Changes Vs. Hawthorn

[TassieSaint]

Surely they wouldn't pick Fiora ahead of Geary or Schneider. Surely.

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

An in form Aaron Fiora is not only a very handy contribution to the team with a lot of pace, but also great to watch with some spectacular marks and good long kicks for goal.

He did play really well last year and if he does get another chance, confidence will be a major factor - I just hope that he will be treated with the same respect and admiration as every other player wearing the St Kilda jumper.

Generally, I really like the fact that he has not given up. He will know that his last performances for the Saints were below average and that he will need to really prove himself again. Birss, Rix, L Fisher and Geary could also be excused for showing a certain frustration for not being given another chance at the moment - yet they continue to be named amongst the best and thus, even if not selected for the Saints, remind those in the actual 22 not to be too confident of their position.

 

[Signd Sealed Saint]

Holden your forgetting that Fiora is 26, his time is past.

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

Holden your forgetting that Fiora is 26, his time is past.

You may have misunderstood what I was trying to say. I am not necessarily asking for Fiora's inclusion. But if he does come in, I hope that people will cheer for him like all other St Kilda players.

He can be great, we've seen that just last year.

And I suppose you are not trying to say that 26 is too old for being a good AFL footballer, are you (by the way, Fiora is 27) ?

If you are, please don't tell Robert Harvey (36), Max Hudghton (32), Steven King (29), Michael Gardiner (29), Lenny Hayes (28), Stephen Milne (28), Steven Baker (28), Jason Blake (27) or Brownlow Medal co-favourites Brett Kirk (31), Brent Harvey (30), Simon Black (29), Jason Akermanis (32) and Matthew Richardson (33)...

You are not (like) Nexus who wants to trade Hayes and other experienced players for a wagon full of unproven youngsters, are you ?

 

[ChrisFooty]

Gwilt improved towards the end of the game, but he was a real concern being slow and indecisive and giving away frees (his performance on Friday will not have cemented the spot Lyon was talking about...).).

Gwilt improved towards the end of the Carlton match? How?

 

[Rough_Edges]

Gwilt won't be dropped i don't think, Lyon will persist.

Schneids and Gardiner to come in i'd say.

 

[Rough_Edges]

You may have misunderstood what I was trying to say. I am not necessarily asking for Fiora's inclusion. But if he does come in, I hope that people will cheer for him like all other St Kilda players.

He can be great, we've seen that just last year.

And I suppose you are not trying to say that 26 is too old for being a good AFL footballer, are you (by the way, Fiora is 27) ?

If you are, please don't tell Robert Harvey (36), Max Hudghton (32), Steven King (29), Michael Gardiner (29), Lenny Hayes (28), Stephen Milne (28), Steven Baker (28), Jason Blake (27) or Brownlow Medal co-favourites Brett Kirk (31), Brent Harvey (30), Simon Black (29), Jason Akermanis (32) and Matthew Richardson (33)...

You are not (like) Nexus who wants to trade Hayes and other experienced players for a wagon full of unproven youngsters, are you ?

How do you know he can be greaT?

Whats this - his 9th season in the system?

For not one good season.

An average one last year but not great, and i am by no means a Fiora bagger, he's just not up to it.

 

[Darkhour]

I think what Holden may be alluding to, is that Fiora is the type of player that blitzes when the the team is on song... our team hasn't this year so far but is heading that way.. he's not the kind of player that goes in for the hard ball but Lyon may realise this and be aware that he can potentially be a game breaker against the better sides with his pace, goal kicking and marking ability..

I'm not saying that we should include him in either but you never know.. if the team gets on a role, then anything could happen...

 

[_Interpol_]

Gwilt won't be dropped i don't think, Lyon will persist.

Schneids and Gardiner to come in i'd say.

Hmm, he should be... Had 4-5 weeks, really hasn'y imptaced 1 game, and you can't keep him in after giving away 4-5 direct goals, he will be found out by a good unit like the Hawks

Which 2 do you drop to bring in Schneids and Gardy then??? If you're not dropping Gwilt?

LESS CHANGES IS BETTER - why are we always looking to make changes?? Yes, Schneids, Birss, Fish, Fiora been doing well, but it's not the point AFL level an VFL level are miles apart, only be incluned to bring in 1 player at most. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

1 change, any more and we will be going backwards. For too long we brought in old tried players who were ineffective, just based on rep. Those times must go

Out: Gwilt

In: Baker/Birss/Geary - Take your pick - i'd say a fit bake could be handy against the Hawks

 

[dg102]

Didnt Geary get 40 posessions and BOG on the weekend? HELLO 40 POSSESIONS! and hes just a kid. How can you not reward a performance like that. He has to be called up.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I think what Holden may be alluding to, is that Fiora is the type of player that blitzes when the the team is on song... our team hasn't this year so far but is heading that way.. he's not the kind of player that goes in for the hard ball but Lyon may realise this and be aware that he can potentially be a game breaker against the better sides with his pace, goal kicking and marking ability..

I'm not saying that we should include him in either but you never know.. if the team gets on a role, then anything could happen...

I would rather a player who fights as hard as he can when the chips are down, than someone who looks good in a game we would have won anyway!

 

[tim_saints]

I have to agree, Fiora shoodnt be brought back into the side reason being i think we would get more value out of either Schneider or Geary becasue they win more of the ball and schneider can kick a few goals when on song aswell.

