This could create a stir...

[Mitchell Madness]

not trolling here, but the first thing melbourne FC need to recruit is "flash"

i am not aware of the draft itself outside Nat and Hurley, but melbourne really need a a player that will bring the fans in.

of course it will mean a bit of short term pain, but this kid needs to get people through the gates.

A rioli style player, who is an awesome tackler, a good kick, an allround flashy player.



of course on-field sucess is important, but without a "flashy" player, finances will remain low.


the MFc need a player to market the club around. Might be my opinion, but i dont believe you have one at this stage.

Unlike North Melbourne, i actually respect the MFC.

 

[Marns]

Meet my mate Flash

 

[Beats]

Davey and Wona.

Sylvia could even become a 'flash' player if/ when he takes the next step.

 

[dutchy12]

The thing is if Watts becomes as good as say a Riewaldt or Pavlich which would be a very good chance then he would become the marquee player we so dearly need.

 

[chopper41]

not trolling here, but the first thing melbourne FC need to recruit is "flash"

i am not aware of the draft itself outside Nat and Hurley, but melbourne really need a a player that will bring the fans in.

of course it will mean a bit of short term pain, but this kid needs to get people through the gates.

A rioli style player, who is an awesome tackler, a good kick, an allround flashy player.



of course on-field sucess is important, but without a "flashy" player, finances will remain low.


the MFc need a player to market the club around. Might be my opinion, but i dont believe you have one at this stage.

Unlike North Melbourne, i actually respect the MFC.

I see what ya saying but I think the best thing we can do on field to help out off field, is win games. Flashy type players can't hurt, they do put bums on seats, but the draft this year needs to be for the best player possible, not marketing quality. If the player has both all the better.

 

[TelkoTheGreat]

well Naitanui is that player

 

[Bombertastic]

Davey and Wone fit the bill. Hell, I don't care what anyone says Melbourne are a lot better side to watch then MOST of the others. They have the draw cards. Just need KP players and consistant wins. Go Demons!

 

[Bartram_Class]

How quickly people forget Aaron was the original and only "Flash".

 

[Marns]

How quickly people forget Aaron was the original and only "Flash".

[youtube]hgukduYJZ44[/youtube]

 

[unstable punt]

not trolling here, but the first thing melbourne FC need to recruit is "flash"

i am not aware of the draft itself outside Nat and Hurley, but melbourne really need a a player that will bring the fans in.

of course it will mean a bit of short term pain, but this kid needs to get people through the gates.

A rioli style player, who is an awesome tackler, a good kick, an allround flashy player.



of course on-field sucess is important, but without a "flashy" player, finances will remain low.


the MFc need a player to market the club around. Might be my opinion, but i dont believe you have one at this stage.

Unlike North Melbourne, i actually respect the MFC.

yes, if a Lance Franklin was available we would take him but who knows what you are going to get so you need to get the best available not just a bloke you think is going to be 'flash'

 

[unstable punt]

and Aaron Davey is our Flash

 

[Deenamite]

That really wasn't the stir i was expecting. We've heard it way too many times. Bottom line for me is that if we start winning games we'll get the bums on seats even without a marquee sort of player. The supporters aren't asking for a Buddy Franklin we're asking for some wins.

 

[Supermercado]

How quickly people forget Aaron was the original and only "Flash".

Flash Gordon has called in with an objection.

 

[dee-molishon]

Flash Gordon has called in with an objection.

so did this guy: http://www.newsregister.com/article/20388-drive-thru-flasher-jailed-2-days

 

[Mitchell Madness]

the thing i was getting at is one who will put bums on the seat whilst you are developing.

Hawthorn were very lucky we picked up Franklin and Roughead who had enormous upsides.

it probably seemed a little wrong saying you "need" a flashy player, by that i mean one where as they go near the ball all the melb fans will rise as one, while all the other fans will begin to cry.

best of luck.

 

[Crimson Azure]

The thing is if Watts becomes as good as say a Riewaldt or Pavlich which would be a very good chance then he would become the marquee player we so dearly need.

A very good chance, I don't think so.

Maybe he has some sort of a chance but to be a player of that level is very rare & puts him in the top few players in the competition.

If we take him I hope your right but I wouldn't rest my hopes on it happening.

 

[McLean_4_Captain]

A very good chance, I don't think so.

Maybe he has some sort of a chance but to be a player of that level is very rare & puts him in the top few players in the competition.

If we take him I hope your right but I wouldn't rest my hopes on it happening.

Don't take this as me saying you are saying this, but you're comment leads to this

There's a better chance of that happening then Naitanui revolutionising the game, and that's the reason a lot of people want us to take him, because he will "change the way ruckman play" and "be nothing like anyone has ever seen before".

Both Pavlich & Reiwoldt are early draft picks, so it's not unfathomable to think that Watts could be a star of their calibre.

Albeit a long way from a sure thing, Watts is a much safer bet to be a star then Naitanui

 

[Crimson Azure]

Don't take this as me saying you are saying this, but you're comment leads to this

There's a better chance of that happening then Naitanui revolutionising the game, and that's the reason a lot of people want us to take him, because he will "change the way ruckman play" and "be nothing like anyone has ever seen before".

Both Pavlich & Reiwoldt are early draft picks, so it's not unfathomable to think that Watts could be a star of their calibre.

Albeit a long way from a sure thing, Watts is a much safer bet to be a star then Naitanui

Fair point.

Is this were we start quoting Forrest Gump: "Life is like a box of chocolates. you never know what you gonna get."

I don't think we can go wrong with NN, Rich or Watts its just who will be a better player in 3-5 years is the million dollar question & I tend to lean towards NN.

I see it this way:

Rich: 1-3 years will be better then the other 2 as he is ready to play at AFL level now. Long term who knows, he looks a bit like Kerr type player at the moment.

