Browsing the internet and found this thread on BigFooty.
It would be interesting to see who the supporters on this site rate compared to others.
I will start it off, and won't mention any of the new draftees.
I will rate this on their 'best' and 'importance'
1. Jared Rivers - Our best player. Reads the ball so well and will beat his man consistently. Helps out the other defenders better than any other Melbourne player i can remember. We are are 3-4 goal better defence with him.
2. Brock Mclean - The midfield general. Tough, gets a lot of the ball and uses it well.
3. James McDonald - Always gives 100%. Tough at the ball and inspiring.
4. Brad Green - Been preceived as 'soft' but in the last 2 years has really stood up all over the ground. Can win the game off his own boot, and take a match winning mark on the last line of defence. Should have been B&F this year.
5. Aaron Davey - Made the forward pocket role what it is today. Plays his best when up forward. Picking up Jetta and Bennell will keep Flash up the ground.
6. Cameron Bruce - Was once an elite player in the competition. Now, he is slow, soft, can't kick and living on reputation. Sorry, but its true.
7. Colin Garland - Is going to be huge for us. Whether it be at Full Back or Full Forward, he is tall, quick and getting experience.
8. Russell Robertson - On the decline, but on his day he is still one of the most exciting and damaging forwards in the AFL
9. Paul Johnson - Not a true ruckman, but his work around the ground and his skills below his knees are fantastic for such a big man.
10. Brad Miller - Lucky to be on our list after many lean years, but really stood up last year to be a forward target. He has added consistency to his game, but i hope we do find some1 better.
11. Brent Moloney - Seems to always be injured so we forget what he can do. Is tough and gets a lot of the ball. Has been a tad one-dimensional in the past, but i hope that can change.
12. Matthew Whelan - Is getting on, but he is a true defender. Is tough, accountable and uses the ball well.
13. Simon Buckley - Came out of nowhere last year. Takes the opposition on, and his very very quick. His skills need improving, but he could be anything.
14. Lynden Dunn - Recruited as a Key forward, but has been played as a tagger and defender over the last 1 1/2 years. I feel he is being wasted in these roles.
15. Paul Wheatley - Has a great kick, but only really plays well when Melbourne play bad. Just an average player at a bad time.
16. Colin Sylvia - My favorite player who just continues to disappoint. Finally having his first full pre season. But needs to have a great year. Could be an explosive HFF or could let us down yet again.
17. Michael Newton - The full forward we so desperately need. Has struggled but also has been given a 2 year contract to prove himself. Better hurry up coz Jack Watts is coming!!!!
18. James Frawley - Will be fighting for a spot. Have we wasted another very high draft pick here?
19. Cale Morton - Will be right at the top of this list after this year. Looked like he belonged towards the end of '08, and if his skills improve will be a MASSIVE player for us.
20. Matthew Warnock - Could be a lot higher on the list, but could also be lower. He did well last year with Garland, but Rivers, Frawley, Garland, Martin and Warnock probably won't play all at once
21. Matthew Bate - Burst onto the scene with a dangerous left foot. Seems to need his teammates to be playing well for him to play well. He will be dangerous with some confidence.
22. Austin Wonaemirri - IMO will be a flash in the pan. Bit of a cult following, but doesn't seem to have the tricks of Davey / Rioli etc.
23. Ricky Petterd - Another who started off well but suffered injury. Needs to bulk up but will be a very good 10 + year player with us.
24. Jack Grimes - Only played 1 AFL game coming back from injury and didn't do anything special. Towards the end of the season i saw him at Sandy a few times and he looked a class above. At such a young age he is a player to watch.
25. Nathan Jones - Slow, can't kick, thinks he can take anybody on and beat them. Looks like he was a bully in the juniors and is trying to do the same now. Having Mclean and Moloney back in the midfield will make life easier for Jones.
26. Stefan Martin - First year on the list and looked good. Tall and quick. But if everybody on our list is fit then i don't see a spot for him.
27. Addam Maric - Had school commitments but looked to have a cool head when the ball was in his hands. We have so many small forwards now, i think Maric will be used as a midfielder in years to come.
28. Daniel Bell - Quick, good user of the ball, but is a dumb footballer with no awareness. Plays 1-2 good games a year but other than that, not great.
29. Clint Bartram - Good runner. Ordinary footballer.
30. Kyle Cheney - Late draft pick, and played a handful of 1's games at Sandy. Will be pushing for a senior game this year. If he gets a game, i think our season may already be over.
31. Tom McNamara - Still extremely young.
32. Mark Jamar - Gives away stupid frees. Can't kick a football to save his life, handballs at all costs and the opposition are onto him.
33. John Meesen - Terrible
Rookies - Valenti -If promoted, he should walk straight into the team. Is tough, smart, uses the ball wall, holds his own in a tackle and is extremely exciting. Would be top 15 on my list.
Zomer - Only saw him live once and that was in the NAB Cup. He marked really well but struggled to kick. Like most talls, will take a few years to develop. Would be towards the bottom of my list.
cant think of the other rookies who have been on our list for over a year...
