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Melbourne Rising Season 2016

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Highlander35

Andrew Slack (58)
RLM and Rolleston play at Moorabbin now. They had a great squad on paper this year.

Both Palias are at the Eagles and always threaten to have a breakout year. Nathan in particular could've been anything.

Bauer did not go to RMIT, nor was he on an exchange. I think he did some study over here but it was always travel for travel's sake. I think he's plying in the National Championship of Excellence in Italy.

I'll also add to a previous post that Fereti plays LH and not TH prop.

Sure about Bauer? He was certainly here for the 10 or so Uni months specifically, and I read somewhere that he was doing something at RMIT. Ah well, happy to concede.

Fereti at tighthead only because he played there at the weekend, and Tyler looked a specialist loosehead. He looked to have put on a tightheads beef as well, that pot belly on top of muscle you see the guys looking for absolute maximum strength going for rather than the power to weight ratio you see more mobile fromt rowers and the like going for.
 

amirite

Chilla Wilson (44)
Sure about Bauer? He was certainly here for the 10 or so Uni months specifically, and I read somewhere that he was doing something at RMIT. Ah well, happy to concede.

Fereti at tighthead only because he played there at the weekend, and Tyler looked a specialist loosehead. He looked to have put on a tightheads beef as well, that pot belly on top of muscle you see the guys looking for absolute maximum strength going for rather than the power to weight ratio you see more mobile fromt rowers and the like going for.


I BELIEVE it was Swinburne and it was just because he was here (perhaps also for visa reasons), but I am happy to be proved wrong.

I think that size has probably come from injury haha. And the fact he played TH probably because that's where the opportunities are, he's always been a mobile prop and those fellows tend to play LH so they don't blow their legs out. It's certainly where he played last year for the Rising.
 

elementfreak

Trevor Allan (34)
I'm curious to see somebody have a crack at this too, having left Melbourne late last year and only seen one Dewar Shield match this year.

Assuming that option (C), no 2016 contacted Rebels players at all whether they have played DS or not, is the criteria then I would assume something along the following lines as a starting point (and I have also used this extended squad for guidance along with 2014 & 2015 NRC form & 2016 Rebels U20s team):

1. ???
2. Jordan Uelese
3. Fereti Sa'aga
4. Murray Douglas
5. Angus amilton
6. Sione Taufa
7. Ikapote Tupai
8. Ta Hosea
9. Keisuke Yamada
10. Patolo Toeta
11. Filipe Vilitati
12. Lloyd Johansson
13. Taiso Silafai-Leaana
14. Ah-Mu Tuimaleali'ifano
15. Billy Gray
16. Angus Arundel
17. Mahe Vailanu
18. Mike Tyler
19. Will Clift
20. Robert Valetini
21. Maradona Farao
22. Elias Vole/Leo Taliu
23. Oisin Clarken/Isaiah Leota/Josh Cocker-Valu

I left Angus Fowler out as it appears he has returned to Queensland, and likewise with Josh Coward signing for the 7s program, but somebody else may have a better understabnding of that situation than I.

Many from the 2015 side are no longer in Melbourne; Duncan Chubb, Mitch Andrews, Stacey Ili, Justin Marsters, while Pom Simona retired (but I would pick him in my 23 any day of the week).

From 2014, the likes of Greg Bauer, Frank Amituanai, OJ Noa, Rennie Lautolo-Molimau, Reuben Rolleston, Junior Paila, Martin Naufahu, Shane Imo, Finbar Simpson and Tui Tuiatua seem to no longer be around either.

Riaan Olivier at 10 would be a good shout. He played well for Quins and directed them around the park well enough.
 

RebelYell

Arch Winning (36)
Good shout re: Fereti, had forgotten that he was always a loosehead, and then got confused and thought of Mike as a tighthead. I'll show myself out...
 

amirite

Chilla Wilson (44)
Two blokes that've been good for a while and merit a look-in at Alex Healey (utility back) and Joe Baleilovu (7) from Box Hill.

Not sure if the Rising have given them a good look, but that club does well for a reason.
 

Highlander35

Andrew Slack (58)
Not sure Alex is right for the Rising, don't buy his 6' self reported height, and is still somewhat skinny.

Would love to see him get a run at the Sevens though, particularly with Fa'ala'avau taking a year off from the circuit.
 

amirite

Chilla Wilson (44)
Not sure Alex is right for the Rising, don't buy his 6' self reported height, and is still somewhat skinny.

Would love to see him get a run at the Sevens though, particularly with Fa'ala'avau taking a year off from the circuit.


All fair. Sadly I don't think he makes the 7s unless it's through the Rising.
 

Highlander35

Andrew Slack (58)
All fair. Sadly I don't think he makes the 7s unless it's through the Rising.
C'est la vie.

That's the problem with those we're not quite sure are up to Scratch eh?

As a development tool, we're not happy using the Rising to develop them, and absent utterly dominant performances a lá Sefa and Nayacalevou a few years ago, no one is going to give them a shot straight from the Shield. So they go to Sydney, or Canberra, or Brisbane, or New Zealand and they get their opportunities or lack thereof based on entirely on games there.
 

amirite

Chilla Wilson (44)
C'est la vie.

That's the problem with those we're not quite sure are up to Scratch eh?

As a development tool, we're not happy using the Rising to develop them, and absent utterly dominant performances a lá Sefa and Nayacalevou a few years ago, no one is going to give them a shot straight from the Shield. So they go to Sydney, or Canberra, or Brisbane, or New Zealand and they get their opportunities or lack thereof based on entirely on games there.