 

[stfan]

Team should be out soon...

 

[CHBench]

In: Fiora Schneider
Out: Gwilt Allen

 

[makemytime]

can understand schneider but i hope fiora puts in a damn good performance

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

No MG, ****k. Get back in son.

 

[Signd Sealed Saint]

You may have misunderstood what I was trying to say. I am not necessarily asking for Fiora's inclusion. But if he does come in, I hope that people will cheer for him like all other St Kilda players.

He can be great, we've seen that just last year.

And I suppose you are not trying to say that 26 is too old for being a good AFL footballer, are you (by the way, Fiora is 27) ?

If you are, please don't tell Robert Harvey (36), Max Hudghton (32), Steven King (29), Michael Gardiner (29), Lenny Hayes (28), Stephen Milne (28), Steven Baker (28), Jason Blake (27) or Brownlow Medal co-favourites Brett Kirk (31), Brent Harvey (30), Simon Black (29), Jason Akermanis (32) and Matthew Richardson (33)...

You are not (like) Nexus who wants to trade Hayes and other experienced players for a wagon full of unproven youngsters, are you ?

Not at all, except right now it should be near the peak of Fiora's career and if what we've seen of him is the best he could produce i think time is better spent on the likes of Geary and Eddy etc. And no I would never ever considering trading the likes of Hudgeton and Hayes, I have Hudgeton's number on my guernsey and Hayes is one of my favourite at the club. Never EVER will i want the heart and soul of the club put to the trading table.

 

[_Interpol_]

No MG, ****k. Get back in son.

Disagree - ruck structure working well without him.. Kosi seems to have found his spot in the team..

Now, they have r*ped him well and truly by removing Allan and leaving us 1 KPP forward short.. All for resting Jaz, but ya gotta bring in another KPP: Fergo, or even let Macca play fwd...

This is my beef with st kilda, we do well, and then change a winning team to bring in old heads who have always let us down.. Why will Fiona be any different this time?

 

[Papa Juggs]

How does fiora deserve a spot in the team

Had better be 100% fit with rock solid hammies ready to run with Bateman all day long.

 

[makemytime]

hes on bateman? oh crap but nahhh hes in and we can't change, cheer him on and he'll batter bateman

 

[ChrisFooty]

Willing to give Fiora another shot. Hopefully he can capture his second half of 2007 form. Would not be a game breaker, but would be a contributor.

Has not played one good game yet this season at AFL level. Maybe this weekend will be his first.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

The inclusions are a bit strange, not just whether Fiora should have been selected but also the role he and Schneider will play.
We have taken out two who played key positions forward and back last week, and included two who normally play midfield or forward wing.
We seem to be lacking a full forward and a defender.

 

[kirbatron]

Perhaps Fiora will go with Young?

 

[Kildonan]

Now there is a match up

Both only have vague recolections about this thing called defence

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Not sure how much this gives away, but note Schneider not mentioned and Fiora maybe ahead of Gears & Birss?

St Kilda returns to basics

By Pat Devery 12:14 PM Wed 16 July, 2008
ST KILDA assistant coach Anthony Rock says the club will continue to focus on the basics as it attempts to upset third-placed Hawthorn at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.
Speaking to saints.com.au Rock noted that the team's effort over the past three games - each of which has ended in a Saints victory - had improved, and the coaching staff would be concentrating on replicating that against the in-form Hawks.
"Over the last three or so weeks, we've really got an effort", said Rock. "Our ball use has been a lot better, and the way we've ran and carried the ball and shared it around.
"Our tackling efforts have been really good as well - really all the basics you hear time and time again: you tackle well, you win the ball and really focus on the contested ball."
Rock also highlighted the selection pressure being exerted by several players in the VFL who were pressing for inclusion against Hawthorn.
"We're in a really good spot at the moment. Michael Gardiner returned from injury and was pretty solid in the ruck. I'm sure he will be in contention this week, along with Aaron Fiora who has been pushing his name back up. His performances have been pretty good over the last three or four weeks.
"Jarryn Geary had 40 possessions in the VFL and that's pleasing from a coaching perspective because he's a young, developing player."
Leigh Fisher and Shane Birss were other players Rock said had been consistently good and were close to senior selection.
As for the challenge presented by Hawthorn on the weekend, Rock said several Saints were capable of curbing the influence of the Hawk big guns, including Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Lance 'Buddy' Franklin.
"We've done reasonably well in the past particularly on Hodge," he said.
"Sean Dempster really did a good job last week on (Nick) Stevens; Andrew McQualter was good on (Marc) Murphy.
"I'm not too sure [who will pick up Hodge or Mitchell] but ... they're dangerous players and I'm sure they'll be a focus in our preparation.”
Rock said creating pressure in the midfield and in the forward 50 was vital if the Saints were to limit the scoring chances of Franklin, a player he described as "pretty hard to stop".

So should we blame Anthony Rock for the bizzare selections. After being ho-hum for weeks, Fiora plays a half decent game ( but still not as good as Geary or Birss ) and gets selected. Will our team get critisized for being too soft after this weekend? Ironically we ended up with Fiora at the Saints because we didn't want to give Troy Simmonds a 5 year contract, Fiora is currently under contract for his 5th year. ( We must be the AFL equivalent of the public service ).