The Chinese are now on the AFL Club Radar
Has there ever been as much talk of AFL Club poaching players from other countries as there is at the moment? First there was the big hoo ha about how the AFL caused the Gaelic Football Association to turn pro because the lure of becoming an AFL Footballer is becoming increasingly popular, recently the talk of how South Africa will become the next big recruiting ground for AFL Clubs. And now the Melbourne Football Club are dipping their toes in the Chinese market. It’s almost becoming a competition between clubs to see who can break into a different country first.
In this latest experiment there are 2 young chinese boys Zhao Yonggen, 22, and Zhao Wei, 21 that have been brought over by Melbourne, Chris Connolly in particular had a big influence here as he noticed them on a trip to China last year, and according to Connolly, will be “trailblazers” in the relationship between the two countries. One is a small, athletic martial arts whiz studying kung fu at the elite Beijing Sports University.The other is a former amateur soccer goalkeeper, a tall and strongly-built teenager hailing from Tianjin Provence, south east of the capital.
They trained with the Demons at the Junction Oval on Monday night and are going to accompany the club to Canberra on their community camp and will will return to Melbourne in August and September as co-captains of the first Chinese team to compete in the AFL International Cup. I am sure that in time we will see players from China grace the hallowed turf of the MCG.
Let the competitions begin……..
What is with Melbourne Football Club ?
First they announce a leadership group that is widely regarded from all parts of the footballing community as a step in the wrong direction. You can read my thoughts in a previous post here. Now the new leadership group have suspended Nathan Carroll for what they have said to be “a lack of professionalism in preparation for the 2008 season”. It can’t be anything to do with what happened during his end of season trip in Germany for the Oktoberfest celebrations because no one else has been sanctioned and young gun Brock McLean and Jarrod Rivers where involved as well. One can only draw a conclusion that it has something to do with some other off field incident / incidents that we don’t know of yet?
Melbourne have indicated that Carroll has been completing what is probably his best pre season to date so I don’t think it is a weight / skinfolds issue and is looking in great shape.? He has not been suspended for any specific incident but the new leadership panel have come to the conclusion that he was not showing the level of professionalism required by the Melbourne Football Club. Maybe has been partying too hard or something, or his scruffy look doesn’t fit in? What ever the reason Carroll is suspended by the Club for 2 NAB Cup games. Not that anyone is taking the NAB Cup seriously anyway!
I guess it gives a youngster the opportunity to step up during the NAB Cup and show Dean Bailey that they can play. Carroll may find himself on the outer for a while who knows?
I reckon it is this just the new look leadership group trying to assert it’s authority. It will be interesting to see what happens for the rest of the year if another player doesn’t toe the line.
Have a look here at how I think Melbourne will go in 2008. And don’t forget to sign up for AFL Football Blog’s Weekly AFL Newsletter.
Neitz Captain of Melbourne for 9th AFL Season
Well it is official Melbourne has announced that David Neitz will captain the club for a 9th consecutive season. I personally think the Demons have missed a perfect opportunity to blood a younger captain while Neitz is still a player at the club and can lend some assistance as Essendon did under Kevin Sheedy. Any way the Demons thought otherwise and decided Neitz is the man for the job for the clubs 150th birthday celebrations.
The Demons also announced the rest of the leadership team with Cameron Bruce, James McDonald, Brock McLean, Brad Miller, Russell Robertson, and Adem Yze among the rest of the team. It also beats me that Brad Miller is in this group? I just don’t think he is a big contributer to the side, he must to things behind closed doors that we don’t see.
Melbourne you have missed a golden opportunity in my opinion to start a fresh future in your celabratory year.
Post your comments and tell everyone your thoughts on this.
Cats and Tigers unbackable !
Can anyone challenge the Geelong Football Club and the Richmond Football Club for the honours of Premiership and Wooden Spoon respectively? Don’t you just love this time of year in the AFL world, I mean really how can we give an accurate answer to who will win the flag in 2008. At best we give our opinions and read into them what you will. There is not much to talk about other than that at this time of year. If you go on what you read in the main stream media during the pre seasons every team is going to finish in the eight and if you follow one of the AFL Football Forums, every team is going to win the flag.
