Saint Kilda- the best team you can field in 2001

[amazonstud]

I would like to know what the different supporters think would be the best team their club could field from their list next season.

I will post what I think may be the best for all clubs.

The Saints
Gale Hudgton Burke
Voss Hall Begley
Jones Harvey Hayes
Hamill Gehrig Charles
Everitt Beetham Baker
Capuano Thompson Lawrence
Interchange
Loewe Cripps Walton Blake

[Savatage]

Good topic & a good attempt from an outsider's point of view.

First thing's first though, it's St.Kilda not Saint Kilda!

Here is your team:

Gale Hudgton Burke
Voss Hall Begley
Jones Harvey Hayes
Hamill Gehrig Charles
Everitt Beetham Baker
Capuano Thompson Lawrence
Interchange
Loewe Cripps Walton Blake

It's a good attempt.

I agree with your choice of not selecting:
Peckett (has lost his confidence completely)
Plapp (hasn't proved much in the seniors)
Young (a very poor year in 2000)
Ryan (no skill)
Elliot (no comment)
Schwarze (unproven)

Players you should've/could've included:
Tony Delaney (one of our best in 2000 all year)
Craig Callaghan (a real dynamo)
Powell (worthy of a spot on the bench)
Chad Davis (this boy is a starter)
Traianidis (skilful & versatile)
Brett Knowles (didn't put a foot wrong all year)
Daniel Wulf (watch this boy star on the wing this year)
Brett Moyle (an absolute revelation in 2000)
Koschitzke & Riewoldt (potential inclusions)

Of those you have selected I question the inclusion of Gale (swap him for Blake) & Walton (whilst a good young player) for somebody like a Daniel Wulf.

Good topic though!



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Fortius Quo Fidelius

"I am the way, I am the light - I am the dark inside the night"
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[Fred]

Savatage

Whilst I have no desire to nitpick, there is no stop after St

[Savatage]

Fred, technically you are correct, but even the football club has spelt it that way.

I have seen it spelt both ways, but the point is that the word is not Saint.

But you are correct!


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Fortius Quo Fidelius

"I am the way, I am the light - I am the dark inside the night"
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[amazonstud]

Gentlemen,

I stand corrected. St Kilda.

I did consider Davis, Moyle and Knowles but who should be left out? I believe Walton has got over his second year blues and will further blossom this year.

I haven't seen enough of young Wulf so he may be an inclusion. I didn't go for Koschitscke or Riewoldt as I think this is a learning year for them.

Agree with most of your possible alternatives but don't agree on Traianidis as I think he turned the ball over too often when coming out of the back half last year. Certainly knows where the goals are but may not be flexible enough to play down back. I may be wrong but watch out for this during the season.

I went for Gale as I thought the backline needed another strong player in the back pocket or at full back allowing Hudgton to take the third best tall forward. I wasn't sure about Blake. Hopefully he won't suffer 2nd year blues.

[Savatage]

Amazon,

On Walton- good young player, no pace. Wulf has buckets of pace, leap & sensational skills. Can be played wing, forward or back. I'd put Walton as an emergency. Walton never really had second year blues, there was a reserves game where he had over 40 possessions, laid about 10 tackles and kicked 5 goals. Still didn't get selected...dodgy coach was the problem.

On Traianidis, there was one particular game where his skills were shocking, but I wouldn't crucify him for one game. His skill level is up there & he can kick a goal from 60 from the boundary line so I'd line him up somewhere on the forward line.

Davis, Moyle and Knowles.....geez they should increase the interchange bench....but seriously Davis will become a great goal kicking midfielder, Moyle too for that matter. Knowles is more of a tall utility....I dunno....Springvale will have a good side this year I think.

Blake won't have second year blues, not with the way he's training. He's an absolute gun youngster & I'd have him in the side straight away. It's Gale I'm not sure of.


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Fortius Quo Fidelius

"I am the way, I am the light - I am the dark inside the night"
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[sainter]

I think you have done pretty well Amazonstud.

Just a few minor changes:-

I'd definitely replace Gale with Blake. Gale could prove to be a good acquisition but has not earned his stripes at this stage. Blake did that, playing in a key defensive role as a young first year player admirably.

Brett Moyle would also have to be put in to the side after an outstanding first year. Perhaps at Walton's expense. In a terrible year, it was the first year performances of guys like Blake, Moyle, Beetham and Davis that gave us some heart.

I'm a bit of a fan of Brett Knowles and Jason Traianidis. I couldn't fit them into my best 22 but both will do well when given a chance. I'd have Callaghan in the side from the beginning.

If Wulf wasn't a supplementary player last year he would have played all of the second half of the season. He will get his chance next year and may very well become a cult figure.

Like Gale, Powell has to prove himself. 14 of the 16 first round draft picks played senior footy this year which means it is very likely that both Koschitzke and Riewoldt will get their chance this year. At this stage and before I have seen either play for the saints (or scorpians), Riewoldt may be a little further down the track in his development but both have enormous potential.

All in all, I think you have done a great job.

Savatage and Fred, both of you are right. On the logo, the initials read St.K.F.C.
(Except that the full stop after the T is actually below the t) I do agree that technically there is no stop after the "t", I think. http://www.bigfooty.com/ubb/wink.gif

Apart from reading it as Saint Kilda, it annoys the hell out of me when people pronounce it as "Saint Kilda" rather than "St Kilda". I can just see supporters of other clubs reading this and wondering why I would go on about such a trivial little fact but it is amazing the amount of supporters who feel the same way. I'm sure Malcolm will get the message before too long. http://www.bigfooty.com/ubb/wink.gif


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Fortius Quo Fidelius

[StrengthThroughLoyalty]

Injuries, form, horses for courses leaves me a touch reluctant to name a best side at this stage of the year.

However when I look at our list it is obvious that our recruiting has added DEPTH to our side. I could mount an argument for about 30 players to be in our starting lineup if fit. Finally we might read headlines saying 'Saints demolish bombers' rather than 'Saints big four demolish bombers'.

If we can get the continued improvement of youngsters like Beetham, Moyle, Blake, Hayes, Davis, Baker, Begley combined with the new recruits Hamill, Gehrig, Capuano, Lawrence, Voss, Callahan and combine that with our established players Burke, Harvey, Loewe, Thompson, Everitt, Hall, Jones, Hudghton, Delaney add the 'wild cards' with Charles, Cripps, Koschitzke, Riewoldt, Wulf, Peckett, Young, Powell.

Finally throw a touch of Blight magic over that lot and we should be finals bound.