Future Forces Round 2 - Demons and Cats
Melbourne v Geelong
Me FB Jace Bode, James Frawley, Kyle Cheney
Ge FF Travis Varcoe, Tom Hawkins, Ryan Gamble
Me HB Ricky Petterd, Tom McNamara, Cale Morton
Ge HF Mathew Stokes, Scott Simpson, Nathan Ablett
Me C Clint Bartram, Jack Grimes, Simon Buckley
Ge C Jason Davenport, Joel Selwood, Nathan Djerrkura
Me HF Isaac Weetra, Stefan Martin, Colin Garland
Ge HB Adam Donohue, Harry Taylor, Dawson Simpson
Me FF Addam Maric, Michael Newton, Matthew Bate
Ge FB Brent Prismall, Dan McKenna, Trent West
Me Foll John Meesen, Nathan Jones, Lynden Dunn
Ge Foll Mark Blake, Kane Tenace, Simon Hogan
Winner: Geelong
There isn't a lot between the two teams of young players. J Selwood versus Grimes is something that should be a big part of the AFL for the next decade. Selwood and Blake should give Geelong the edge in the middle, and with Hawkins up forward kicking goals, and little Stokes crumbing everything Hawkins doesn't mark, the Cats move onto the next round. The Demons have a lot of potential, and the combination of Morton, Petterd and Frawley in the back half would make the Demons very competitive.
Future Forces - Bulldogs and Blues
Me FB Jace Bode, James Frawley, Kyle Cheney
Ge FF Travis Varcoe, Tom Hawkins, Ryan Gamble
Me HB Ricky Petterd, Tom McNamara, Cale Morton
Ge HF Mathew Stokes, Scott Simpson, Nathan Ablett
Me C Clint Bartram, Jack Grimes, Simon Buckley
Ge C Jason Davenport, Joel Selwood, Nathan Djerrkura
Me HF Isaac Weetra, Stefan Martin, Colin Garland
Ge HB Adam Donohue, Harry Taylor, Dawson Simpson
Me FF Addam Maric, Michael Newton, Matthew Bate
Ge FB Brent Prismall, Dan McKenna, Trent West
Me Foll John Meesen, Nathan Jones, Lynden Dunn
Winner: Geelong
There isn't a lot between the two teams of young players. J Selwood versus Grimes is something that should be a big part of the AFL for the next decade. Selwood and Blake should give Geelong the edge in the middle, and with Hawkins up forward kicking goals, and little Stokes crumbing everything Hawkins doesn't mark, the Cats move onto the next round. The Demons have a lot of potential, and the combination of Morton, Petterd and Frawley in the back half would make the Demons very competitive.
Future Forces - Bulldogs and Blues
Me FB Jace Bode, James Frawley, Kyle Cheney
Me HB Ricky Petterd, Tom McNamara, Cale Morton
Me C Colin Garland, Jack Grimes, Simon Buckley
Me HF Matthew Bate, Michael Newton, Isaac Weetra
Me FF Addam Maric, Stefan Martin, Lynden Dunn
Me Foll John Meesen, Nathan Jones, Clint Bartram
Matthew Bate is a lead up half forward/ wing not a forward pocket and Lynden Dunn is more of a forward than a midfielder.
In response to your comments, it is debatable whether geelong would have the edge in the middle, Blake is the better ruckman and Selwood probably the best midfielder, but a Jones/ Grimes/ Bartram combination would make the midfield an even battle.
Geelong's forward line take's the points against Melbourne's backline, however, Melbourne's forward line would have a more damaging impact through players such as Bate, Newton, Marric and Dunn as geelong has little back line to speak of.
I agree that there is little separating them however I believe that Melbourne would come out on top due to Geelong's lack of back line.
It did look like he would be the mobile centre half forward of the future at Melbourne, and that is probably his best spot, but Dunn also put together some impressive games as a big midfielder last season. Something to watch in 2008 is where the new coach will put him.
The youth at Melbourne might be a bit underrated, and considering the VFL results between Geelong and Sandringham there isn't much between their young AFL-listed players.