My 2 bobs worth
I may as well join into the debate because it is always a good discussion topic and raises a lot of passionate talk. Well the Cats are odds on at the moment paying $3.20 for the flag with Collingwood, Fremantle, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn the next in line. I have already expressed by opinion
about who I think is most likely to challenge the Cats in 2008 and I think the Pies will give Geelong a run for their money. I can’t really believe that Fremantle are so heavily backed I just can’t see them being anywhere near the top five or six in the comp. They alway promise a lot Fremantle but don’t deliver much, if you are in a footy tipping competition they are the most frustrating team to try and tip! I personally think that they will struggle to make the eight let alone win the flag.
Long year ahead for the Melbourne Football Club
As I continue my thoughts on each sides chances for the 2008 AFL Premiership Season, today’s focus is on the Melbourne Football Club. In what was a very disappointing year for the Demons they finished 14th on the ladder only above Richmond and Carlton. This year I am tipping that the Demons are going to struggle again.
Let’s take a look at who has gone and who the Demons have picked up.
ADDITIONS:
Exchange period – received: John Meesen (Adelaide)
Rookie elevation: Jace Bode
NAB AFL Draft: Kyle Cheney (North Ballarat Rebels), Jack Grimes (Northern Knights), Adam Maric (Calder Cannons), Tom McNamara (South Adelaide), Cale Morton (Claremont)
DELETIONS:
Retired: Clint Bizzell, Nathan D. Brown, Byron Pickett
Exchange period – traded: Travis Johnstone (Brisbane Lions)
Delisted: Ryan Ferguson, Simon Godfrey, Heath Neville, Daniel Ward, Daniel Hayes (rookie), Daniel Hughes (rookie), Shane Neaves (rookie)
Where do I start with the Demons, well simple they don’t get enough of the football and they don’t have the firepower to kick a winning score. The Demons were 14th on the list of kicks per game and 12th for handballs. They were also ranked second last in the league for points scored in 2007 which highlights these facts. I just don’t see where they are going to generate that goal kicking power in 2008? David Neitz is on his last legs, a great player he is but I just don’t see him being able to carry the burden of still being the Number 1 big man in the forward line. Russell Robertson was their leading goal kicker last year with 42, even the Tigers leading goal kicker had more than that. But it is the fact they fall away after that which is an issue as well, you have Neitz second with 26 and then Aaron Davey with 24. Just not enough if they want to be competitive on the scoreboard.
Ruck Dominance
One area that the Demons need to be trying to capitalise on is their dominance in the Ruck. The Demons big men in Jeff White and Mark Jamar are forming quite a formidable combination, they were ranked 4th in 2007 for the most hit outs per game. This may be great for those two but the Dees just don’t have the talent in the midfield to use this. Cameron Bruce and Brad Green are probably their best ball getters but they just have 
got to much responsibility, players like Brock McLean and Colin Sylvia need to take the next step and start getting the ball and hurting the opposition. Now that Nathan Jones has had another year he needs to step up another level again this year, he is a hard tough player and looks like he will develop into the Demons main man in the middle. They have decided to let Travis Johnstone go, probably the Demons most gifted and polished midfielder so someone needs to take that mantel now and provide some class through the middle.
Should Neitz Captain Melbourne in 2008?
In my opinion No. New Demon coach Dean Bailey has expressed his intentions for David Neitz to stay on as captain of the Demons in 2008. He says Neitz will make the decision on whether he wants to remain captain or not. The demons are in a perfect position to groom a captain while Neitz is still playing at the club, a path that Essendon took when James Hird stepped aside while he was still playing. For one of the younger players to learn from such a respected player and person as David Neitz would be priceless, just as Matthew Lloyd and James Hird did.
And given the Demons are celebrating their 150th year next year as well, what a better way start the next phase of their history than to have a new captain. Neitz will no doubt put the clubs best interests as top priority and do what he thinks is best for the Melbourne Football Club.
