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#1
I remain perplexed about the large number of specialist small forwards on our list.
According to popular opinions ( all different ).
Milne should be dropped and retire.
Saad should be dropped.
TDL should be delisted
Milera should be delisted.
Then there is Schnieder , injured for much of this season and the last, will he play again?
Then there is Minchington, on the Rookie list.
I've looked at their attributes and abilities, and to be honest I wish I could pull them all apart and put back one good forward with the all the right pieces.
The bottom line:
Goals Average/game
Milne 1.8, down from 2.5 last year
Saad 1.2, down from 1.7 last year
Milera 1 , down from 1.3 last year
TDL 1, probably not as good as he has done at Sydney ( when he played full games ).
Comparison Betts 1.6 Motlop 1.7
Q1: Are all of these guys in a form slump, or is it a function of the midfield not working to their advantage?
Disposals/Contested Possessions/ Disposal % / Clangers / Tackles
Milne 11.2 / 4 / 59% / 2.8 / 1.2
Saad 8.4 / 4.5 / 64% / 2.2 / 3.1
Milera 11.8 / 3.5 / 58% / 2.7 / 1.8
TDL 7.9 / 3.5 / 68.7% / 1.7 / 3.2
Goal Accuracy
Milne: 49%
Saad: 48%
Milera: 38%
TDL : 57%
Wouldn't you know it? The two who get the ball the most are the ones who are most likely to cough it up.
Milne: age 33. knows how to present to get the ball, and can take a crumb when there are crumbs to be had.
I view Milne as a very hard worker, when the ball doesn't come in to him, he plays deep. The thing is, if the ball ends up in Milne's hands when he's not near the goals he's probably worse than Clinton Jones. He's been playing very deep.
Saad: (Age 23) is a very different player to Milne, but he also works very hard. His ability to lay tackles helps our forward line pressure. He'll make first efforts, second efforts and third efforts.
His goal accuracy is down this year. Still young enough ( and new enough at the game) for us to expect improvement.
Milera: ( Age 25) seems to be able to present well and get hold of the ball. ( most likely of the bunch to take a contested mark ), but it seems he is not able to finish. Probably ends up too deep, and like Milne, not particularly effective in the midfield. Misses 2 out of 3 shots for goal, not good if he's a specialist forward. Is it the pressure of playing AFL or is he another CJ?
TDL: ( Age 24) can be very good with the ball in his hands. Its getting it that's the problem. Doesn't seem to have the crumbing skills of Milne or Saad? , We have to rely on him getting the ball kicked to him. He does get a few tackles in, so its not like he's not providing forward pressure.
Schneider, was always good running deep. Made a pretty decent outside mid as well as a small forward, more so than any of the new guys.
Minchington. Is he playing? Injured?
From the Saints
A highly skilled half forward, Minchington was taken with pick 65 in the 2012 AFL Rookie Draft.
In 2012 Minchington injured his hip after nine games for Sandringham. Prior to this season-ending injury, the small forward and occasional midfielder showed great goal sense, speed and agility.
His ability to play in the midfield would be great but I'm not hearing much about him at all in VFL reports.
Other Options.
If we can get some new midfielders up and firing, ( Newnes, Wright, Geary in the guts , Ross ) , could it be an opportunity for an older player to retire gracefully in the forward line?
If we could play Leigh Montagna ( for example ) in the forward line, his goal kicking is no worse than any of the specialist smalls, but he's far more likely to win it if it goes to ground.
Could someone like Ledger be effective in the forward line?
My personal thoughts are:
All of them would be better players if our midfield was better.
I think we need to let Milera go. He's not effective as a small forward, and he's not physical enough to be a mid.
We might as well keep Milne if he wants to go round again, he simply kicks more goals than anyone else.
I'd like to experiment with a mid in the forward line, and I'd be really happy if we had enough midfield depth to allow Joey to play there until he's 34 or so.
I'm thinking that Schneider may retire. He's missed a lot of footy, and he's never been a player that comes back "fit".
With our list at the moment, I'd keep TDL, even if its just for depth. Maybe he can learn to get more of the ball, and then he'd be pretty useful.
I simply don't know where Minchington stands. At this stage I'd say his best chance is a third year on the rookie list.
