Review Season Review 2014 - Thank *beep* It's Over

[SaintsSeptember]

Of all the players on our list these are the ones who have either proven they are AFL quality or could be IMO, not seeing we keep them all necessarily, if the right trades come up anyone is tradeable but these guys are our future IMO:


Hickey, Steven, Savage, Ross, Lee, Billings, Newnes, Longer, Armitage, Delaney, White, Bruce, Stanley, Webster, Murdoch, Dunstan, Acres, Weller, Templeton.

A lot of other guys who could be but haven't shown enough IMO (Wright; kicking. Saunders; needs to start finding the goals. Curren; good player, but not overly talented or crucial part of the team. Geary; great person but again not overly talented, kicking can be average and may not fit our crucial age range. Roberton; HBF'er which we have a tonne of.)


Plenty of guys over 25/26 who should stay at the club but also not crucial for us in building a side to attack for a flag. Anyone, except for Roo, and the guys I named at the start should be considered tradeable for us IMO.

I think that's a biased list. One example is that Geary has proven himself to be AFL quality far more than Murdoch. Murdoch needs to prove that more than 15 disposals is more than just a theory. Geary has had 13 CONTESTED possessions.
Roberton is a "tall" half back flanker, which sets him apart from ..ALL of the others except for Gilbert who only has a couple of years left.

Sorry, your "proof" is not my "proof".

 

[sverik25]

Highlights:
- Great against the odds wins against Freo and Essendon.
- Promising signs from our first year players.
- Riewoldt. Enough said.
- Newnes taking another step to be one of our most consistent players.
- Finding a coach who reunited the playing group after Watters.
- No. 1 draft pick.

Lowlights:
- 2nd Carlton loss - I reckon it was worse than the Hawthorn loss. At least Hawthorn are a good team.
- Injuries - especially to promising younger players.
- First and last quarters were horrible for most of the year.
- Underwhelming development of some of our second and third year players like Saunders and Wright (I know Wright was injured again).
- Wooden spoon no. 27 - I hoped we'd put those behind us.
- No more Lenny.

Top 10 B&F:
1. Riewoldt
2. Hayes
3. Delaney
4. Newnes
5. Dempster
6. Armitage
7. Ray
8. Steven
9. Montagna
10. Dunstan

To step up next year:
Webster

 

[dewah07]

Congrats n.roo on being our only AA squad member and in the running for the captaincy of the final team

 

[Falchoon]

Counted up all of my votes on a 5 4 3 2 1 basis

49 Riewoldt 4 5 1 4 5 3 2 4 4 3 5 5 4
42 Hayes 2 4 3 5 3 5 5 2 4 5 4
24 Steven 2 4 4 2 2 5 2 3
22 Montagna 4 4 5 5 3 1
19 Newnes 1 5 3 1 1 4 4

18 Savage 2 5 5 3 3
18 Weller 4 4 3 2 5
17 Armitage 2 2 5 2 1 3 2
15 Delaney 3 2 1 3 3 3
13 Dempster 1 1 5 3 1 1 1

11 Dunstan 3 5 3
11 Ray 3 3 2 3
9 Fisher 1 1 2 5
7 Ross 5 2
7 Schneider 3 4
7 Longer 1 4 2
6 Shenton 2 4
6 Stanley 1 1 4
6 Curren 2 4
5 Jones 5
5 Billings 5
4 Hickey 4
3 Gwilt 2 1
3 Saunders 2 1
1 Geary 1
1 Webster 1
1 Bruce 1

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Despite the crappy season, culminating in the spoon, my frame of mind isn't that bad.
I hated the 2011 season. We were clearly going no-where. We had players who were meant to be good playing poorly and no light at the end of the tunnel.
2012 and 13 were probably worse. I had better hopes for 2014, but injuries put paid to it. But I'm seeing light now. The club has direction.

 

[HayesTheChamp]

Despite the crappy season, culminating in the spoon, my frame of mind isn't that bad.
I hated the 2011 season. We were clearly going no-where. We had players who were meant to be good playing poorly and no light at the end of the tunnel.
2012 and 13 were probably worse. I had better hopes for 2014, but injuries put paid to it. But I'm seeing light now. The club has direction.

Great call. 2012 was probably the most frustrating of all, the inconsistency, win one game, lose one, rinse and repeat.

 

[hayes]

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2014-09-18/2014-coaches-review-defenders

 

[Determinant]

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2014-09-18/2014-coaches-review-defenders

The club must have Bruce earmarked for the forward line more permanently

 

[hayes]

The club must have Bruce earmarked for the forward line more permanently

Nice catch. I like it TBH, had a three goal game which is more than what some of our other forwards can say. Make someone force him out.

