Changes v Carlton

[SaintsSeptember]

Schender and Xavier Clarke should return through the VFL. They will lack match fitness and form, so getting a game or two would be the better option.

Baker comes in, does McQualter play the shut down role as well? (assuming they are both in the same team) Or does he go trying to win as much of the footy as possible? McQualter and Gwilt do not derserve to be dropped, although you would say that for Birss (no room it seems currently, very unlucky)

Charlie Gardnier will be dropped. Plays one very good game (Sydney) then follows with two very ordinary performances. Unfortunley that is not going to benefit St.kilda. Eddy probabaly will go back with Casey.

Allen might stay in the team because we need that third tall option.

From what some of the Cats supporters posted, this has been his problem all along.

 

[Squizz]

Wondering if Allen is a chance to kick a goal in the near future ?? Alright providing a target but has to make an impression on the scoreboard.

I think he is struggling with his kicking as he's growing. I saw him kick a ripper 60m goal at Casey early days, but plenty of work is needed (as with a number of the team). His action doesn't look horrible, but the contact with the ball can be. Hopefully they can sort it out, as if he kicks straight he will probably want to get the ball more.

 

[Squizz]

Is it just me or does Allen have alot of fans on this site ,seems to me he really needs to show a hell of alot more than just putting his body in.A pack mark or mabye a couple of goals hmmm well one would do for a key position player .

At face value you are right, but if you watch the tape closely he took one pack mark, had another disallowed that I thought was a mark, and was pivotal in Milne getting at least two of his goals. One was a direct tap straight to him. Milne's opponent is going to the contest whilst he drifts off the pack, so if Allen wasn't effective then Milne would have struggled to get a touch on the night.

 

[dg102]

Hayes and M.Gardiner are straight back in this week.
The rest are still on test. Schnider still needs to pass a fitness test.
The rest most likely wont be back yet.
Charlie Gardiner is out and then possibly out of Allen/Eddy.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

At face value you are right, but if you watch the tape closely he took one pack mark, had another disallowed that I thought was a mark, and was pivotal in Milne getting at least two of his goals. One was a direct tap straight to him. Milne's opponent is going to the contest whilst he drifts off the pack, so if Allen wasn't effective then Milne would have struggled to get a touch on the night.

These days it is not so easy to take a mark and get possession in the 50.
If Allen has found an effective way to end up with a score on the board - credit to him, and bugger what the stats say.
Too many people look at the stats and don't see the full picture.

 

[MIDDO]

At face value you are right, but if you watch the tape closely he took one pack mark, had another disallowed that I thought was a mark, and was pivotal in Milne getting at least two of his goals. One was a direct tap straight to him. Milne's opponent is going to the contest whilst he drifts off the pack, so if Allen wasn't effective then Milne would have struggled to get a touch on the night.

Such a big step up from the AFL,would love to see them plonk the big Falcon (McEvoy) instead of Allen in the forward 50,all reports on this kids kicking and marking from Under 18s seem impressive,and a few things he did in his debut makes me think he is not out of his depth at this level,just needs the chance now to show what he has got ?

 

[Squizz]

Macca is a player all right. I think we'll see 20 games from him next year. This year (imo) is a little early for him as he's got some filling out to do. He's better below the knees than any of our other talls, so hopefully he can keep this whilst becoming more of a presence in ruck contests. Will do him no harm to play with Casey to get ruck time so that we have an instant replacement for King and Gardiner when required - rather than turning to Kosi who hasn't been great and given it robs us of forward line structure.

 

[Persevering Saint]

Chuck will definitely go. Fact is Roo is starting to play less as a half-forward and more as a "quarter-forward" getting it from 70-50m out and kicking to key forwards like Kosi and Allen. Chuck is simply not needed for that role, and is crap in the 50m. If anybody more is needed in there, bring back Birss or Ferguson - neither of them should have been dropped in the first place.

Bakes, Schneids and Xav will all need to play in the Scorps - anything less than that is a sign that all Ross's talk about youth and accountability needs to be seriously questioned.

I'd hate to see Mini dropped - I think he's done such a good job working his way back in, and I also think he's been pretty good, especially in the packs (guts galore).

 

[stfan]

Whatever our ins and outs are, against the Blues we will be fielding a pretty fair and well balanced team. If Hayes in an in though, I will be feeling very bullish about this game.

With Gram (whi is back in form) and Sam Fisher now rotating through the midfield we now have enough depth there.

Blake has been ok in a key defensive post and this importnatly has freed up Sam to rotated through the midfield.

Roo is looking very fit at last.

Kosi should be better for hus game against the Roos.

Gilbert was rusty first game back, but was ok against the Roos, and 2 weeks on should be better still.

 

[fraser25]

King with Kossie pinch hitting is enough, no need for M. Gardiner.

Bring in Schneider, maybe keep Charlie G in.

 

[ChrisFooty]

King with Kossie pinch hitting is enough, no need for M. Gardiner.

Bring in Schneider, maybe keep Charlie G in.

Thats not a bad point. However, having M Gardiner in could give us another forward option when not rucking (could stretch the Carlton backline)

 

[Squizz]

King with Kossie pinch hitting is enough, no need for M. Gardiner.

Bring in Schneider, maybe keep Charlie G in.

Absolutely NO to all of that.

King & Gardiner is the right combination.

Kosi's ruckwork this year has been over-rated by many it seems.

Chucky was very poor two games in a row, and Allen provided a much better contest.

 

[Sir Robert]

Absolutely NO to all of that.

King & Gardiner is the right combination.

Kosi's ruckwork this year has been over-rated by many it seems.

