It’s always tough to do a top 5 of anything, let alone something that you love. In case you couldn’t tell yet I’m a biased Melbourne supporter. I am, however, not one of the fans that think next year is going to be the year they win the flag every year. I’m a lot more logical/statistical than that. With that in mind I don’t think Melbourne is really going to have a serious tilt at the flag until about 2012 or 2013. That’s why I have selected the players that I think have the potential to play a big part come September 2012.
1. Aaron Davey
Clearly the best player at the club at the moment. Could really develop in to a champion player if the Demons develop the rest of the midfield so that he doesn’t have to carry as much of the weight and the best tag every week. At 26 he probably is about to peak. In two and half years time when Melbourne are good again insha Allah (god willing).
2. Colin Sylvia
The player that most Melbourne supporters think is the one of the most talented. At 24 he will have to make big inroads this year to prove he can provide consistency over the course of the season, something he is yet to achieve. If Sylvia and the club manage to keep his personal troubles controlled then he could prove to be a very damaging player for the Dees.
3. Jack Watts
Doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Melbourne have a forward-line problem. Jack Watts is seen by many to be the answer to those problems. Whilst this attitude is short-sighted, it still holds some truth. The Demons need a key position forward, badly. Jack Watts on paper should provide that player. But has not yet managed to set the field alight with his game yet at AFL level unlike when he played juniors.
4. Jack Grimes
He had a fantastic 2009 down in the backline. Expect to see him move up the ground in 2010 because Melbourne’s defensive stocks are high at the moment and the midfield is lacking. Grimes is an exciting young player who has impressed me with the 12 games he has played at AFL level
5. Tom Scully
It’s no secret that the midfield more often than not win matches in the modern game. Therefore you need top talent in the midfield if you want to really want to beat the top sides. I could have had Trengove here as well but I just think that on balance Scully is the better footballer. We’ll see who has a better 2010 and I’ll re-evaluate.
Apologies to:
Cale Morton: great consistent young player just lacks a little bit of size and flair.
Nathan Jones: hard nut midfielder just lacks a bit of polish.
Liam Jurrah: Fantastic and exciting talent with the ability to do the mercurial. Worried that he is a flash in the pan.
Brent Maloney: Really good in the packs, not as good at kicking.
Matthew Bate: One dimensional; he just leads and marks.
All the backmen: There are just too many good ones to make one that important to make it in to the top 5.
Tags: Aaron Davey, Colin Sylvia, Jack Grimes, Jack Watts, Tom Scully
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I would have thought the Demons 5 most important players in no particular order are – Jamar, Frawley, Garland, Davey & Moloney