty good I would have thought. All 3 players will be in our AFL side before too long IMO and for what it is worth, I wouldn’t swap Salem for Kelly. I think we need Salem more than Kelly with our current list.

Yep, bathwater till someone pulled the plug on Kelly. Right across the team now blokes are automatically taking first choices with confidence. Chaos ball is BS.

 
On 4/21/2021 at 7:22 AM, 58er said:

Salo is definitely under the radar.

As a half back he is like an extra on baller really linking up the chain.

But it's his courage and intercept marking that keep his engine and our team possession game going whether we are on top or under pressure.

IMO he is really worth $600 for 4 years and AF who isn't convinced should start by watching the GWS win at the Gabba in Round 17 in 2020 to see the extra level his game has gone to. His 1:1 are good and he is having great IMPACT with his possessions  and metres gained. 
 

A must signature and I wonder If he ever thinks of the name Kelly. My suspicion is never Which shows what an uncomplicated team player we are so lucky to have at the peak of his powers.

That's not what I said at all. I said I don't watch him in every contest and expect him to win it. For an outside player, he's reasonable on the inside, and he has improved his 1v1, but I've also watched him for 8 years and I wouldn't say he's infallible in 1v1 situations. 

 
1 hour ago, Fat Tony said:

Locked in according to Nick Butler on 10 news. 
 

 

Great news if true.

Seems to me that good mates Oliver, Salem and Petracca are all done deals and the marketing department is staggering the good news for maximum affect .. good on them if true


On 4/20/2021 at 9:05 PM, Ron Burgundy said:

Salem’s Salon.

Clayton Oliver is apparently a regular in there.

 

As is Boris Johnson

On 4/20/2021 at 5:46 PM, Fat Tony said:

Our best small defender since Alan Johnson?

Brett Lovett has Salem covered very, very easily. 

 
6 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Brett Lovett has Salem covered very, very easily. 

 

Wow he was a hell of a player.   Embarrassed his opponents in 1 on 1's every week and his skills were sublime.   One of the most underrated players ever.

6 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Brett Lovett has Salem covered very, very easily. 

I’d agree, but not very easily. And by careers end maybe even not.


15 hours ago, A F said:

That's not what I said at all. I said I don't watch him in every contest and expect him to win it. For an outside player, he's reasonable on the inside, and he has improved his 1v1, but I've also watched him for 8 years and I wouldn't say he's infallible in 1v1 situations. 

You said you don't trust him yet In 1:1's.

Don't back pedal because you obviously don't either watch properly or don't like Christian.

Seriously he has gone from a B grader half way through last year having a small impact on our game plan to an A grader now who has added intercept marking longer kicking and more metres gained to his game.

As for his 1 on 1's he is elite and no one player wins every one. Tomlinson has apparently lost only 1 individual battle since being placed in defence halfway through last season. 
 

Christian has also been elite this year look at the Coaches votes and other player awards for his votes etc from a graveyard ie Half back flank.

Its like the improvement in Kossie recognise it and give credit where it's due AF.

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53 minutes ago, 58er said:

You said you don't trust him yet In 1:1's.

Don't back pedal because you obviously don't either watch properly or don't like Christian.

Seriously he has gone from a B grader half way through last year having a small impact on our game plan to an A grader now who has added intercept marking longer kicking and more metres gained to his game.

As for his 1 on 1's he is elite and no one player wins every one. Tomlinson has apparently lost only 1 individual battle since being placed in defence halfway through last season. 
 

Christian has also been elite this year look at the Coaches votes and other player awards for his votes etc from a graveyard ie Half back flank.

Its like the improvement in Kossie recognise it and give credit where it's due AF.

He's not an A grader.

8 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Brett Lovett has Salem covered very, very easily. 

Matty Whelan went alright too.

Doubt the club would announce anything, good or bad, this week to ensure nothing overshadows Jones 300th.  AS it should be.

I wonder for how long Salem will sign.

Signing up now means he has eschewed Free Agency and suggests he could become a one club player.  He is 26 would be very happy to see him sign for 4 to 5 years. 

Edited by Lucifer's Hero


He's been very good this year. Fantastic against Geelong out-marking bigger bodied opponents. One of the most reliable kicks on our list. Pay him market rates for 3-4 years.

Carlton paid Essendon pick 8 for Saad. I'd have Salem every day of the week over Saad.

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

He's not an A grader.

Yes he is. I’ve watched almost every game this season and he’s the top of the crop in that position. I haven’t looked at stats but I’d say he compares favourably if not better than most. 

He is in a rich vein of form re: one on one's. Normally a fantastic kick - shanked a few on a the weekend. Is quite combative, considering what looks to be a slight frame.

Anyway - I put him as floating between an A and a B - so B+ with his worst being a B and his best being A+ from contest to contest.

And some more indepth info 

https://www.afl.com.au/stats/stats-pro#/Discover/CD_I296359/Salem-Christian

 

 

 

Screen Shot 2021-04-23 at 8.19.36 am.png

I also think it's helpful to think about the language of 'average' as being on a bell curve - some maths guru will correct me - but I assume it is about the mean, as opposed to the median or mode.

 

Edited by Engorged Onion

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Doubt the club would announce anything, good or bad, this week to ensure nothing overshadows Jones 300th.  AS it should be.

Agreed, which is why there has been nothing more than the channel 10 story so far. 10 reporter getting the intel is a strange leak but if that is as bad as the leaks are from the club nowadays I am happy.

4 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

He's not an A grader.

He is equal 7th in the coaches votes, one of only two AFL defenders that are on the leader board (the other is Moore) so a fair chance our coach has put him in that class.  Ranked better than May and Lever...

He is ranked top 20 in the league:

 ●  Ranked 14th in Total Kicks   ●  Ranked 19th in Total Rebound 50s  
  ●  Ranked 16th in Total Metres Gained   ●  Ranked 15th in Total Intercepts
  ●  Ranked 15th in Kicks Per Game   ●  Ranked 18th in Metres Gained Per Game
 

People will say he is not fast.  True, he isn't is a Bulldog's JJ running type (we have Hunt for that role).  But Salem's footy smarts, ability to 'stop and prop' then find a target are excellent.  Very cool player.

I put him in the Whitfield, Rich type of defender - the smart play maker with great skills.

I mentioned in an earlier post a reason he 'looks better' this year because team mates understand their roles better and the game plan better.  But he has always been very good.

Not sure what your definition of an A grader is if it doesn't include a player like Salem.

     
   

Edited by Lucifer's Hero


What Salem has significantly improved this year is his kicking. I've always thought he was good at intercepting and 1v1's, but would then turn the ball over despite being known as a great kick. I've got BT saying "not his best kick" ringing in my ears. But thankfully terrific this year. 78% DE up from 72% last year. 

 

Great news! 5 year signing is a serious show of faith.

Anyone doubting how good he is go and watch the last quarter of the Geelong game again. He is now the player I was hoping he would be

5 years is a great result, tipping the last couple will be back ended which allows Trac to sign for a couple of years id imagine.


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