In the next few weeks until the start of the 2010 season on 25th March 2010 we will review in depth every 16 clubs. We started off last week with Fremantle, then the Bulldogs, the Kangaroos and Collingwood. This week we have looked at Richmond, Sydney Swans, the West Coast Eagles, yesterday the Essendon Bombers and today Melbourne and looking at whether they can lift themselves off the bottom of the ladder.
After Kick2Kick reviews each club, we will give their full season 2010 predictions like we did last year. If you would like to review a team or something else, please contact us.
Jared Rivers has the potenial and played 20 games last year, now its time to get back to his form in 2004, where he won the "Rising Star Award"
What Happened Last Year
Off field the club grew with their debt being slashed with several debt raisers inspired by the battle of cancer by president Jim Stynes. On top of that the only other good news was the debut of Liam Jurrah and the recruitment of Jack Trengove and Tom Scully due to them finishing last.
The New Season
Most of the ‘experts’ have Melbourne finishing 15th at best but some think they will do better than that and will finish as high as around 12th. To do this they need to develop a forward line as Russel Robertson last years leading goal kicker has been pushed out while Liam Jurrah (who kicked 20 goals last year) will now miss 16 weeks with a shoulder. So who is left to kick goals for them?
The pressure now will be on Matthew Bate, Ricky Petterd, Brad Miller, Jarred Rivers and Colin Sylvia to kick 12-13 goals a week for a win. Can it happen? Only time will tell but I do not see it happening. What could help is playing Mark Jamar down forward who kicked 5 goals against Carlton in round 21.
Likely Finish: 15th – 16th
Players to Watch
Jack Trengove and Tom Scully – For the first year or two they will be compared to each other like Riewoldt and Kosi for St Kilda. However these kids have talent and expect them to play 10-15 games this year and they will show why they will be the life blood of Melbourne for the next 10 years.
Matthew Bate -To me he is one of the few shinning lights along with Jurrah down forward for Melbourne. Towards the end of last season, he played more midfield but with Jurrah missing for 16 weeks and Watts struggling with a sore back, will he have to play forward more than midfield? Either way he has heart and is someone to watch.
Jack Grimes - Last year he only played 11 games but it was worth watching, just ask Dreamteamers who had him in their team. He played a lot in the backline last year but as he goes on, expect him to play more midfield.
Bench Warmers
Daniel Bell - Was recruited back in 2002 but has never been a regular best 22 player, a lot has to do with injuries as he only got to play 3 games last year with shoulder and fingers issues. 2010 has not got any better with another shoulder that will see him miss up to 8 weeks. Can he fit back in the side when fit? Depends on injuries and performance by his team mates. Lets hope for his sake he does.
Paul Johnson - To me I cannot see him and Jamar playing in the same team with Stefan Martin playing a lot in the ruck last year and showing some good athleticism and promise. Jamar to me is slightly in front but Paul Johnson can play forward and must show something down forward or on the ball to stay on the list.
Need to Improve
Jack Watts - Harsh I know but he is a number one pick and you have to live with the pressure if you want to be successful, not many have (exactly how many ‘true’ stars are #1 picks?) but he does have the patience off coach Dean Bailey which will help, but the fans?
Brad Miller and Jarred Rivers – Both are similar players, who are big bodies in a young team who should be a part of the spin where the rest of the team can be built around them. They have shown bits and pieces since their debuts in 2003/4 but the reality is they should be playing CHF/ FF and CHB which will allow Watts, Bate and others to play around them.
Your Thoughts
So who will kick the goals for Melbourne so they can get off the bottom of the ladder? Was it a good decision to extend Dean Bailey’s contract or is he just warming the seat for someone else?
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March 15th, 2010 at 8:06 am
I think the Rivers photo is so appropriate with the amount of injuries piling up at the Junction Oval/Casey Fields. I was expecting them to maybe make it up the ladder a bit this year, but it just appears they will just stay where they are.
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March 15th, 2010 at 9:13 am
The Demons are the new Carlton…I’m not sure staying towards the bottom of the ladder will help them too much…Carlton spent many years down the bottom and they have an extremely talented team, but they still are a long way away from a premiership.
I think they really need to work hard and get as many wins as they can because staying down is not the way to go.
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March 15th, 2010 at 9:35 am
and before Carlton, you have St Kilda who at one stage had something ridiculous like 15 out of 22 first round pick players in the team and what they got to show for it? Two Preliminary’s and a Grand Final (not including two pre season premierships), guess it shows you need to develop a team and not pick one.
Only 3 number one picks have ever won a premiership (Banfield 94 & 06, Headland 02 & Hodge 08).
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March 15th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
And to add to that, the only number one pick to win a Brownlow is Adam Cooney. Just goes to show getting the number one picks ain’t always the best strategy. The other thing I would say is if you notice the Number 1 pick is usually always a midfielder, so if you get a bunch of midfielders, who have you got for the forward line? Carlton yet another prime example of that.
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March 16th, 2010 at 8:46 am
@Mike, you seem like after a Barry Hall premiership to have changed your mind totally about the need of a forward line – lol
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March 16th, 2010 at 10:34 am
I have never changed my mind about the need of a forward line. The Bulldogs had a forward line before Barry Hall came, a very effective forward line that was the highest scoring for a few years but only minus a key forward. Like I said in another comment you can win a flag without a key forward it is just a very hard feat to achieve, the inclusion of a key forward (or someone who can go into the forward line and consistently make a contest) makes it more achievable
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