2003 St Kilda analysis

[Asgardian]

This is one club that I was looking forward to scrutinising, the perception is of boundless young talent, let’s see if it’s real, or illusionary.

Steven Baker - Handy run with player, who can also be creative, good team player
Luke Ball - “Old” (been on list for a year already) new kid, yet to see him play
Heath Black - Consistent midfielder, nice disposal skills
Jason Blake - Lousy 2002 with form & injury, I reckon he’ll be dropped for 2004
Barry Brooks - Nice pick up, will be a good ruckman, but I still prefer Salopek
Nathan Burke - Gotta love the way he plays, courage, determination, skill, but injuries & age?
Craig Callaghan - Behind the 8 ball after a reco, others may take his spot before he recovers
Matthew Capuano - Hack, just a big body space filler
Xavier Clarke - Inconsistent, but only young & learning, flashes of real brilliance
Nick Dal Santo - Another one still learning, young but looks so calm and composed, big future
Matthew Ferguson - New kid, yet to see him play
Leigh Fisher - New kid, yet to see him play
Fraser Gehrig - Injuries aside, coach needs to settle where to play him, can be very good
Brendon Goddard - New kid, yet to see him play, huge wraps
Aaron Hamill - Strong as an ox, never say die player, at best with a target CHF nearby
Robert Harvey - One of the best when he can get fit, injuries are plaguing him
Lenny Hayes - If he can avoid fences he’ll have a big 2003, hard running player
Josh Houlihan - “Old” new kid, yet to see him play
Max Hudghton - Hard worker, huge heart, skills aren’t the best, bigger players beat him
Austinn Jones - Showing form & maturity now, except when that hammy twangs
Trent Knobel - A degenerative patella tendon is a worry, if he recovers he’s an okay Ruckman
Justin Koschitzke - Huge talent, only hope that back problem doesn’t ruin him
Steven Lawrence - Has no fear, hard & tough, but mind seems to wander occasionally
Matt Maguire - Has lots to learn, I like his “have a go” attitude, is not intimidated on field
Stephen Milne - Best goal shark in the game today, cheeky bastard
Leigh Montagna - Need to see more before judging, busted ankle ruined season
Brett Moyle - Another who had injury hassles, build endurance & a fine midfielder will grow
Chris Oliver - Back up tall, needs more size, is not a long term rucking option
Justin Peckett - Racks up possessions, but wastes them, HACK
Luke Penny - Not a bad pick up, adds size & some ability
Stephen Powell - Lacks discipline, but is a midfield ball magnet, very useful player
Nick Riewoldt - Superstar on the rise, prototype player of 21st century
Troy Schwarze - I’m not a fan, he looks clumsy with so-so skills, but has done well I guess
Andrew Thompson - Gets stats by hard work, aint most skilful, but one of the most determined
Brett Voss - I like the spirit in this guy, can make pressure mistakes, but always gives 100%
Daniel Wulf - Can panic under pressure, doesn’t impress me, better options are available

Nope, no illusions here, this is a squad near overflowing with young talent.

Now all you need is a coach capable of utilising such a good list.

A finals possie is there for the taking, I think they’ll do it.

Final predictions will be done when I have completed all clubs.

 

[karnaby]

Thanks for taking the time to have a pretty objective look at our list.

Here are a couple of comments where I wish to add to, or have some disagreement with your assessment:

Jason Blake - his future is very much his own responsibility, at the least he needs to establish himself as a good reliable depth player.
Matthew Capuano - fingers crossed I hope he proves you wrong.
Max Hudghton - good pace, should enjoy the luxury of playing on oppositions 3rd forward more often than the 1st & 2nd best player that he has been forced to play on over the last two seasons.
Troy Schwarze - effectively a kid who just started to establish himself last season, good kick.
Daniel Wulf - versatile, can be hard to match up on.

To add much more than that would be somewhat pedantic.

I think the standout point about our list is that so many need to take not just one but 2, 3, & 4 steps forward for the team to succeed. If, for example, 10 players all provided a reasonable degree of improvement then I think we could be a threat to a lot of the better sides this year. The exciting thing for me as a long suffering supporter is that 10 or so players do offer the prospect of improving not just this season, but for the next 3, 4, & 5+ years as well. Come 2005/6 I think we might have a fair team

 

[Falchoon]

Steven Baker - Handy run with player, who can also be creative, good team player
3rd in the B&F, beat the likes of Cousins and Camporeale-tough

Luke Ball - “Old” (been on list for a year already) new kid, yet to see him play
Ball magnet with great skills, small body though

Heath Black - Consistent midfielder, nice disposal skills
Tries to kick it too hard and is one sided, looking for a better season

Jason Blake - Lousy 2002 with form & injury, I reckon he’ll be dropped for 2004
Seemed to have found a niche as a tagger before OP, very slow hand to foot and lacks peripheral vision

Barry Brooks - Nice pick up, will be a good ruckman, but I still prefer Salopek
We need a young ruckman to mature with the likes of Kosi-Riewoldt, looks OK, better option than Johnson/McIntosh so looks a good trade

