Player Reviews vs Kangaroos [Archive]

HoldenMCaulfield

29 Jun 2008, 01:38

Positives: Ripping rendition of the club song by all!

All ?

Did you see Ross Lyon in the left corner of your screen (wide screen) watching the players with a sign of amusement on his face ?

There are, of course, reasons for having just the players sing the song, but hey, I was singing along at the top of my voice (we really have to invite those neighbours for dinner soon...) full of excitement and joy. I don't know, I would have loved seeing some real emotion by Lyon by joining in. Well, at least he was smiling !

And we won !

CARN THE MIGHTY SAINTS !!!

(report on Blake to follow tomorrow)

SaintsSeptember

29 Jun 2008, 23:24

I was pretty pleased to see Gilbert fire up and get into some resemblence of his 2007 form. He made a few errors but more than made up for them. Some good tackling and some good run and carry.

Kildonan

30 Jun 2008, 01:55

All ?

Did you see Ross Lyon in the left corner of your screen (wide screen) watching the players with a sign of amusement on his face ?

That wasn't amusement - it was pride.

He may not be the most charismatic coach in the AFL, but he is OUR coach.

Try not to always see the worst in him. Please.

Kildonan

30 Jun 2008, 03:33

Max Hudghton - was BOG for the first half. We would not have won without him. I have him as equal in importance with Nick Riewoldt in this match.

Steven King - excellent ruck work (23HO). Was very busy. Slow footspeed is his biggest concern. Gave us an advantage all game in the ruck contest.

Stephen Milne - had a good game (4 goals 2 pts from 9 kicks) without making too many errors (9)

Oddly Nick Dal Santo had his fourth worst game this year (statistically) but was hailed as having a good game - he made 5 tackles which is good, he topped our list with 7 clearances and had 13 kicks 8 hand balls and had 2 bounces.

Luke Ball had a disaster of a night. He gave away 5 free kicks and made 17 errors including the infamous interchange penalty. He persisted though and he worked himself into the match. He topped the first possessions (8) for either team and his passing game was essential for our win.

makemytime

30 Jun 2008, 18:18

Kosi was alright, not great. Worked through the night and got involved in the game which was good. However, his kicking is not at his best and his haul of 2.3 could easily have been 4.1

worked hard as a back-up ruckman to support King.
7/10

However, St Kilda still lacks a forward structure. If Riewoldt is playing on the wing and getting marks and Kosi is playing as the loose ruckman, we have no one in the forward 50's to take a mark and score.
If Gehrig was at full fitness, this wouldn't be a worry but it is quite important.

bubblegoose

30 Jun 2008, 18:28

I was pretty pleased to see Gilbert fire up and get into some resemblence of his 2007 form. He made a few errors but more than made up for them. Some good tackling and some good run and carry.

Me too! It must have been my rotten review I gave him last week that motivated him to make me eat my words. Very happy to do that ...... please pass the salt.

bubblegoose

30 Jun 2008, 18:32

That wasn't amusement - it was pride. Thats how I saw it too - was very glad to see him enjoying the win too.

TassieSaint

30 Jun 2008, 18:35

Lukey Ball - 7/10

Did all the right things, but it just wasn't his night. No one on the ground had more tackles or clearances and he was third from both sides for both possessions and contested possessions. His work in the packs and around the stoppages was invaluable and he set up a few attacks, however too many times he would just blaze away straight into the path of a Kangaroos player, hence the high clanger count. Maybe it was the lack of options he found himself with to clear the ball to, maybe he was missing the support of Hayes, but either way despite his best efforts (as usual) it just wasn't his nights and turnovers prevented him from being best on ground.

Squizzy1970

30 Jun 2008, 18:49

I had Montagna.

He ran with Harvey early and couldn't go with the little t u r d.

Went back to a more traditional wing role after that and racked up 9, 5 and 7 possessions in the final 3 quarters.

Only one bounce, so not as much carry as we'd like, but two tackles and 8 inside 50s.

The big one for me was after the team copped a pasting from the umpires most of the night, including no frees in the forward 50 at all (if you don't mind).

This culminated in that bizarre decision to move the ball from the back pocket to 30m out with the I/C error - I thought it was a free kick and 50m? - but Monty kicked a bloody difficult goal under pressure which regained the lead.

This was a clutch moment when the players could have dropped their heads.

7.5/10 for mine.

Squizzy1970

30 Jun 2008, 18:53

I was pretty pleased to see Gilbert fire up and get into some resemblence of his 2007 form. He made a few errors but more than made up for them. Some good tackling and some good run and carry.

His kicking was heaps better - must be the Qld weather as Sainter implied before the game. Noticed he did an article before the game about the Saints skills needing to improve.

Big job on the small forward. He started on Thomas (who hardly touched it after 4 goals against Hawthorn), but did he move to Campbell? Found it hard to tell, not being at the game.

CHBench

30 Jun 2008, 19:09

Nick Riewoldt: 9/10

Deadset gun, no doubting he was the right choice of captain. Shows unbelievable leadership willing on the players to dig deep, this has really showed since the team had a "blood transfusion". Shows enormous amount of passion and that huddle after the game was a great thing to see from a supporters point of view.

