MARK Neeld says the recruitment of five older players has been important to the overall experience of the list.
Melbourne has brought in 21 year-old-plus players Mitch Clark, James Sellar, James Magner, Tom Couch and Leigh Williams into the club, and Neeld is confident they will help fill a void in 2012.
“We have brought in five older players. They are not 18 year olds,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“And the reason for that is that one of the things that struck me straight away was the list age - the inexperience of games.
“In terms of Mitch Clark and James Sellar, they are developed bodies and have played AFL and been in the AFL system for five-plus years. As taller types, we needed our taller brigade to have support.”
Neeld added that it was a strategic move to bring in some mature-age, hardened bodies via the rookie list.
“In rookie listing Tom Couch and James Magner, it’s the same thing, although a different type of player. We felt that we need a couple of extra bigger bodies and with that, it means that they’re not 18 year-olds. They are there to bolster our list,” he said.
“James and Mitch are on the primary list, and then you’ve got James Magner and Tom Couch, who, as rookies, are fighting tooth and nail to be given the opportunity to earn a call-up on the primary list. They are doing exactly what we got them to the club for.
“And with Leigh Williams, a 21-year-old key forward, he is another player with mature body. That gives us five out of the eight players we have drafted with mature bodies.”
Melbourne has brought in 21 year-old-plus players Mitch Clark, James Sellar, James Magner, Tom Couch and Leigh Williams into the club, and Neeld is confident they will help fill a void in 2012.
“We have brought in five older players. They are not 18 year olds,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“And the reason for that is that one of the things that struck me straight away was the list age - the inexperience of games.
“In terms of Mitch Clark and James Sellar, they are developed bodies and have played AFL and been in the AFL system for five-plus years. As taller types, we needed our taller brigade to have support.”
Neeld added that it was a strategic move to bring in some mature-age, hardened bodies via the rookie list.
“In rookie listing Tom Couch and James Magner, it’s the same thing, although a different type of player. We felt that we need a couple of extra bigger bodies and with that, it means that they’re not 18 year-olds. They are there to bolster our list,” he said.
“James and Mitch are on the primary list, and then you’ve got James Magner and Tom Couch, who, as rookies, are fighting tooth and nail to be given the opportunity to earn a call-up on the primary list. They are doing exactly what we got them to the club for.
“And with Leigh Williams, a 21-year-old key forward, he is another player with mature body. That gives us five out of the eight players we have drafted with mature bodies.”