What do others think?
According to popular opinions ( all different ).
Milne should be dropped and retire.
Saad should be dropped.
TDL should be delisted
Milera should be delisted.
Then there is Schnieder , injured for much of this season and the last, will he play again?
Then there is Minchington, on the Rookie list.
I've looked at their attributes and abilities, and to be honest I wish I could pull them all apart and put back one good forward with the all the right pieces.
The bottom line:
Goals Average/game
Milne 1.8, down from 2.5 last year
Saad 1.2, down from 1.7 last year
Milera 1 , down from 1.3 last year
TDL 1, probably not as good as he has done at Sydney ( when he played full games ).
Comparison Betts 1.6 Motlop 1.7
Q1: Are all of these guys in a form slump, or is it a function of the midfield not working to their advantage?
Disposals/Contested Possessions/ Disposal % / Clangers / Tackles
Milne 11.2 / 4 / 59% / 2.8 / 1.2
Saad 8.4 / 4.5 / 64% / 2.2 / 3.1
Milera 11.8 / 3.5 / 58% / 2.7 / 1.8
TDL 7.9 / 3.5 / 68.7% / 1.7 / 3.2
Goal Accuracy
Milne: 49%
Saad: 48%
Milera: 38%
TDL : 57%
Wouldn't you know it? The two who get the ball the most are the ones who are most likely to cough it up.
Milne: age 33. knows how to present to get the ball, and can take a crumb when there are crumbs to be had.
I view Milne as a very hard worker, when the ball doesn't come in to him, he plays deep. The thing is, if the ball ends up in Milne's hands when he's not near the goals he's probably worse than Clinton Jones. He's been playing very deep.
Saad: (Age 23) is a very different player to Milne, but he also works very hard. His ability to lay tackles helps our forward line pressure. He'll make first efforts, second efforts and third efforts.
His goal accuracy is down this year. Still young enough ( and new enough at the game) for us to expect improvement.
Milera: ( Age 25) seems to be able to present well and get hold of the ball. ( most likely of the bunch to take a contested mark ), but it seems he is not able to finish. Probably ends up too deep, and like Milne, not particularly effective in the midfield. Misses 2 out of 3 shots for goal, not good if he's a specialist forward. Is it the pressure of playing AFL or is he another CJ?
TDL: ( Age 24) can be very good with the ball in his hands. Its getting it that's the problem. Doesn't seem to have the crumbing skills of Milne or Saad? , We have to rely on him getting the ball kicked to him. He does get a few tackles in, so its not like he's not providing forward pressure.
Schneider, was always good running deep. Made a pretty decent outside mid as well as a small forward, more so than any of the new guys.
Minchington. Is he playing? Injured?
From the Saints
A highly skilled half forward, Minchington was taken with pick 65 in the 2012 AFL Rookie Draft.
In 2012 Minchington injured his hip after nine games for Sandringham. Prior to this season-ending injury, the small forward and occasional midfielder showed great goal sense, speed and agility.
His ability to play in the midfield would be great but I'm not hearing much about him at all in VFL reports.
Other Options.
If we can get some new midfielders up and firing, ( Newnes, Wright, Geary in the guts , Ross ) , could it be an opportunity for an older player to retire gracefully in the forward line?
If we could play Leigh Montagna ( for example ) in the forward line, his goal kicking is no worse than any of the specialist smalls, but he's far more likely to win it if it goes to ground.
Could someone like Ledger be effective in the forward line?
My personal thoughts are:
All of them would be better players if our midfield was better.
I think we need to let Milera go. He's not effective as a small forward, and he's not physical enough to be a mid.
We might as well keep Milne if he wants to go round again, he simply kicks more goals than anyone else.
I'd like to experiment with a mid in the forward line, and I'd be really happy if we had enough midfield depth to allow Joey to play there until he's 34 or so.
I'm thinking that Schneider may retire. He's missed a lot of footy, and he's never been a player that comes back "fit".
With our list at the moment, I'd keep TDL, even if its just for depth. Maybe he can learn to get more of the ball, and then he'd be pretty useful.
I simply don't know where Minchington stands. At this stage I'd say his best chance is a third year on the rookie list.
What do others think?