24 possesions, 14 marks,1 goal and 9 inside 50's. His license to roam has allowed him to step his game up to a new level, continuing from his outstanding game against Freo he once again showed up back intercepting the Roo's forward attacks and pumping the ball into the 50 from the wing as well as showing up forward setting up many goals.

Kildonan

30 Jun 2008, 19:09

His kicking was heaps better - must be the Qld weather as Sainter implied before the game. Noticed he did an article before the game about the Saints skills needing to improve.

Big job on the small forward. He started on Thomas (who hardly touched it after 4 goals against Hawthorn), but did he move to Campbell? Found it hard to tell, not being at the game.

They do tend to share a lot of the jobs - he definitely went to Campbell in the second half, but was on Thomas late too.

Look2Me4Guidance

30 Jun 2008, 20:38

I had Sean Dempster.

He had 20 touches at 85% efficiency, a relevant stat given those who have questioned his disposal.

Started ordinary early. I was very disappointed to see him get outmarked by Matt Campbell in the 2nd quarter. However as the game went on he was able to provide some excellent run from the backline. His second efforts were also pleasing and in the last quarter he made a crucial effort to fire off a handball and then get back in again to fire off another handball to set off some run down the wing.

His one on one work needs to improve and will need to tighten up on Eddie Betts. That being said if Gram is released upfield I could see Dempster generating a lot of run out of the backline.

I think he has improved every game over the last month.

Rating: 6.5/10.

TassieSaint

30 Jun 2008, 20:49

Max Hudghton - was BOG for the first half. We would not have won without him. I have him as equal in importance with Nick Riewoldt in this match.
I agree entirely (although I thought Riewoldt was better), Max is seriously not getting enough props for his effort. He absolutely destroyed a very good player in Thompson and the other way he didn't miss a single target all night whilst racking up 15 touches. Yet he's getting looked over by many in the best and fairest/bigfooty medal votes. Brilliant game from an underrated player IMO

Armitage2Riewoldt

30 Jun 2008, 20:54

Clint Jones

Probably not one of his best games efficiency wise but while watching it most of his kicks seemed to hit a target. He ended up with 22 touches (I think thats his 7th game in a row he's had over 19 - so he's getting it - at 59% efficiency - only 2 clangers) He provides a target and never stops running, chased down a few people, 5 tackles and loved his 2nd efforts.

He's not the kind of player thats going to stand out like Dal or Gram running through the middle, but he does what he needs to do. His kicking skills are on the improve, he just needs to gain a little more composure and I'm sure he'll end up a 150 gamer for us. He's got courage and determination, something which we have lacked of late, so I see him as cemented in the top 22 for now, and only a few really bad games would see him dropped, as he's now moved ahead of quite a few.

7/10 for the Jones dog.

I'll do Armo later on if no one else does.

mg07

1 Jul 2008, 12:03

BJ Goddard.

Played well across half back and even got his chance on the pill through the third quarter. won the hard ball a lot( not sure of stats) and kicked long to a forward line that just seemed to kept on working hard from the second quarter. i give him a rating of 7.5/10 for the match a little way off his best but mark my words, BJ is back and will be a key in StKilda's success over the next few years. i Just love watching this guy throw the ball under his arm and run and kick long..Go Saints

HoldenMCaulfield

1 Jul 2008, 15:30

That wasn't amusement - it was pride.

He may not be the most charismatic coach in the AFL, but he is OUR coach.

Try not to always see the worst in him. Please.

I am not trying to see the worst in him, believe me. He certainy was proud and he should be - not only for the players, but also about the part he himself played in successfully turning the game around.

I just would have expected a few more signs of emotion, passion, love for OUR club... I am not saying that he does not have any of these, but compare him to e.g. Brett Ratten who is not afraid to show his emotions...

Oh well, different people, different characters - fair enough !

HoldenMCaulfield

1 Jul 2008, 15:36

Jason Blake

Many of you have already commented on his game. He was rock solid in defense, has an enourmous tank similar to Riewoldt and will always display a phantastic work ethic and attitude.

I don't know whether he stole the umpires lunch that day. He may be a bit clumsy at times, but some of those decisions were ridiculous (but others, like in particular Sam Fisher with that one holding the ball decision also suffered from horrible umpiring decisions - on the other hand, to be honest, the first goal in the fourth by King came after a joke of a 50m penalty).

Squizzy1970

1 Jul 2008, 16:30

The poor bugger averages 2 free kicks against a game, and I think he gets watched more than most (except Baker).

Mind you, the marks not paid to Allen (F50) and King (D50) were symbolic of the umpires deciding to officiate the game at the same standard that the teams were playing (very very ordinary).

Armitage2Riewoldt

2 Jul 2008, 23:17

After watching the SOO tonight. I just wish the umps would shut the ____ up and let the game be.

If you're not gonna pay a mark, don't pay a ____ing soft free kick.

Way over officiated, and it's ruining the game and turning people away. I mean, speaks for itself, i actually watched the rugby tonight! :o

ChrisFooty

2 Jul 2008, 23:45

Gwilt.

Was decent. Did a solid job in defence. Does run and create an attacking option. A couple of times he just bombed the ball away straight to the opposition when kicking to attack. His disposal is still a question mark, however, it's a lot better this year than last.

Overall: 6/10

Derserves to be picked next week? Yes. Unfortunley may find himself out with some of our regulars returning.