View Full Version : Saddington may have been the missing link
bluesteel
10 Jun 2007, 14:50
I'm not sure on others thoughts on this subject, but I really feel Saddington may have been the missing link we were after.
He now provides a really strong mature option down back - this has freed Waite up to go forward and look at the magic he has created the last couple of weeks.
Now Carlton have multiple options up forward - I know many could argue that there are other factors in our last couple of wins - but I really feel this could be the real missing link to our team
Other thoughts????
16 Premierships
10 Jun 2007, 16:09
I was not very happy to get him at carlton ,BUT it seems that i was wrong he has settled down full back position ,26 years of age well done carlton.and saddo
whippersnipper
10 Jun 2007, 16:12
Looks like all he needed was to get his knee right. He is an experienced, cool head and an effective defender. Allows Thornton more freedom to rebound and opens up other defenders into more flexible roles.
If he can keep it up, it will prove to be a shrewd recruiting decision.
gandaal
10 Jun 2007, 16:13
Wrong week to start a thread praising Saddington. He was smashed by a second gamer yesterday and he's probably the only player at risk of getting dropped this week.
AlecDuncan
10 Jun 2007, 16:20
Wrong week to start a thread praising Saddington. He was smashed by a second gamer yesterday and he's probably the only player at risk of getting dropped this week.
Somehow I don't think he'll be the last player to be smashed by Westhoff. Saddo didn't do much wrong, but the kid is just too strong overhead.
bakerboy
10 Jun 2007, 17:06
Wrong week to start a thread praising Saddington. He was smashed by a second gamer yesterday and he's probably the only player at risk of getting dropped this week.
You might find he kicked at least 2 goals on Lance
blues4flag
10 Jun 2007, 21:21
Wrong week to start a thread praising Saddington. He was smashed by a second gamer yesterday and he's probably the only player at risk of getting dropped this week.
A second game player who was quite a bit taller, with a much greater reach. Was a bit of a mismatch, and as bakerboy said, Lance spent a bit of time on Westhoff as well.
Johnny Friendly
10 Jun 2007, 21:38
Westhoff played OK I suppose, but does anyone second me for the dorkiest looking bloke in the AFL??!!!!
Do I get a seconder??
Wrong week to start a thread praising Saddington. He was smashed by a second gamer yesterday and he's probably the only player at risk of getting dropped this week.
I wouldn't have thought he was smashed by Westhoff. Aside from the goals he kicked, I wouldn't have thought Westhoff had that much impact over the game. Furthermore, i'm sure he kicked at least one goal on Lance as well.
Saddington was giving away a fair bit of reach to Westhoff, as others have said there is a lot to be happy about with the way Saddo has played in the last few rounds.
mediumsizered
10 Jun 2007, 22:24
Wrong week to start a thread praising Saddington. He was smashed by a second gamer yesterday and he's probably the only player at risk of getting dropped this week.
Why would there be any consideration given to dropping Saddington? As already stated in this thread, having Saddo playing in defence has allowed us to keep Waite up forward where he has displayed his magic 3 weeks in a row. Carlton's forward line has looked most threatening with Waite, Fev, Lance & Fisher all playing forward. This week we want Hawthorn to have the headache of trying to match up these 4 talls. Let's not do them the favour of pushing either Waite or Lance back to defence to replace Saddo.
walkers a legend
10 Jun 2007, 22:25
good to have more experience
Why would there be any consideration given to dropping Saddington? As already stated in this thread, having Saddo playing in defence has allowed us to keep Waite up forward where he has displayed his magic 3 weeks in a row. Carlton's forward line has looked most threatening with Waite, Fev, Lance & Fisher all playing forward. This week we want Hawthorn to have the headache of trying to match up these 4 talls. Let's not do them the favour of pushing either Waite or Lance back to defence to replace Saddo.
....and Wiggo when he comes on are really provides some spark.
I always had a lot of time for Saddington when he was up here in Sydney. He was a pretty consistent performer in a solid Swans side.
Despite lacking bulk, he is still a good height (6'4 - 6'5 I would think), so he can take the taller opposition forwards. His ground and running skills aren't too bad either.
Apart from bolstering our defence, the most important thing he offers us is experience in that 25+ age group, which we are badly missing.
I really hope he is finally over his injury problems because I think at his best he can contribute a lot to our side.
gandaal
10 Jun 2007, 22:45
Why would there be any consideration given to dropping Saddington? As already stated in this thread, having Saddo playing in defence has allowed us to keep Waite up forward where he has displayed his magic 3 weeks in a row. Carlton's forward line has looked most threatening with Waite, Fev, Lance & Fisher all playing forward. This week we want Hawthorn to have the headache of trying to match up these 4 talls. Let's not do them the favour of pushing either Waite or Lance back to defence to replace Saddo.
You probably wouldn't. But if you were really keen on Aisake playing so we could play Setanta in defense, say against Lance Franklin or Boyle, Saddington would be the one to get the cop based on the weekends performance.
mediumsizered
10 Jun 2007, 23:02
You probably wouldn't. But if you were really keen on Aisake playing so we could play Setanta in defense, say against Lance Franklin or Boyle, Saddington would be the one to get the cop based on the weekends performance.
I don't understand why we would want to push Setanta back into defence against Buddy Franklin or Boyle. The role he is playing as a follower has been an important part of our wins over the last 2 weeks. His couple of goals last night were far more important to us than having him trying to save goals at the other end. FWIW, I think Franklin would most likely pants Setanta & destroy his confidence, in much the same way as Gehrig did in Round 6. Setanta is riding high on the back of having the freedom to run with the ball, create & kick goals & provide a contest in the midfield. Let's not jeopardise this by going defensive with Setanta.
gandaal
10 Jun 2007, 23:52
I don't understand why we would want to push Setanta back into defence against Buddy Franklin or Boyle. The role he is playing as a follower has been an important part of our wins over the last 2 weeks. His couple of goals last night were far more important to us than having him trying to save goals at the other end. FWIW, I think Franklin would most likely pants Setanta & destroy his confidence, in much the same way as Gehrig did in Round 6. Setanta is riding high on the back of having the freedom to run with the ball, create & kick goals & provide a contest in the midfield. Let's not jeopardise this by going defensive with Setanta.
I don't disagree but its the only way I see Aisake coming into the side and Pagan did mention recently that he's not far away.
BlueWorld
11 Jun 2007, 00:37
I don't disagree but its the only way I see Aisake coming into the side and Pagan did mention recently that he's not far away.That was if he played well today and word is he didn't do all that well.
TruBlue
12 Jun 2007, 13:38
Saddo is doing a nice job for us, Westoff flew under the radar of the whole team and it didn't really matter as he had no real impact on the game, Saddo's been an important player over the last couple of weeks and has a cool head when the heat is on.
bluegal1983
12 Jun 2007, 13:47
I don't disagree but its the only way I see Aisake coming into the side and Pagan did mention recently that he's not far away.
How did Aisake go for the Ants? I think he would have had to have put on a BOG performance to come in and replace anybody after the game the boys played on the weekend.
No changes this week IMHO. Why would you want to anyway....
blueskies
12 Jun 2007, 13:51
He has been good and I am very happy to have him in the side, but I am not sure he would do any better than a Thornton on one of the true gorillas of the comp like a J.Brown or Gherig (if the Saints delivered the ball properly).