Watts: 2-3 years before we see exactly what he will be. He wont help us win games in the next 2 years. Looking at him I don't see him as a KPP for a while yet.

NicNat: 2-3 years but we would be greatly rewarded by the coaching that is provided at AFL level, mainly with a focus on his footy smarts. We could have him learn the game like what was done with Gibbs at Carlton & is now paying off.

 

[bringbackschwarter5]

Fair point.

Is this were we start quoting Forrest Gump: "Life is like a box of chocolates. you never know what you gonna get."

I don't think we can go wrong with NN, Rich or Watts its just who will be a better player in 3-5 years is the million dollar question & I tend to lean towards NN.

I see it this way:

Rich: 1-3 years will be better then the other 2 as he is ready to play at AFL level now. Long term who knows, he looks a bit like Kerr type player at the moment.

Watts: 2-3 years before we see exactly what he will be. He wont help us win games in the next 2 years. Looking at him I don't see him as a KPP for a while yet.

NicNat: 2-3 years but we would be greatly rewarded by the coaching that is provided at AFL level, mainly with a focus on his footy smarts. We could have him learn the game like what was done with Gibbs at Carlton & is now paying off.

Gibbs learning the game and Natanui learning the game is a very different thing, Gibb's had all the skill, all the footy smarts and just needed to adjust to the new level. Whereas so far Natanui is only praised for his leap and will basically have to be taught to mark, kick, handball, use his body, read the play etc. If the draft was based of football skills and talent alone, then Natanui would be lucky to grab a late rookie spot

 

[melbourne150]

Gibbs learning the game and Natanui learning the game is a very different thing, Gibb's had all the skill, all the footy smarts and just needed to adjust to the new level. Whereas so far Natanui is only praised for his leap and will basically have to be taught to mark, kick, handball, use his body, read the play etc. If the draft was based of football skills and talent alone, then Natanui would be lucky to grab a late rookie spot

Have you seen Naitanui play?

He has a good mark, his kicking is just as good if not better than most ruckman, he's an extremely good handballer And he uses his body very well. The one thing he really needs to learn is where to position himself around the ground when he doesn't have the ball, And i would like to think that a compitent coaching staff would be able to teach him this.

 

[McLean_4_Captain]

Have you seen Naitanui play?

He has a good mark, his kicking is just as good if not better than most ruckman, he's an extremely good handballer And he uses his body very well. The one thing he really needs to learn is where to position himself around the ground when he doesn't have the ball, And i would like to think that a compitent coaching staff would be able to teach him this.

I disagree wholehartedly with that.

You have overstated his skills, they are average at best. I'll agree that some people try to make it out like his skills are no better then a u10's which is untrue, but they are far from as good as you've made them sound.

Also your description of the "one thing he really needs to learn" is basically footy smarts, something that is really hard to teach. Instinct for the game that most kids have at this level and they would've been showing at 12, his extreme athletic advantage has got him so far, but there's a new level of competition he has to try that in yet, the highest level by a long way. So unless he can grasp this knowledge, this awareness then he'll struggle to be more then a good player. It's a big ask & it's why most people have some doubts.

If they can teach it to him, they are amazing coaches and they should start looking at amazing 15/16y.o. athletes and turning them into AFL players

Not to you, but the Gibbs comparison was a poor example. Gibbs was playing SANFL seniors at about 16 and everyone new he was something special. Just because didn't set the world alight immediately people questioned the decision, but now he's showing why he was taken at No.1

 

[Beats]

I disagree wholehartedly with that.

You have overstated his skills, they are average at best. I'll agree that some people try to make it out like his skills are no better then a u10's which is untrue, but they are far from as good as you've made them sound.

Also your description of the "one thing he really needs to learn" is basically footy smarts, something that is really hard to teach. Instinct for the game that most kids have at this level and they would've been showing at 12, his extreme athletic advantage has got him so far, but there's a new level of competition he has to try that in yet, the highest level by a long way. So unless he can grasp this knowledge, this awareness then he'll struggle to be more then a good player. It's a big ask & it's why most people have some doubts

Not to you, but the Gibbs comparison was a poor example. Gibbs was playing SANFL seniors at about 16 and everyone new he was something special. Just because didn't set the world alight immediately people questioned the decision, but now he's showing why he was taken at No.1

Completely agree with that post.

He has to learn to play, where to position himself when he's not at a contest etc, he won't make it as a forward as he does not know how to present a proper lead.

His skills aren't completely deplorable, however I havn't seen him deliver an effective kick over 35-40m...

 

[JuveRule]

Flash Gordon has called in with an objection.

I'm pushing for a bit of Queen's 'Flash' whenever Davey gets the ball. It'd sure beat some of the tripe they've played before the games this year.

 

[Supermercado]

What about some "FLASH! AH AH!" every time he kicks a goal.

 

[Crimson Azure]

Not to you, but the Gibbs comparison was a poor example. Gibbs was playing SANFL seniors at about 16 and everyone new he was something special. Just because didn't set the world alight immediately people questioned the decision, but now he's showing why he was taken at No.1

Does that not sound a lot like the talk that was going around last year about Naitanui?

The talk last year was that he would have gone No1 if he had been 4 days older & that in the U18 he dominated Kruzer the eventual No1 draft pick.

He was also playing WAFL seniors as a 17yo.

I agree with you on one thing, Gibbs footy smarts & skill are at a higher level but he could not cut it straight away in the AFL. As a result has been the focus of much derision on this forum & from fans in general because he was expected to dominate as soon as he played in the AFL.

NN no longer is looked at as having as a player that will have an immediate impact in the AFL but rather a mid to long term investment. This will give Melbourne the time to educate & improve his footy brain if we chose to draft him.