What do others think of Bruce as a forward?

 

[joop]

Nice catch. I like it TBH, had a three goal game which is more than what some of our other forwards can say. Make someone force him out.

What do others think of Bruce as a forward?

I wouldn't have him earmarked as a forward or defender, but more a swing man.
I liked him down back especially his aggression and courage but was equally impressed when he went forward.
Personally id start him probably more forward, although it depends on who we are playing. If he keeps improving his kicking I think he'll turn out to be very good player.

 

[Nutsngum]

Bruce will be more a swingman as theres no way we will let his athletic height go to waste when we come up on the likes of Franklin and other pacey forwards.

Playing forward though will teach him exactly how to beat opponents and he will be much better for it.

 

[stkildathunda]

The club must have Bruce earmarked for the forward line more permanently

Also basically confirms what we all know and Shents has been upgraded.

 

[hayes]

Not sure where to put this but our round 1 game against Melbourne just started on fox footy. Nice to watch a bit of footage of us before we became diabolical!

 

[joop]

Not sure where to put this but our round 1 game against Melbourne just started on fox footy. Nice to watch a bit of footage of us before we became diabolical!

Yeh I'm watching it too. Went but never saw it, god we played terrible in the first quarter.
Can't wait for Webster & Wright to have another preseason

 

[joop]

Also on this game, hickey offers that much more around the ground than longer it's not even funny.

 

[Nutsngum]

Yeah Longer is far too much a pure ruckman at this stage. Needs to push himself to provide more of a contest and get dangerous dropping back or forward. Hickey isnt quite as good a tap ruckman but is already showing those things exist.

 

[hayes]

I've watched the odd game here and there and it's amazing how much changed just within the season. Wright was kicking the ball pretty well, even went on the left a few times. Newnes made strange decisions early but got better as the year went on. Some of his kicks were still sublime.

Montagna is the master of calling for the ball in bad positions but he was so much better in the first few games.

Webster is silk and I can't wait for Eli to be back next year. Does not waste a ball.

 

[Kildonan]

Forwards

Nick Riewoldt (first in our B&F and All Australian) remains the main target forward for our club. Beau Maister played FF early in 2014. He was never in the long term plans for the club and was soon dropped while they experimented with a few options. Rhys Stanley took on a ruck / forward role with some success. The Saints coaches trialled a few defensive players up forward such as Simpkin, Bruce and Gwilt. Josh Bruce has been trialled as a makeshift forward and may well be set to permanently play here. They also gave game time to new recruits Templeton and Billings with cameos by Lee, Dunstan, Minchington, Murdoch, White, Milera and several resting mids. Schneider struggled with fitness again this year playing 13 matches but appeared restricted in at least 4 of them and Saunders also played several matches up forward especially early in the season.

Changes:

Beau Maister retired, Terry Milera retired, and Rhys Stanley traded to Geelong. Trent Dennis-Lane delisted, Adam Schneider delisted.

Tim Membrey has been added to our list as a delisted Free Agent.

Current Players:

Spencer White, Josh Bruce, Tom Lee, Nick Riewoldt, Tim Membrey, Arryn Siposs, Daniel Markworth, Brodie Murdoch, Jack Billings, Darren Minchington, Eli Templeton, and Adam Schneider (expected to be redrafted onto our rookie list).


Rucks:

Tom Hickey is our senior ruckman. He is a talented tap ruckman who is athletic but underweight and somewhat fragile. Tom only managed 6 matches in 2014 due to patella tendonitis. He saw a specialist in London to assist in his recovery. Billy Longer has been ‘thrown in the deep end’ after joining the club after the trade of Ben McEvoy to Hawthorn. He played 16 senior matches this year after only 9 matches in the previous 2 years with Brisbane. Rhys Stanley played as second ruck to Hickey and Longer. He is actually quite a decent ruckman but does allow himself to get monstered somewhat by the more physical opponents. Lewis Pierce is a developing ruckman who is yet to play a senior match. He has shared the VFL load with international rookie Jason Holmes. Both players have been impressive and both may have their opportunity to play some senior football this coming year.

Changes:

Rhys Stanley traded to Geelong.

Current Players:

Tom Hickey, Billy Longer, Lewis Pierce, Jason Holmes


Midfield:

Lenny Hayes(2nd in our B&F) was our best midfielder in 2014. His retirement adds to the depletion of experience and talent by the departures of Goddard and Dal Santo in the prior two seasons. An injury riddled season for Steven (8th in our B&F from 17 matches) and Armitage (7th in B&F from 15 matches) further depleted the midfield together with some inconsistent performances by Montagna (later explained as probably injury related)(4th in B&F) meant that we relied on some inexperienced players and lesser lights to be the furnace to our engine.

