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Where we stand after Canberra

Pinball Wizard
in Melbourne Demons

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I thought I'd do a run down of where our list is at following the Canberra practice match based on the various reports of training and the match itself. Feel free to comment, correct or add to these observations:-

1. Simon Buckley – Played/ was in the game a lot, got the ball and used it well

2. Nathan Jones - Played/among the best of the on ballers

3. Clint Bartram - DNP (rehab/ did some training before the game)

4. Ben Holland - Played/ moved well, marked strongly

5. Brock McLean - DNP (knee)

6. Matthew Bate - Played/ did well at both midfield and half forward, kicked a couple of long goals

7. Brad Miller – Played/ did reasonably well at CHB

8. James Frawley – Played/ defended well

9. David Neitz - DNP (rested)

10. Cale Morton - Played/ collected plenty of possessions on the wing and across half-back

11. Paul Johnson – Played/ moved well to space, found his targets, took marks and kicked a couple of goals

12. Colin Sylvia – Played/ has slimmed down & was a permanent forward

13. Adem Yze - Played (eye injury - minor)

14. Lynden Dunn - DNP (groin/ did some training before the game)

15. Ricky Petterd – Played/ looked a bit rusty which was understandable

16. Jack Grimes - DNP (rehab/ trained lightly)

17. Chris Johnson - DNP (did some training before the game)

18. Brad Green - Played/ solid hitout

19. Adamm Maric - DNP (school commitments)

20. Colin Garland – Played/ reasonable performance

21. Daniel Bell - Played/ looked good in defence

22. Brent Moloney – Played/ big possession winner and played out the game well

23. James McDonald - DNP (family wedding)

24. Russell Robertson – Played/ solid hitout

25. Kyle Cheney - Played/ did some nice things

26. John Meesen - Played/ did well around the ground

27. Jared Rivers - DNP (rehab/ looked solid at training)

28. Isaac Weetra – Played/ fast and elusive with good forward defensive skills, kicked a few goals

29. Michael Newton - Played/ took a screamer, kicked a goal and ran well off Miller at CHF

30. Tom McNamara – Played/ did some nice things but still a way to go

31. Paul Wheatley - DNP (trained before the game)

32. Cameron Bruce - DNP (knee)

33. Stefan Martin – Played/ showed something in defence, improved as the game went on

34. Jeff White – Played/ solid hitout

35. Trent Zomer - Played/ took a couple of strong marks

36. Aaron Davey - Played/ flashed in and out of the game with his usual zest

37. Matthew Warnock – Played/ did not show out

39. Austin Wonaeamirri – Played/ a live-wire in the midfield and up forward

40. Mark Jamar – Played/ competitive against White, good in some bullocking situations

41. Nathan Carroll – Played/ worked hard

42. Jake Spencer – DNP/ trained well earlier in the week

43. Jace Bode – Played/ reasonable but got caught a couple of times

44. Shane Valenti – Played/ won his share of clearances in the middle and used the ball with precision

45. Matthew Whelan - DNP (rehab/ did some training)

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    Thanks PW. I think you've captured it well. My only comments are:

    • I reckon that Valenti was right up there with the other onballers Jones, Moloney and Buckley
    • Dunn only walked the boundary before the practice match (as he did at training on Wednesday). I hope his groin is no more than a niggle, because he looks to be in fantastic physical shape and Bails has been strong in his praise for him since taking over.
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    Thanks for the report pinball, my concern is that there are too many players on the sidelines for this time of year. Are we seeing the start of another year where our best players are on the sideline watching on? I had hoped that out fitness staff's performance this year would have improved dramatically over last year. A way to go before the real thing I know but geez you have to wonder!

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    I would say that, in doubt for Round 1 are: Bartram, Whelan, Bruce, Wheatley and maybe Rivers and Petterd

    I think Bartram and Whelan will both be lucky to sneak in a few games in 2008, as it really doesn't look great for them.

    On the other hand, for Moloney, Sylvia and Brock to have done a large chuck of the pre-season (Brock's injury seems minor) is absolutely fantastic!

    Thanks for the report pinball, my concern is that there are too many players on the sidelines for this time of year. Are we seeing the start of another year where our best players are on the sideline watching on? I had hoped that out fitness staff's performance this year would have improved dramatically over last year. A way to go before the real thing I know but geez you have to wonder!

    I wouldn't worry too much about that.

    A lot of players were rested or not risked. If anyone has a niggle at this time of year, and many do after a full pre-season, you would not risk them in a practice match (which from all reports was pretty rough and tough). That does not mean that the players who did not play are not fit, it simply means that they are too high risk.

    Certainly I wouldn't want Neita to have a training injury like Bartram had last year and still has not recovered from.

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    valenti is a gun. will play senior footy this year

    If we did get a long term injury (touch wood) it will be very intresting to see who gets the nod out of Valenti and Wonaeamerri.

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    At this stage I wouldn't stress to much about the DNP list.

    I think we are seeing the beginnings of this whole 'no-one plays unless fully fit' rule Bailey has talked about.

    Rivers probably could have had a run, but would have set back the path to 100%. Neitz too.

    Mclean is just resting a minor injury, to be sure. CJ just has a hamstring 'tweak' which will clear up in a couple of weeks.

    Grimes is looking after the back fractures, I would think he'll be eased along for some time to make sure he's good for a decade ;) but he is training.

    Dunn, Wheatley, Whelan and Bartram are the question marks at the moment. I think there's huge variation in their injuries, from reeted niggle to 'only recently doing laps'. All are at least running.

    A lot of the other absences were not injury related (eg. Maric and McDonald).

    There is a bit of a list, but many of those would probably play if it was round 19, we were on the edge of the top 4, and if they were considered essential.

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