Chucky was very poor two games in a row, and Allen provided a much better contest.

Agreed Allen - good. Chucky G - Bad (Based on this years form alone).

M Gardiner has got to come in if fit and Kosi can stay deep, or swap with Roo after he does some Richo style work.

I'd like to see Schneider in for his x-factor, maybe for Eddy or Mini, but to date these two blokes have shown more so his selection would be based on potential alone (which is where we've gone wrong in the past).

 

[SaintsSeptember]

It seems that the importance of a strong ruck is still a matter of discussion.
How important is it to win the ruck?
For example - Freo won in the ruck against the Saints but where did it get them?
My opinion is it is important to have a ruck that is good enough to stop the opposition doing what they want with it. That dosn't mean they need to get the tap every time. But it also depends on the opposition on game day, if they have a much stronger midfield it is then a bigger advantage to win the ruck.

 

[Squizz]

Agreed Allen - good. Chucky G - Bad (Based on this years form alone).

M Gardiner has got to come in if fit and Kosi can stay deep, or swap with Roo after he does some Richo style work.

I'd like to see Schneider in for his x-factor, maybe for Eddy or Mini, but to date these two blokes have shown more so his selection would be based on potential alone (which is where we've gone wrong in the past).

Yep and yep.

 

[Squizz]

It seems that the importance of a strong ruck is still a matter of discussion.
How important is it to win the ruck?
For example - Freo won in the ruck against the Saints but where did it get them?
My opinion is it is important to have a ruck that is good enough to stop the opposition doing what they want with it. That dosn't mean they need to get the tap every time. But it also depends on the opposition on game day, if they have a much stronger midfield it is then a bigger advantage to win the ruck.

King has controlled play when he's been in the ruck, so gives the on-ballers a chance. He's good at blocking space in defence.

Gardiner (when fit) is almost another runner. That's why he was AA. He runs forward and demands the ball. He also has a very strong hit-out % to advantage, which is what you are alluding to (no point getting meaningless taps).

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Fair enough, I do like the way Gardiner plays between the stopages, and I hope to see more of it as his fitness continues to improve.

 

[stfan]

King has controlled play when he's been in the ruck, so gives the on-ballers a chance. He's good at blocking space in defence.

Gardiner (when fit) is almost another runner. That's why he was AA. He runs forward and demands the ball. He also has a very strong hit-out % to advantage, which is what you are alluding to (no point getting meaningless taps).

King and Gardiner for me too.

The Blues actually have quitea good midfield now. So we need every edge that we can get.

 

[Sir Robert]

King has controlled play when he's been in the ruck, so gives the on-ballers a chance. He's good at blocking space in defence.

Gardiner (when fit) is almost another runner. That's why he was AA. He runs forward and demands the ball. He also has a very strong hit-out % to advantage, which is what you are alluding to (no point getting meaningless taps).

Also big difference Sandilands to junk player versus Junk player to Judd.

Winning hitouts to advantage is very important this week.

 

[CHBench]

St Kilda will receive a massive boost to its hopes of a top-eight finish this week if five key players return.
Ruckman Michael Gardiner (hamstring), tagger Steven Baker (knee), midfielders Lenny Hayes (hamstring) and Xavier Clarke (hamstring) and forward Adam Schneider (hamstring) will all face fitness tests before Friday night's match against Carlton.

In a bit of pickle weather to bring Schneider and Clarke straight in. I don't know why but i want Schneider in the side to provide another crumbing option. He could be very handy but on the other hand his form hasn't been too crash hot. Clarke needs a week at Casey to slowly get him back to match fitness. Baker will play imo, played against Willy and was good. One of McQualter or Eddy will be dropped for him. I'd prefer Eddy to stay in the side but who knows.

 

[The Punter]

Matthew Drain has confirmed Baker will spend another week as Casey. Clarke looks unlikely, but the other three look good.

So far I have Allen and C Gardiner out for M Gardiner and Hayes, with probably McQualter out for Schneider.

 

[beejay]

its good that we're getting back to a full strength team - its a bit of an interesting one - do you mess with stability as the team has won 2 in a row or bring in those players and hope that it doesnt mess the chemistry etc up. i agree c gardiner or allen out for gardiner although i think allen has offered a fair bit but one of them will have to go so kozi can stay forward and hayes in - id like to see schneider back only because what he CAN bring but he needs to actually do it especially if hes gonna come in and replace a promising youngster. Ive been impressed with eddy and mcqualter (never been a fan of the latter) but i think they have contributed well so far so lets hope if the 3 do come in they can have a big impact.

Definitely need gardi in i think with him and king we will be able to dominate cloke and kreuzer and hampson? whoever is playing ruck for them and thus prevent first hands for judd/stevens/murphy etc and give hayes and ball etc first use - def advantage we will have i think and if maxy can quell fev i can see us having a good win.

 

[wheels4]

m.gardiner in for allen (not up to it)

L.Hayes for McQualter ( trys hard but doesnt get enough of it)

Eddy deserves to keep playing he looks abit better than Allen

Maybe play Schneids, Bakes and X Man in the VFL for abit of match fitness

 

[Persevering Saint]

I am astounded at Schneids is being rushed back into the top team. The team is doing fine without him, and he should be played in the Scorps for a week to get his confidence back, then be ready for the Hawks game (which I'm going to!!).

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I am astounded at Schneids is being rushed back into the top team. The team is doing fine without him, and he should be played in the Scorps for a week to get his confidence back, then be ready for the Hawks game (which I'm going to!!).

He is Ross' little chum. Because he used to play for Sydney he must be much better than others who have only played for Saints. Obviously a vital player when viewed through red and white colored glasses.