Daniel Cross (Melbourne)

[F_therest]

If it hasn't already been done, what do Demons supporters think their best 22 will now look like? Something like this?
B: Garland Frawley Clisby
HB: Terlich McDonald Grimes
C: Watts Cross M.Jones
HF: Howe Dawes Trengove
F: Hogan Clark Tyson
R: Gawn N.Jones Viney
INT: McKenzie/Michie/Tapscott/Toumpass
Blease, Kent, Fitzy next in line

Thats quite a forward line Melbournes got there. Based on potential of course.

 

[Andy_Mac]

If it hasn't already been done, what do Demons supporters think their best 22 will now look like? Something like this?
B: Garland Frawley Clisby
HB: Terlich McDonald Grimes
C: Watts Cross M.Jones
HF: Howe Dawes Trengove
F: Hogan Clark Tyson
R: Gawn N.Jones Viney
INT: McKenzie/Michie/Tapscott/Toumpass
Blease, Kent, Fitzy next in line

That's pretty close to it.

I think Jamar is still ahead of Gawn, I'm expecting Roo's to get a lot out of Dunn and Bernie Vince plays ahead of Tapscott.

 

[Hot Pocket]

Agree, wasn't a fan of what they did last year, outside of obviously Hogan. Seemed very scattergun. This year seems like their is a lot more purpose and direction.

When you look at the age of our list, I think most of the moves made sense (allegedly Todd Viney and Mark Neeld had a blowup though at one point when Neeld was considering getting rid of pick 4/Toumpas).

We added youth (Kent, Viney, Hogan, Toumpas) some good state level players (Clisby, Terlich) two old guys who cost us almost nothing (Rodan, Byrnes) and then two superspuds that were shocking pickups (Gillies and Pederson, which were awful choices).

We're such a young side, we really do NEED to be targetting veteran players even in 2014 as well. I'm loving this trade period so far, because we're clearly addressing the midfield and clearance work. No blaming the current players (like Neeld did), just an acquisition of players who do the role we need. Its very much the same as Paul Roos' approach from Sydney.

 

[Dazb86]

Good luck to Cross. Still has plenty to offer.

Good pick up by the Dee's.

 

[Flash86]

Cross has been one of my favourite players. He bled for the dogs. Will be hard watching him wear a different jumper. But he is still has red and blue in his jumper.
Cross is as courageous as they come. He is fantastic being the loose man in defence as he will block the run of the forward leading for the ball. Never thinks twice about going back in the flight of the ball to take a mark even when he has 2 or 3 forwards running at him to take him out.

He will really take pressure off Jones getting the ball. Will be a great mentor to the young mids at Melbourne.
Is also the best trainer. It is because of Cross and Boyd, that Libba and Wallis have developed so well.
Cross is the ultimate professional. A fantastic pick up for Melbourne. Roos wants to change the culture and couldn't think of a better player for Melbourne to pick up to change the culture than Cross. On-field and off-field leadership is second to none.
He doesn't like to kick the ball that much but is effective around 30 metre kicks just can't kick very far. But he will give it to your damaging mids and help them out winning the hard ball and clearances.

 

[Dazb86]

http://www.afl.com.au/video?guid=535947

To the guy suggesting he won't be able to win his own ball. Watch that video.

 

[KAYNE]

Cross has been one of my favourite players. He bled for the dogs. Will be hard watching him wear a different jumper. But he is still has red and blue in his jumper.
Cross is as courageous as they come. He is fantastic being the loose man in defence as he will block the run of the forward leading for the ball. Never thinks twice about going back in the flight of the ball to take a mark even when he has 2 or 3 forwards running at him to take him out.

He will really take pressure off Jones getting the ball. Will be a great mentor to the young mids at Melbourne.
Is also the best trainer. It is because of Cross and Boyd, that Libba and Wallis have developed so well.
Cross is the ultimate professional. A fantastic pick up for Melbourne. Roos wants to change the culture and couldn't think of a better player for Melbourne to pick up to change the culture than Cross. On-field and off-field leadership is second to none.
He doesn't like to kick the ball that much but is effective around 30 metre kicks just can't kick very far. But he will give it to your damaging mids and help them out winning the hard ball and clearances.

I like the part about not kicking much. I mean this in we have to many midfielders that a poor by foot but continue to try and spot up passes by foot. He is great at making space with his handballing. We usually end up with circle work handballs.

 

[tigs2010]

When you look at the age of our list, I think most of the moves made sense (allegedly Todd Viney and Mark Neeld had a blowup though at one point when Neeld was considering getting rid of pick 4/Toumpas).

We added youth (Kent, Viney, Hogan, Toumpas) some good state level players (Clisby, Terlich) two old guys who cost us almost nothing (Rodan, Byrnes) and then two superspuds that were shocking pickups (Gillies and Pederson, which were awful choices).

We're such a young side, we really do NEED to be targetting veteran players even in 2014 as well. I'm loving this trade period so far, because we're clearly addressing the midfield and clearance work. No blaming the current players (like Neeld did), just an acquisition of players who do the role we need. Its very much the same as Paul Roos' approach from Sydney.

Don't get me wrong I liked the drafting side of it last year. I know people on BF have been paying out Toumpas but he'll be fine. Get another year into Viney, add Vince, Tyson, Michie, Cross on the inside with Jones and see Toumpas blossom. I also was a big Kent fan late in the draft. Whilst those older guys didn't cost anything there didn't seem to be any system or purpose to how they actually fit the side and what role they'd play in the side. You've got Michie for practically nothing this year, Tyson for very cheap, Cross for zilch hopefully. They all fit and make sense IMO.

