David Neitz

[Nunce 5]

All-Australian Centre half back.....(albeit before I went through puberty)........and a bit better on his body than playing up forward.

We all know Daniher's reluctance to play him there, but do you think Bailey could place him there?

It could also help Newman/Dunn's or even Johnson's development by playing them up forward and making one or all of them targets.

[beelzebub 22,244]

A long time ago I suggested trialling him at FB.. ( of course suitable laughter and scorn eminated ..lol ) but if he isnt the gun forward any more ..Id at least like to see him work tested in this or similar role in the preseason. We arent as short of forwards as we are big backs !!

this is cue for hysterical laughter !!

[Nunce 5]

I think they should at least try it. There's no doubt Neitz can do it. Although to build a defence around him, with his dodgy knee could be a gamble.

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,625]

" trialling him at FB.."

Worth a try ,I reckon, now he doesn't make it to the contest in the forward line. We've got to get some value out of him if we're coughing up a fortune.His legs will stand up better to the straigt-ahead defensive play.

[GawnWithTheWind 604]

I think it is a bit passed big Neita... He has been an awesome player.. both in defence and forward... but now that his days are winding down.. he needs to play them up at FF. The game would be too fast paced for him to be playing there. Imagine him lining up on buddy franklin or Fev.. he wont be able to keep up... He is not the answer

[beelzebub 22,244]

I agree he's far from perfect.. . Defence is a team effort also. people have to know what coridors to block and what hot spots to guard...its not a one man show. I do however totally agree his knee is his achilles heel.. ( nothing like a moxed metaphor is there..lol )

[GawnWithTheWind 604]

Yeh it is a team effort.. But you also do get alot of one on one contests.. Even if its a lead and chase.. Or a wrestle in the goalsquare. I think we need to be looking for a big, quick defender who's work rate is good enough to keep up wit the best FF's in the league. I think with enough time spend on him, Fergy can be someone who can fill the whole, for a while anyways. He will need some work and some good coaching. I would love to see a big strong Fergy round 1 lining up at FB

[Guest melbman]

Interesting thought, I'd only considered the old CHB or FF options. I think he'd be great in the arm wrestles at FB and great to watch, he's as strong as any one but would be a tad slow but so is carroll and he doesn't have neitz strenghth.

I guess if the gaps for leading could be plugged a bit then we'd have a damn tough FB

Hmmmm the more I think about it the better it sounds

[Ausyid 0]

Who's going to draw the best tall defender in our forward line?

Newton?

We'd struggle to kick goals without Neita playing at FF. Even if he's not kicking them himself. It's one of the key reasons why we struggled overall this season.

[Yencks 8]

against st kilda i think in 04 or 05 when we pumped them by about 54 points (not the game where neita kicked nine) neitz was having a shocker and put himself on the half forward flank and actually racked up a fair few possesions allowing holland to kick a couple of goals. i would like to see him there next year

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

against st kilda i think in 04 or 05 when we pumped them by about 54 points (not the game where neita kicked nine) neitz was having a shocker and put himself on the half forward flank and actually racked up a fair few possesions allowing holland to kick a couple of goals. i would like to see him there next year

Riewoldt.

[Yencks 8]

Riewoldt.

yeah reidwoldt did kick nine goals that game cos the g-train was out. --i was referring to the game last year when neita did kick 8 or 9 goals in the games record game against the saints, i didnt want ppl to think i was referring to that game

[Red and Blue Flame 142]

Neita is far to slow to play in the back half of the ground..perhaps 6 or so years ago. but not now. He must stay Full forward and take away the oppositions best defender and keep crashing and bashing through packs

[Big Kev 340]

A long time ago I suggested trialling him at FB.. ( of course suitable laughter and scorn eminated ..lol ) but if he isnt the gun forward any more ..Id at least like to see him work tested in this or similar role in the preseason. We arent as short of forwards as we are big backs !!

this is cue for hysterical laughter !!

A better chance for David to play in the midfield to replace Trapper (more laughter)

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

A better chance for David to play in the midfield to replace Trapper (more laughter)

At 34, I would make him a 4 quarter tagging player now Godders is gone.

[BlackBart 0]

He's old and injury prone, there is no way he would be able to keep up with the play. I think this will be his last year and I hope he can get a bit more support in the forward line than what he has had recently

[beelzebub 22,244]

well then ....we better just get his dressing gown and slippers.. prop him up on the bench .. get him a hot milo and a copy of the record !!

[Guest redandbluethruandthru]

play him alone in the 50. with newton and robbo at 50 and davey dashing thru to lead to empty space. also put green up forward ffs

[occo 2]

no. He cant handle defence now. He doesent have the speed nor the energy to handle a defensive job. He should play FF allowing Newton to play alongside him or CHF.

[Rogue 585]

Neitz is no longer a backman. Best to forget that part of his career entirely - it was a long time ago.

As others have pointed out, taking Neitz out of our forward line also means that every other forward gets a better defender than they otherwise would, which isn't going to help much.

[CARN THE DEES! 14]

play him alone in the 50. with newton and robbo at 50 and davey dashing thru to lead to empty space. also put green up forward ffs

I actually like this but to be able 2 do this are midfield needs a good kick up the arse to work alot harder and run both ways because if our midfield is lazy then oppenents can double up and make it very difficult to be able 2 win the ball.

With that said though i would only place this tactic when the ball is lodged in our defensive 50 so when we release the ball from there it allows a quick flow and is much easier to run with. This tactic would imply with our game plan from 05/06 which is run it down the guts and allow quick play keeping our oppenents on the back foot. Which is much better than this years 'run and carry' which although in theory worked but in action it resulted in our team stuffing around with the ball and handpassing way to much.

In 2008 Melbourne need to dominant the corridor because lately we have seen melbourne get smashed on our Half Forward Line and the oppistion just rebounding from there. What usually happens is we break from the back line and take to long to deliver the ball this giving time for our oppenents to run further up the ground then when finally kick to our forward line its to a contest which because they have numbers they win and then in result of this they break quickly from the packs and run straight through the corridor and then kick a goal. We need to use the corridor much more and be long and direct instead of running and carrying this giving our team time which we didnt have before and then suddenly we have numbers and then we have a chance of scoring.

Everything is centred around the midfield and in 2008 Melbourne's midfield need to become very fit and run both ways and not just watch the ball so lets make a change and fight for the ball and not give our oppistion easy possesions and lets get to the ball first and lets be long and direct!

CARN THE DEMONS IN 2008

[mick2007 0]

Too slow! He would get carved up

Leave him up forward with Yze and Davey crumbing all the chest marks that bounce of his chest. He would near have the strongest set of hands in the comp and he continues to try chest mark. Chest marking is wet weather football. It shits me to tears the forward coaches have let him get away with it for so long. You grab the ball out in front so your opponent cant get at it. Robbo and Green on the flanks. Green kicking goals on the run left footed is amazing to watch. Sylvia CHF rotating with Newton maybe. I still dont see any room for Miller unless Neitz is injured