Nathan Burke - Gotta love the way he plays, courage, determination, skill, but injuries & age?
No soft tissue injuries though, forward pocket, can't kick over a jam tin but kicks straight and great pressurer

Craig Callaghan - Behind the 8 ball after a reco, others may take his spot before he recovers
In trouble

Matthew Capuano - Hack, just a big body space filler
Not too bad around the ground but has lost his leap

Xavier Clarke - Inconsistent, but only young & learning, flashes of real brilliance
Highly skilled, needs to get over the ball, reminds me of Leon Davis in that regard, sure hands and great skills, learning his place, probably start in the 2's

Nick Dal Santo - Another one still learning, young but looks so calm and composed, big future
Started to wear out last year but looks all class, great disposal

Matthew Ferguson - New kid, yet to see him play
Hamill/Russell Robertson type, won't see him this year

Leigh Fisher - New kid, yet to see him play
me neither

Fraser Gehrig - Injuries aside, coach needs to settle where to play him, can be very good
Turning circle of the Titanic, but great in straight lines, floats/helicopters his kicks a lot meaning look away when he is shooting for goal, hopefully is finally fit.

Brendon Goddard - New kid, yet to see him play, huge wraps
5-10 games

Aaron Hamill - Strong as an ox, never say die player, at best with a target CHF nearby
Defensive forward who ideally will bob up as the third forward for
2-3 goals per game with short stints in the middle

Robert Harvey - One of the best when he can get fit, injuries are plaguing him
20+ games please, still our best player

Lenny Hayes - If he can avoid fences he’ll have a big 2003, hard running player
Lenny is the one to watch, reminds me a lot of Simon Black

Josh Houlihan - “Old” new kid, yet to see him play
Will struggle to get a game

Max Hudghton - Hard worker, huge heart, skills aren’t the best, bigger players beat him
Love him, great closing speed, ideally suited to leading players rather than wrestlers, dodgy hammies

Austinn Jones - Showing form & maturity now, except when that hammy twangs
Played really well between Hammies last year, watch for him if 100% fit

Trent Knobel - A degenerative patella tendon is a worry, if he recovers he’s an okay Ruckman
Worst skills in the AFL but neutralises opposition ruckmen in the ruck

Justin Koschitzke - Huge talent, only hope that back problem doesn’t ruin him
That is the only concern, a little bit fragile mentally because of it, needs to regain confidence, great poise and skills for such a big fella 197-198cm

Steven Lawrence - Has no fear, hard & tough, but mind seems to wander occasionally
BOG twice last year, needs to be more consistent but great to have on your side

Matt Maguire - Has lots to learn, I like his “have a go” attitude, is not intimidated on field
Opportunities might fall away a bit this year with the arrival of Penny and return of Kosi but looks a likely type

Stephen Milne - Best goal shark in the game today, cheeky bastard
If the forward line is better as a whole will his effectiveness decrease or increase? Interesting to see, hopefully 2+ goals per game

Leigh Montagna - Need to see more before judging, busted ankle ruined season
Aussie Jones type

Brett Moyle - Another who had injury hassles, build endurance & a fine midfielder will grow
takes people on with pace and is a ball magnet, underrated

Chris Oliver - Back up tall, needs more size, is not a long term rucking option
not sure what he offers, did well in the ruck v Essendon but the game was over after halftime.

Justin Peckett - Racks up possessions, but wastes them, HACK
I'd say great skills, frontrunner who performs better when the team is doing well, all the good sides have them

Luke Penny - Not a bad pick up, adds size & some ability
Looks a likely type and hopefully free up a Gherig/Riewoldt/Kosi to go forward

Stephen Powell - Lacks discipline, but is a midfield ball magnet, very useful player
Great pick up for our young side, distributes the ball well to runners, Dees had doubts on ability to maintain fitness so fingers crossed, will make a huge impact

Nick Riewoldt - Superstar on the rise, prototype player of 21st century
Forward, back and middle!

Troy Schwarze - I’m not a fan, he looks clumsy with so-so skills, but has done well I guess
I say he is the best kick in the team, one of those in between sizes though, might be able to go forward

Andrew Thompson - Gets stats by hard work, aint most skilful, but one of the most determined
Will benefit from Harvey and Powell and rise of Hayes so he is not the tagged one, is a great tagger

Brett Voss - I like the spirit in this guy, can make pressure mistakes, but always gives 100%
Spot on, lacks a little awareness

Daniel Wulf - Can panic under pressure, doesn’t impress me, better options are available
No footy skills, but has a great leap is quick and takes a good grab, can be hard to match up on should we have a full -forward line


Depth has been greatly increased and will hopefully contribute to turning around probably the greatest downfall of the last two years, competition for places in the team.

 

[Winmar]

It all sounds alright, doesn't it?

 

[Asgardian]

Yep, I really do like what the Saints have put together, I'm betting they'll rise above their crap coach.

I predict the Saints to finish 8th