Round 8 teams

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Saturday May 16
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
MCG, 2.10pm

MELBOURNE
B: Clint Bartram , Matthew Warnock , Ricky Petterd
HB: Camern Bruce , Lynden Dunn, Aaron Davey
C: Jack Grimes, Colin Sylvia , Brock McLean
HF: Cale Morton , Brad Miller , Russel Robertson
F: Nathan Jones, Stefan Martin , Matthew Bate
Foll: Paul Johnson , Brent Moloney, James McDonald
Int: Matthew Whelan, Addam Maric , Shane Valenti, Kyle Cheney, ,
Emg: Mark Jamar, Neville Jetta , Michael Newton

In: Matthew Whelan, Kyle Cheney, Shane Valenti
Out: Jared Rivers (Ankle), James Frawley (Thigh), Jamie Bennell

BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Dale Morris, Brian Lake
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Tom Williams, Ryan Hargrave
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Robert Murphy, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Jason Akermanis, Will Minson, Josh Hill
Foll: Ben Hudson, Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen
Int: Andrejs Everitt, Daniel Giansiracusa, Scott Welsh, Liam Picken
Emg: Dylan Addison, Shaun Higgins, Callan Ward

No change

Bennell WTF? Anyone got a reason for this? Has he picked up a niggle or something?

 

[richskee]

Great to see the 'Fire Hydrant' Valenti getting a go!

 

[proka123]

I like what i'm seeing with those inclusions, a bit hard on Bennell though if he hasn't got an injury.

 

[FOOOOTY]

Bennell was dropped??

 

[Dez!]

Probably just to give him a break.

Seriously he's a first year player, can't expect his body to be able to play every week.

I reckon he's earned a break, good decision.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELS!!!!!!!!

VALENTI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[The Great Gabsby]

Bennell is being rested.

Interested that we are still going in with only 1 ruckman. I'm guessing our other ruck's must not be 100% yet.

 

[master bate]

No doubt Bennell was rested, 7 games in seems a good time and the dogs don't have a "lesser" forward to play him on. Cheney and Whelan are more suited.

With Valenti in I think you find Bruce is back to the backline to match up on Johnson.

 

[Colin Grigson]

HELLOOOOOOOOOO!!!


Just wanna say that i think its a strange decision to drop Bennell now, after he's just played his best game for the club.

Would've thought his confidence would be up now, and it would be a real opportune time to give him some more senior experience while he's mentally on an upward curve..

Don't understand it to be honest. He doesn't need a rest. If he'd played a shocker against the weagles, well i could understand...

But if we're going to be serious about blooding young talent, then we ought to select them when they're performing.

dud decision for mine

 

[Dez!]

He's a first year player, he's played 7 games including trips to Subiaco and AAMI, he deserves a rest.

How can you judge if he doesn't need a rest?

We are serious about blooding young talent which is why you see Kyle Cheney and Shane Valenti coming into the team.

It's not a dud decision, it's managing your first year players.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

I reckon the 5-day break is a consideration here.

If you're going to rest a young player in this way, definitely the best time to do it IMO is when you're faced with a shorter turnaround like we are this week.

 

[Colin Grigson]

yeah, fair call...

i just thought that it would've been a good idea to give the kid another game as his confidence would be up. I know its a quick turnaround, but I think Bennell's a pretty good athlete too. I think confidence is a really crucial thing for 1st year players. I like Jamie a lot, and i just hope the match committee are doing the right thing..

Having said that, Whelan's a pretty handy replacement you'd have to agree

 

[Bartram_Class]

Some nice in's, all tough nuts.

Sad to see Bennell rested, but got to trust the staff, they know the players better than we do.

 

[demonben]

I think they shold have dropped maric. He is supposed to be clean with the footy and his past two game i think he has made way too many errors.
Totally agree with DEZ

 

[Colin Grigson]

I think they shold have dropped maric. He is supposed to be clean with the footy and his past two game i think he has made way too many errors.
Totally agree with DEZ

But that's what people said about Frawley and Morton, etc..

You're forgetting that Maric, and correct me if im wrong, but Addam Maric was statistically the most accurate kick for goal, according to Champion Data, of any player who has been measured in a season ( in his last year for Calder Cannons u-18s...)

From what i've seen, Maric doesnt only have that ability to kick goals, but he is also a very good kick when spotting up a teamate, and is also quick and a good decision maker. You dont just 'lose' that ability to kick the ball from u-18s to seniors.

