Best 22 2015

[Big Mac]

It's late, so hopefully I haven't missed anyone, but heres Melbourne's list for 2015.

Defenders:
Locks: Mcdonald, Dunn, Garland, Lumumba, Grimes, Jetta
Fringe: Frost
Depth: Terlich, Mcdonald
Rookie:

Midfielders:
Locks: Jones, Vince, Tyson, Viney, Cross
Fringe: Michie, Newton, Toumpas, Trengove, Salem, Riley, Brayshaw, Petracca, Neal-Bullen
Depth: Mckenzie, Jones, Hunt, Stretch
Rookie: Harmes

Forwards:
Locks: Dawes, Watts, Howe, Hogan, Garlett, Kent
Fringe: JKH
Depth: Fitzpatrick, Pedersen, Bail
Rookie:

Rucks:
Locks: Jamar, Gawn
Fringe:
Depth: Spencer
Rookie: King

Best 22:

B: Jetta, Dunn, Garland
HB: Lumumba, Mcdonald, Grimes
C: Cross, Tyson, Vince
HF: Garlett, Dawes, Howe
F: Gawn, Hogan, Kent
Foll: Jamar, Jones, Viney
Int: Watts, Salem, Riley, Newton

In: Lumumba, Garlett, Frost, Newton, Petracca, Brayshaw, Neal-Bullen, Stretch, Mcdonald
Out: Clark, Frawley, Nicholson, Strauss, Barry, Evans, Byrnes, Clisby, Blease

[Purple 77]

Call me bias, whatever, but I really rate our back 6 and forward 6. It's just the midfield that needs work...

I think we may as well put Brayshaw in  :P I consider him a melbourne player already haha

[Purple 77]

Pedersen a little unlucky, and do you reckon Howe is a forward next year?

I only want him to be a forward if these two criteria are met:
1) Our midfield supply is decent (i.e. drastically improves)
2) We have 2, maybe 1, fit and firing gorilla.

Howe would be a ripper forward if that is met, but a meh forward if one of those is not met IMO. If one of those criteria is not met, I think I like him in the defence.

But I do want him to be taking those marks more often  :P

But yeah, I'd me umming and arring about Pedersen/Gawn selection, depends if Gawn starts playing consistently. I look to his first half against richmond this year, if he plays like that consistently, then of course I want him in the team, but if Pedersen plays like he did in the first 2 thirds of the season, I would like him in the team also.

[Big Mac]

Pedersen is pretty unlucky, but I think Gawn needs to be played in the 1's. He really seemed to turn a corner midway through last season and I definitely think he is capable of kicking 20 goals next season while doing a bit of the ruck as well. He's also 22 whereas Pedersen is 27, so his development is a bit more important.

Howe's best position is forward. He struggled last season when forced to play as the second tall but if he's behind Dawes, Hogan and Gawn this season I think he could do very well. You are right about our midfield supply, and I can't see how it would improve much unless Salem and Toump have massive preseasons and get a run in there. If Howe does struggle though we could just replace him with Watts, move Grimes to the bench and let Howe take his spot off half-back.

If Jamar slows down a bit this season I could also see Pedersen coming in for him and then Gawn doing most of the ruck work. Gawn definitely has the tank for it but there's still question marks over his tap-work unfortunately.

It felt weird putting Hogan as a lock given he hasn't played a game but I think he's ready for it.

[Purple 77]

It's a make or break year for Toumpas really... can't shake the feeling though another Polec story is brewing... gets traded at the end of the season for unders, then stars for Port or Adelaide  :-\

Gee I hope he steps up this year. And yeah if his pre-draft hype is accurate, boy-howdy is he in our 22.

[Mr.Craig]

B: Jetta, Dunn, Garland
HB: Lumumba, Mcdonald, Grimes
C: Cross, Tyson, Vince
HF: Garlett, Dawes, Howe
F: Gawn, Hogan, Kent
Foll: Jamar, Jones, Viney
Int: Watts, Salem, Riley, Newton

I was going to suggest JKH ahead of Kent but was surprised to see Kent kicked more goals this year. Despite his rather horrible season I'd still be inclined to find space on the bench for Terlich.

[Big Mac]

Kent already has the pace and strength, just needs to improve his endurance - which I think he can do in a full preseason (last one was interrupted). I can also see him getting a run in the midfield next year. JKH still has a ways to go in terms of development, but he did play very well when sent to the VFL last year so could get a run in the 1's early on.

Interesting about Terlich - He works hard i'll give him that but his disposal is horrible and he can't really defend all that well. Who would you put him in for?

[Mr.Craig]

Who would you put him in for?

Salem or Riley.

[Purple 77]

Who would you put him in for?

Salem or Riley.

Fair enough, but disagree IMO. Terlich is a repeat offender in doing the stupid (and breaking the game style rules) kicks that results in crucial turnovers; the coach killers.

Salem had a very promising first year, and although, to his admission, his offensive stats weren't impressive (because of the focus pre-season on defence), what he did defensively you won't see in many other first year players IMO. When he was the sub, he always made an impact. I also could say with confidence he would have stuck to his task all day. But yeah, his offensive stuff needs work, which he says he possesses but the with the focus on defence he feels he over-compensated.

Riley I reckon was a bit hard done by this year, he shouldn't be made to be the sub, he's the type of guy that needs to work his way into games. I reckon Toumpas may overtake him though, with a second pre-season and his first real go at a clean bill of health.

[Mr.Craig]

I think that's a bit unfair on Terlich.

In 2013 his disposal efficiency was 73.7% which was the same as Sam Mitchell, Nick Malceski and Brett Deledio.

In 2014 his disposal efficiency was 76.1%, directly below Joel Selwood on 76.2%.

In 2014 his clanger average was 1.9 which ranked him 309th in the league, a reduction from 2.7 (83rd) in 2013.

Where he'd rank in turnovers resulting in goals I don't know but Roos doesn't seem to be using him to best effect and I think that's where the major problem lies.

[Ziplock]

that's 1.9 out of 14.8 disposals for 2014... so 13% of his disposals were clangers, not a great stat.

Some clangers are worse than others as well :P

[Mr.Craig]

They all make the same sound though, right?

[Big Mac]

The disposal efficiency stat is pretty worthless imo...Regardless, where else could he play so that he is used to best effect?

[Purple 77]

Well, Melbourne had an effeective disposal efficiency of 73.8, which is ranked 4th in the AFL. Yet I will tell you on the day, it feels like Melbourne has atrocious kicking and handballing skills, because the importance of those disposals is huge, i.e. results in turnovers, or stops us moving inside 50 when we the next kick would be straight to our forwards for an easy set shot, or bombing it inside 50 straight to the opposition and not giving our forwards a chance etc.

It's like, althought 73.8% of the time we hit a target, that 26.2% are VITAL errors that kills an inside 50 entry, an inside 50 mark or a turnover in defence, rather than mucking up an un-pressured pass in the midfield.

I feel Terlich is a reflection of that.

[Mr.Craig]

where else could he play so that he is used to best effect?

A different team. :P

Seriously though the guy came third in the B&F last year so he's no mug. My feeling watching this year was he didn't adapt to the instructions he was given and was second guessing himself. Just seems like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole and that's why plenty of people, myself include, were surprised he was offered another contract. If him and Roos can get on the same page then I have no doubt he's best 22.