It's an issue, but unlike Canberra we can't tell blokes to just commute for a couple of months for the NRC, so we've got to take all the Super Rugby players.

IDK if there's a simple solution, short of buying a house in Sydney, parking super rugby players there and giving up a key window in their yearly development (if they're not getting regular super rugby gametime).
 

Highlander35

Andrew Slack (58)
1. Toby Smith (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
2. Pat Leafa (Box Hill/Melbourne Rebels)
3. Tim Metcher (Moorabbin/Melbourne Rebels)
4. Sam Jeffries (Melbourne University/Melbourne Rebels)
5. Steve Cummins (Harlequin/Melbourne Rebels)
6. Ikapote Tupai (Melbourne Unicorns)
7. Sione Taufa (Harlequins)
8. Jordy Reid (Melbourne Unicorns/Melbourne Rebels)
9. Mick Snowden (Melbourne/Melbourne Rebels)
10. Jack Debreczeni (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
11. Tom English (Melbourne University/Melbourne Rebels)
12. Lloyd Johansson (Harlequin)
13. Sione Tuipulotu (Southern Districts/Melbourne Rebels)
14. Dom Shipperley (Melbourne University/Melbourne Rebels)
15. Jonah Placid (Melbourne University/Melbourne Rebels)

Reserves

16. Siliva Siliva (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
17. Cruze Ah-Nau (Footscray/Melbourne Rebels)
18. Tyrel Lomax (Tuggeranong Vikings (ACT)/Melbourne Rebels)
19. Alex Toolis (Edinburgh (UK)/Melbourne Rebels)
20. Rob Valetini (Harlequins)
21. Keisuke Yamada (Footscray)
22. Ah-Mu Tuimalealiifano (Harlequins)
23. Isaiah Leota (Footscray)

Fox misses with a Foot injury, Little red still injured with his concussion, Metch and Cruze back from injury and Valentini onto the bench.

Nice to see another Vic boys in the mix. Disappointing that he's locked up with the Brumbies.

Ah well.
 

amirite

Chilla Wilson (44)
6 community players in the 23 with 2 from Footscray, a team who to be honest have been weak at Dewar Shield level. I understand that this isn't indicative of player quality, but still interesting.

Obviously Yamada has been there abouts for a while, but what's everyone's take on Isaiah Leota? I've never heard of him until last week (where he didn't get on long enough for me to develop an opinion).

Also - interesting to see Valentini named here when he should really be playing for Aus Schools.
 

thierry dusautoir

Alan Cameron (40)
Like most rugby lovers my want for rugby content is more than what foxsports can provide, hence i am regularly streaming Perth and Melbourne premier grade games. As neutral observer watching Dewar shield games over the last two years I have formed the following opinions.



  1. The only thing separating a lot of teams is fundamentals. The talent in the competition could be on par with the northern states however a lot of games are marred by simple handling errors that would make a QLD third string team blush.
  2. Some teams have solid fundamentals but really seem to lack a strong game plan, or fail to execute the one they have in place i.e this year’s incarnation of Melbourne University judging from the forum this is largely due to a young team)
  3. The other thing that has struck me is that Footscray have the pieces to construct a solid team. In all my viewing no team has frustrated me more (except maybe power house on their day). Their fundamentals and gameplan is non-existent – unless the game plan is to just toss shit around and see what sticks. Leota and Yamada have both shown great attacking flair in the games I have watched, however a lack of organisation in attack seems to be what hamstrings these two players and Naufahu (spell check?) to a lesser extent. I guarantee that if you take that Footscray squad gave it 1-2 players and a strong coaching unit and they would do a lot better. If Leota and Yamada packed up shop and went to University or Melbourne there selections wouldn’t even be questioned.
 

amirite

Chilla Wilson (44)
Like most rugby lovers my want for rugby content is more than what foxsports can provide, hence i am regularly streaming Perth and Melbourne premier grade games. As neutral observer watching Dewar shield games over the last two years I have formed the following opinions.



  1. The only thing separating a lot of teams is fundamentals. The talent in the competition could be on par with the northern states however a lot of games are marred by simple handling errors that would make a QLD third string team blush.
  2. Some teams have solid fundamentals but really seem to lack a strong game plan, or fail to execute the one they have in place i.e this year’s incarnation of Melbourne University judging from the forum this is largely due to a young team)
  3. The other thing that has struck me is that Footscray have the pieces to construct a solid team. In all my viewing no team has frustrated me more (except maybe power house on their day). Their fundamentals and gameplan is non-existent – unless the game plan is to just toss shit around and see what sticks. Leota and Yamada have both shown great attacking flair in the games I have watched, however a lack of organisation in attack seems to be what hamstrings these two players and Naufahu (spell check?) to a lesser extent. I guarantee that if you take that Footscray squad gave it 1-2 players and a strong coaching unit and they would do a lot better. If Leota and Yamada packed up shop and went to University or Melbourne there selections wouldn’t even be questioned.

Very recently (maybe 5 years ago) Victorian Rugby had virtually no structure. It's come a LONG way.

I think this weird state we're in right now is due to coaches with high ambitions almost over coaching and teams either not understanding or not being able to play the systems.

There's also a weird coaching mentality of 'why would we need to do skills drills? these guys are in their 20s'. So things like working on passing fundamentals go out the window.

It's getting much better, due the Rebels apparatus producing better juniors, the opportunities attracting better talent from elsewhere, and the remainder of the players around being forced to lift to their standards to meet the better juniors/imports. We're in a decent place.
 
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