The problem is, we've been spoiled with a handful of players like Judd, Palmer & Rich who can immediately find their feet at AFL level and make the seamless transition from u-18s footy to AFL seniors.

The reality is that 98% of the kids drafted tend to struggle to keep up with the pace of AFL footy in their 1st year or two..

But we need to persist with them if they are going to suceed...


As far as I'm concerned, i've seen enough of Addam Maric to be convinced that he can grow into an Alan Didak or Steve Johnson type 'small fwd/md'. He has that ability..

So when these kids make errors, even persistently, we should encourage them by playing them to build their confidence as this is the only way they'll improve at senior level...


Many of us are simply far too hasty, expecting these kids to set the world on fire from the word go. Its just not realistic. Give Maric time, experience and a bit of patience and he'll be a good player for us

 

[Dez!]

I think they shold have dropped maric. He is supposed to be clean with the footy and his past two game i think he has made way too many errors.
Totally agree with DEZ

Last game Maric was very good, showed some good run and just some of his class. He could be better with his disposal and he will get better with more games, stick with him he will be a very good player for us.

 

[Supermercado]

Maric was much improved in the second half last week. No point necking somebody just as they start getting into it.

 

[demonben]

Yer fair Point, but interesting fact was that from the goals he kicked for the canons 78 percent were from less than 30 meters. but i see your point and your probably right.

 

[demonben]

Also, Dena Bailey is a very smart coach. Taking out bennell very smart move. Love the kid. If you remember a few years ago when davey was quite young he was playing really solid footy. He then did his hammy against the dogs and that was the end of his season. Look how long it took for him to get back to being an elite footy player. Bails is right on the money. Keep the young kids fresh and give em time.

 

[Colin Grigson]

Yer fair Point, but interesting fact was that from the goals he kicked for the canons 78 percent were from less than 30 meters. but i see your point and your probably right.

he'll come good, i promise!! But seriously, some players you just look at and you know they wont make it. Newton for example ...But when I look at Maric, I think, this kid is basically made for the modern game (albeit without the height though..)

If you cant kick, you're going to struggle these days, and I think Maric could turn out to be an elite disposer of the footy in due course. He could be a really important part of our future, but we need to back him in when he's lacking in confidence like he is ATM..

 

[master bate]

Maric didn't lack confidence when he drilled one from 50. I don't know what his disposal % was last week but I thought he was as good as anyone. He's the type of player who will run around at half forward for this year and get a few kicks but will get very dangerous after a couple of preseasons (he hasn't done one yet) when he can play deep forward and in the midfield as well.

 

[demonboy13]

Maric had 100% disposal efficiency against the eagles so i dont think he deserves to be rideculed....80% + is great, let alone 100

 

[puckled]

My prayers have been answered! Shane Valenti set to tear up the 'G.

But seriously, good inclusion, hes earnt it. Will be interesting to see how the midfield operates.

In terms of Rookie List/LTI list would it be:
LTI

• Meese
• Garland
• Blease

Elevated/Returned to senior list:

• Jamar
• Valenti
• ?

Whose the other elevation? Or isnt there one?

 

[saj_21]

I think they shold have dropped maric. He is supposed to be clean with the footy and his past two game i think he has made way too many errors.
Totally agree with DEZ

Clearly no idea 100% disposal efficency last week, against Geelong his skills were treeible but what could you expect first game for their against Geelong could you ask for a bigger step up in tempo when coming from VFL to AFL.

People on here are to quick to judge players and wen isntant results give these kids a chance to settle in, if some of you hard your way Maric would of been out of the team and would of played the good game he did last week.

Bennell, the kid has plenty of time to play out a full season don;t want to over do his workload early in his career and cheney is a more than servicable replacement.

 

[Back to Shark Park]

Interesting call on Shane Valenti. I know for an absolute fact that Dean Bailey told him at the start of the season that he would probably not play for you guys again which I find crazy.

At least he has the chance to show again how good he is and can be.

 

[The Demon]

My prayers have been answered! Shane Valenti set to tear up the 'G.

But seriously, good inclusion, hes earnt it. Will be interesting to see how the midfield operates.

In terms of Rookie List/LTI list would it be:
LTI

• Meese
• Garland
• Blease

Elevated/Returned to senior list:

• Jamar
• Valenti
• ?

Whose the other elevation? Or isnt there one?

Hopefully Hughes!