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ROBERT Shaw has seen countless kids kick the footy as Brighton Grammar coach, but none can match the bullet passes from Christian Salem.
The left-foot midfield dynamo has soared up the draft charts this year to land on Collingwood's radar, as high as pick No.6.
The son of a Melbourne restaurateur, Salem is considered one of the most versatile and damaging ball-carriers in this year's talent pool, who has added increased endurance to round out his game this season.
But it is his drilled drop punts that have left Shaw shaking his head since Salem exploded on to the scene in year nine, playing against the year 12s.
"We are talking the school competition, which is a very strong competition, but he is the best kick I have seen at this level," Shaw said.
"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.
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"He just makes it so difficult for the defenders to defend it because of the penetration and speed he puts on the ball.
"So it makes him a very clean and damaging player."
Salem, 18, thanks his two older brothers for keeping a footy in his hands right throughout his childhood.
"Since I was a little baby they were making me walk around and kick the footy and that's where it all started," Salem said.
"I owe them.
"Since then at training I just keep working on my kicking and doing all the extras to try and become the best I can."
Christian Salem in action for Sandringham. Source: News Limited
With the flexibility to either play inside or outside, Salem's trademark move is to swoop on a bobbling ball, burst away from congestion and either hit a teammate lace out, or better, hit the scoreboard himself.
One of an even group of midfielders in the back-end of the top-10, it's Salem's versatility and finesse that could elevate him to the Pies' first selection, giving them another pacy ball-user to help replace Dale Thomas and Heath Shaw.
Since he kicked four goals as a 15-year-old, isolated in the forward 50m against a Matthew Lloyd coached Haileybury, Salem has shown he can play every line.
More recently, the 183cm match-winner has sometimes settled on a half back, using his speed and deadly kicking to slice open the field and create space and opportunities for his forwards.
He is also the close friend and midfield co-pilot of Josh Kelly, the man expected to go No.2 in the draft. While Kelly is a superior runner, and can grind away at the opposition with huge possession numbers, Salem can bust open a game much more quickly.
"Josh will play 200 league games like Simon Black, with a low key low profile, whereas Christian has got an element of sheer explosiveness," Shaw said.
"Over that first 20m if he gets away it's all over. Salem will really finish it for you.''
While he tries to take the best option by foot, it is always in the back of Salem's mind to "take the game on".
Salem says he thanks Shaw for helping make him so versatile.
"We get told you won't survive if you can't play more than one position, so he has played a massive part in helping me play multiple positions," Salem said.
CHRISTIAN SALEM
Age: 18
Height: 183cm
Weight: 81kg
Club: Sandringham Dragons/Brighton Grammar
Pos: Versatile midfielder
SuperCoach avg: 145pts (TAC Cup)
Draft range: 6-13
In the mix: Pies (6/10), Lions (7), Dees (9), Tigers (12), Blues (13)
Plays like: Daniel Hannebery
Tomorrow: The draft's best key backman
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