Traded #42: Adam Saad - Traded to Carlton for pick 8 (with some junk picks)

[Doss]

Blitzer summed it up best - The most impressive feature of Saad's play has been his one-on-one defending which is top shelf.

It's been the aspect of his game that has surprised me the most. We all knew he was bullet-fast, but he is seriously good in one-on-one situations and that is not something that immediately came to mind with Saad before he came to us.

 

[Ambrosia]

Has a similar abilty to Walla where when he picks the ball up in a contest and looks like he should be tackled but instead just accelerates through the outstretched arms like they aren't there.

 

[Blind Turn]

He’s the perfect small defender. He has a well balanced skill set between defending and attacking. If we start to challenge he will be AA material.

 

[yaco55]

The stats from the previous two years show that Saad is defensively sound, especially in one-on-one contests - Of course it's better to see this evidence with your eyes.

 

[Yoda_]

He’s the perfect small defender. He has a well balanced skill set between defending and attacking. If we start to challenge he will be AA material.

Have actually been surprised by how well Saad defends one on one. Such an under rated trait, especially for a small defender. May be a good call but should he continue to improve, could become one of the better small defenders in the competition if he is not there already.

 

[Howard Moon]

leading the afl for bounces?



I don't think so.

 

[Zach Package]

Jesus Christ, what a find.

Actually scratch that first part but he's bloody unbelievable

 

[yodellinhank]

i like him

 

[Blind Turn]

We all knew that Stringer and Smith were high-end quality and we knew this bloke could blast away from the contest at real pace. But then we saw that he could defend. And now we can all agree that he has incredibly good skills and makes incredibly good decisions under pressure. He too is high-end quality.

 

[Stopher]

Aziz Behich is his Socceroos spirit animal.

 

[Darealrath]

That first run...I was certain he was going to get sandwiched.

 

[Gumby2Hurley]

Bargain. EAD Nelson n Cripps

 

[Mercurial89]

I didnt realise his kicking was this good, thought he hacked it a bit more.

But he gets some bloody good distance when he wants to.

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

Some superb passages of play by frogger.

 

[Beerfish]

Just love watching him slice his way through the opposition. It's almost surgical.

 

[Its Manbearpig]

Someone should make an app..
SAADY
Its like frogger. But you're not a frog. You're a Saad. Theres no streets or rivers.
Just players and grass.
Add in a bounce button.
Ill take 50% of all profits. Thankyou.

 

[Pweter]

He's taking the game on like he did in his first couple of seasons at Gold Coast. There's almost an arrogance to the way he takes possession, has a very quick look around and thinks "nup, you guys are ****ed" then he slices and dices his way through traffic and finds himself streaming through half back almost unopposed.

It also opens the game up for others. When he doesn't take it on, the opposition are closing from all sides anticipating he will. This means he is finding guys like McKenna, Merrett etc who are released into space.

And as has been said, his actual defending, his primary role in the team, has been first rate too.

Since the Geelong game I think he's become the player we all hoped and wanted, except probably with better defensive skills than we thought possible for him.

 

[blitzer]

When McGovern and Shuey both fell to the deck trying to tackle him within the first few minutes of the game I just got this sneaking suspicion that we were going to be on.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

How good was his recovery when he slipped over in the goal sqaure.

 

[Donakebab]

If his form continues he will be bashing down the door for the AA squad and possible selection.

The way he just brushed past those tackles last night...

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

If his form continues he will be bashing down the door for the AA squad and possible selection.

The way he just brushed past those tackles last night...

Developing a bit of a fend off too

 

[Don35]

Developing a bit of a fend off too

If I had to pick 1 small defender in the league it would be him. One on one defending is as good as his run / carry / deliver.

Gun

 

[TheFrenchCut]

He seems like he should be playing for Sydney*.

*As in, he can actually defend

 

[Vindicater]

Anyone got some gifs?

 

[windyhill]

Of the three he was the one I wanted and I love the other two. Love them But Saad was THE ONE. Can't get it in my head how relatively easily Essendon got all three.