 

[Flash86]

I like the part about not kicking much. I mean this in we have to many midfielders that a poor by foot but continue to try and spot up passes by foot. He is great at making space with his handballing. We usually end up with circle work handballs.

He has some crazy record to his name with possessions and handballs. I forgot exactly. But something like the most handballs ever. Or highest average of handballs a game ever.
Most seasons he gets more handballs than any other player in the comp.

I agree with what your saying. You have players who can't kick but keep kicking anyways. Cross knows his strengths and weaknesses. He plays to his strengths.

 

[Dazb86]

What exactly do you think we are expecting to get from Cross? A guy who will lead us to premiership glory?

Personally David Rodan played a few decent games and probably one good game against the dogs. Cross only has to better that to be a very good success. He's brought in to show the young players how to train and how to follow instruction and play the right way. That's all we really want.

But he's also only 30 and a lot of players can have a better year at 31 than they did at 30 or similar. See the way Kane Cornes revived his career this year. So it's not unreasonable to expect it could happen for Cross. He'll also get more opportunity at Melbourne than he would've at the dogs. The quality of ruck work really wont impact much of his game.

Massive difference between Rodan and Cross.

Cross still averages 22.6 touches a game. When you picked up Rodan he was averaging 14.2 touches. He has him covered in every stat possible.

Going on stats he would have been your 2nd most productive mid last year.

 

[Hot Pocket]

Historically our pickups from the Doggies have been quite valuable for us too.

I'm thinking specifically of Craig Ellis and Stephen Powell.

 

[Viney]

Historically our pickups from the Doggies have been quite valuable for us too.

I'm thinking specifically of Craig Ellis and Stephen Powell.

Ellis wasn't a great acquisition, Powell was worth it though

Cook....we won't talk about that one

 

[Hot Pocket]

Ellis wasn't a great acquisition, Powell was worth it though

Cook....we won't talk about that one

Ellis did exactly what we wanted him to (pretend to be a CHB because for some reason we didn't believe in drafting any defenders for like a decade)

 

[Viney]

Ellis did exactly what we wanted him to (pretend to be a CHB because for some reason we didn't believe in drafting any defenders for like a decade)

Got about a dozen games out of him though

 

[Hot Pocket]

Got about a dozen games out of him though

Who was our FB back then? I remember Shanahan had retired, and it was pre-Nicho if I recall? Jeez Nicho was bad.

And then we had the Biz paired with Nicho for what seemed like an eternity. Loved the Biz but jesus we cost ourselves any real chance at a flag with that backline.

 

[Viney]

Who was our FB back then? I remember Shanahan had retired, and it was pre-Nicho if I recall? Jeez Nicho was bad.

And then we had the Biz paired with Nicho for what seemed like an eternity. Loved the Biz but jesus we cost ourselves any real chance at a flag with that backline.

Biz came in 2002 as well, then 2003 Biz / Nicho / Carroll

 

[Hot Pocket]

Jeez so we had a backline with key defenders of Ellis and Biz, yet we were hoping to beat all of Essendon, Brissy and Port? Good luck #voiceofbadguyfromtaken

 

[LeverPuller]

Nicho was about the worst full-back I've ever seen.

 

[Demonheart]

Nicho was about the worst full-back I've ever seen.

I see your Nicho and raise you Tony Campbell

 

[dee64]

I see your Nicho and raise you Tony Campbell

You can't be serious. Tony Campbell was a decent full back who at least provided good rebound. Nicho was a spud.

 

[Trav 20]

I see your Nicho and raise you Tony Campbell

He was a limited footballer, but had a couple of very good years. He was instrumental in us beating Hawthorn in round 22 in 1990 and the following week in the Elimination final when he beat Dunstall two weeks in a row.

 

[Wise Guy Sam]

With Cross our best 22 looks much better (and tricky to put together)

B: Terlich - Frawley - Galand
HB: Grimes - McDonald - Toumpas
C: Viney - Tyson - Vince
HF: Watts - Dawes - Trengove
F: Kent - Clark - Hogan
R: Gawn - Jones - Cross
Int: Michie - Howe - McKenzie
S: Blease

Emg: Evans, M jones, Fitzy, Dunn, Jamar

Depth: tapscott, pick 9, Barry

And then the rest.

No doubt I've left out someone important.

Watts, Howe, Toumpas and Grimes all play through the middle too.

 

[Viney]

He was a limited footballer, but had a couple of very good years. He was instrumental in us beating Hawthorn in round 22 in 1990 and the following week in the Elimination final when he beat Dunstall two weeks in a row.

Was he one of the first to go the glove?

 

[Mutt]

Cross will bring a lot of things to Melbourne and all of them will be good. He will set a standard in training, preparation and professionalism that will be worth gold to Roos.

Bulldogs supporters have nothing but admiration and respect for Crossy - he will always be much loved at Whitten Oval and I'm sure we all wish Daniel the very best at Melbourne.

Great pick-up Dees .... look after him.

 

[maverick001]

That's pretty close to it.

I think Jamar is still ahead of Gawn, I'm expecting Roo's to get a lot out of Dunn and Bernie Vince plays ahead of Tapscott.

Oh yea forgot Vince