Melbourne fills needs by plucking three zippy teenagers at AFL national draft

PAUL Roos identified the need for speed and Melbourne plundered three zippy teenagers headlined by No.9 pick Christian Salem.

PAUL Roos identified the need for speed and Melbourne last night plundered three zippy teenagers headlined by No. 9 midfield ace Christian Salem.

The Dees opted for the Dan Hannebery-like Salem ahead of explosive Sandringham teammate Nathan Freeman before adding zippy goalsneak Jay Kennedy-Harris and little-known Brighton Grammar pace maniac Jayden Hunt.

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Asked if Salem was the man the Dees had in mind when they handed over pick 2 for Dom Tyson and No. 9, chief recruiter Jason Taylor said: "We rated him very highly."

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Robert Shaw last week told the Herald Sun Salem's bullet-like left boot was the best he'd seen in the strong APS school competition.

"Some blokes can kick it 60m and it feels like it takes three minutes to get there, but no one gets the ball quicker from A to B than Salem," Shaw said.

Salem, 18, soared up the charts and would have landed at Collingwood at No.10 if the Dees didn't pounce.

"We're pleased. We were rapt to get Christian with our first pick. He's got the ability to play in all areas of the ground," Taylor said of the versatile inside-outside midfielder who averaged 145 SuperCoach points.

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"With Kennedy-Harris, along with his character as well, positionally he was a real need for us.

"A small, defensive forward who really can run and really provide pressure, so that was a real win for us."

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The spicy small forward was the best chase-down tackler in the TAC Cup this year, while Hunt was plucked from relative obscurity.

"He'll take some time to come along, but he's got some genuine speed. We feel in time he'll develop and give us more speed around the ground."

Taylor said it was a tight call between Freeman and Salem.

"We rate both players, but we had Christian just in front. Both players bring something different and it's a tough decision, but you've got to put them in a line."

The midfield trio adds much-needed bite to Roos' onball unit and joins Tyson, Daniel Cross and Bernie Vince in a new-look centre square.

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