Luke Dunstan was impressive in his first year and Jack Newnes was a consistent performer(6th in B&F). Tom Curren was brought in as a tagger and developed his game to where he was released to play offensively as well. Weller was given a similar role and he was soon recognised to be a very capable midfielder earning himself promotion to the senior list (9th in B&F from 16 matches).

Seb Ross had an inconsistent year but showed his best is very good. Farren Ray was a steadying influence with his experience on the wing. He probably will play no role in the rebuilt team, but is an essential element at the present. Milera played a cameo role as the speedy player but has left the club, I expect Josh Saunders to continue in that role. Clint Jones started the season well but found himself omitted for much of the second half of the season. Shane Savage was initially tried on a wing but was ineffective so he was dropped to the VFL and played as an offensive defender.

Changes:

Lenny Hayes retired, Terry Milera retired, Clint Jones delisted, Sam Dunell delisted

The four players being promoted off the rookie list may all have roles through the midfield this coming season. I expect that a number of players who are currently considered defenders or forwards will begin to rotate through the midfield. I am particularly bullish on Minchington and Acres and look forward to watching all of these players to see if they adapt to demands of the role expected of them.

Current Players:

Leigh Montagna, Farren Ray, David Armitage, Jarryn Geary, Jack Steven, Tom Curren, Jack Newnes, Sebastian Ross, Darren Minchington, Brodie Murdoch, Josh Saunders, Luke Dunstan, Eli Templeton and Blake Acres.

Defence:

Sean Dempster (3rd in B&F) and Luke Delaney (5th in B&F) were the mainstays in defence in 2014. Sam Fisher missed most of the season but he returned in Rd 17 and showed us why we missed his class and cool head under pressure. Sam Gilbert missed even more of the season. He missed much of 2013 after hyperextending his knee in Rd 6, then spent nearly three months in a moon boot after his foot injury sidelined him in Rd 3 this year. The foot injury first flared up in the preseason, then in April and again in Rd 22. He has seen a specialist Sydney surgeon to assist in his recovery. Josh Bruce played 10 matches for the club, mainly in defence, but also as a defensive forward. Jarryn Geary was another of our defensive group that missed most of the season, this time is was an elbow injury and later a calf injury before he could return. Jimmy Webster and Shane Savage were the two “discoveries” down back. It is their precise disposals that made them an essential component down back. Both could find themselves rotating through the midfield in the future, as could Geary, Nathan Wright, Blake Acres and Cam Shenton to play vastly different roles. Dylan Roberton has taken some time recovering from an injury which reduced his ankle’s freedom of movement and Simpkin is finding it difficult to secure a permanent spot due to height issues. Jimmy Gwilt (10th in B&F) was shown to be too small to stand key forwards and his place in the team due to his kicking skills was made redundant through better options. His age group would not have any longevity once the team is rebuilt so he was delisted in favour of a younger player.

Changes:

James Gwilt – delisted free agent – recruited by Essendon

Current Players:

Sam Fisher, Sean Dempster, Sam Gilbert, Jarryn Geary, Luke Delaney, Tom Simpkin, Cameron Shenton, Shane Savage, Dylan Roberton, Josh Bruce, Jimmy Webster, Nathan Wright, Blake Acres

Summary:

St Kilda's poor performance in 2014 was exacerbated by injuries to key personnel, especially defenders. The midfield was undermanned as was the forward line. There should be an immediate improvement with the return of injured players. The club needs to draft tall KPP's to strengthen an almost non-existent forward line (once Riewoldt retires) and to provide the next tier in an aging defence. More class is required in the midfield, but this should be of secondary priority to finding the KPPs.

List Changes:

Retired:

Lenny Hayes, Beau Maister

Delisted:

James Gwilt, Clinton Jones, Trent Dennis-Lane, Sam Dunell, Terry Milera, Adam Schneider

Traded:
Out: Rhys Stanley + pick #60 traded to Geelong for pick 21.
In: Tim Membrey was selected as a 'Delisted Free Agent'

National Draft:
1. Pick #1
2. Pick #21
3. Pick #22
4. Pick #41
5. Pick #78 Cameron Shenton (Elevation)
6. Pick #96 Darren Minchington (Elevation)
7. Pick #114 Eli Templeton (Elevation)
8. Pick #132 Maverick Weller (Elevation)

ROOKIE LIST:
1. Pick #1
2. Pick #19
3. Pick #37
4. Pick #55 Adam Schneider

 

[Bull3tblitz]

Tim Membrey has been added to our list selected with the first pick in the pre-season draft.

Sorry to be picky but he was picked up as a delisted Free Agent if i'm not mistaken