Rating our guys

[Kildonan]

Xavier Clarke.....Great game - his full time participation in the midfield is greatly anticipated. I really appreciated his tackling. Has a nice kick too.
Clinton Jones..... Another improver - still needs to work on his disposal (his kicking was fair, but his handpasses were poor) tackling and run with the ball were excellent.
Leigh Montagna....Is now an elite midfielder and superb around the clearances. His run and carry and ability to find targets is first class.
Nick Dal Santo.....already shows touch, is all class - we should clone him.
Justin Koschitzke.Picked up where he left off in the intraclub match, however his ability to get the ball still exceeds his capacity to capitalise fully with it
Robert Harvey.....has done it so many times before that we forget just how remarkable he really is
Jarryn Geary......this was a great game for a developing player. He will make it. Very impressive attack on the man with the ball as well as getting good stats. Disposal still needs a little work.
Charlie Gardiner..very impressive match. Lovely kick of the ball. Demanded the ball when he needed to. Good signs.
Sam Fisher........he is already accepted as an elite defender, didn't disappoint.
Jason Blake.......impressive game, great spoils, great link work, few errors
Shane Birss.......our enforcer (has taken the mantle from Bakes) did plenty of work mainly tagging Foley
Luke Miles........this guy was unexpected ! A real talent - I reckon he will be promoted to main list for 2009
Raphael Clarke....Lovely poise. Great run out of defense. Geez he's put on some bulk too.
Steven King.......Nice job. Probably the best ruckman on the ground. Had 16 hitouts including a few that made me smile. Did enough around the ground to show he is already in form.
David Armitage....Loved this guys aggression. He went very hard at the man with the ball and was brutal. His frantic efforts at the free ball on the ground showed me just how keen he is this year. He was a little rushed in his disposals but a fine effort.
Robert Eddy.......impressive game. Unlucky not to be on the main list. Will make it.
Fraser Gehrig.....Big Frase is fit and ready for a new season. This most likely will be his last. Should be a big one for him.
Aaron Fiora.......fair game, did a few great things but mucked a few up too.
Stephen Milne.....fair game, did a few great things but mucked a few up too.
Jarryd Allen......this guy is going to be great. Has a good footy brain, great size to him, great hands, needs to practice his kicking.
Michael Gardiner..fair game, got a fair number of hitouts but still not in touch on the ground. Did one or two unexpected good things.
Jack Steven.......this guy is another impressive youngster, gutsy effort
Max Hudghton......great to get the first match of the season out of the way. He stood Deledio for much of the match and got the better of him.
Brad Howard.......didn't see much of him
Michael Rix.......didn't see much of him

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Charlie Gardiner?!?! Lovely kick of the ball?!?!?

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Steven King - Was good in the ruck contests and took a couple of handy marks. Didn't stand out, but he showed enough to show that he is an improvement on what we have had previously.

Xavier Clarke - Great game. Looks extremely fit, confident and his skills were sharp. I really like him in the midfield.

Max Hudghton - Didn't really notice him. It's a good sign that he's fit at this time of the year though.

Fraser Gehrig - Started brilliantly and looked extremely fit, but he did seem to slow downa bit after the first quarter. Still better than most pre season games from Fraser.

Leigh Montagna - Very good. He is probably our best midfielder now and he put in a strong performance.

Michael Gardiner - It is great that he's playing, but he had no impact on the game. Hopefully he just needs to build up some match fitness and touch (which is understandable since he has barely played since 2003), but I don't think he will really be a key player for us.

Raph Clarke - He is in the best condition he has ever been in and looks like he will finally fulfill his potential. Looked fit, sharp, strong and quick.

Aaron Fiora - Solid game. He didn't need to do a huge amount, but he did enough to show he should keep up his form of last year.

David Armitage - His tackling was awsome, but he desperately needs to get more of the footy. We need him to become a quality midfielder, but he hasn't shown a lot to date.

Shane Birss - Pretty good. We know what he's capable of and he performed fairly well tonight.

Justin Koschitzke - He didn't kick a bag like many expected him to, but he took some strong grabs and was dangerous. To be honest I thought his best work was done late in the game when he was playing across half back. I am not convinced that he can be a regular goalkicker, but at least he is fit and has had a pre season.

Sam Fisher - He let Richo get away a bit too much, but he still played a good game. He doesn't need to prove anything in the pre season.

Nick Dal Santo - Quiet game, but he was there just to get some match fitness.

Jason Blake - Good game. He kicked long and accurately several times and now looks very comfrotable at AFL level.

Charlie Gardiner - He effectively replaced Riewoldt and did a good job. I was very surprised by his good marking and disposal. I don't think he's a goalkicker, but he could be that extra avenue into the forward line we have been looking for. Quality game.

Michael Rix - Barely noticed him. I remember one good tackle on the boundary line, but I suspect Rix was played in case Gardiner or King broke down.

Brad Howard - He didn't get a huge amount of game time, but he didn't do anything to impress.

Jack Steven - Had very little game time and wasnt really noticed.

Robert Harvey - Didn't do a lot, but I don't think he'll be worried about a quiet game in the NAB cup.

Jarryd Allen - Didn't stand out, but he snagged two goals and easily could have had four (if not for a close miss and Gehrig reversing a shot at goal).

Clint Jones - Started poorly but calmed down after quarter time and played a solid game. It was a big improvement on his 2007 form, but still needs to do more with the footy.

Robert Eddy - Was brilliant in the first quarter, but was on and off the ground from then on. The only weakness I have noticed in his game is that he does tend to cough up the ball under pressure. Still looks like a guy who could easily step into an AFL game and have en impact. Deserves to be on the senior list ahead of 5-6 players.

Jarryn Geary - Very good game. I knew that he was a classy player with good pace, but I had no idea that he had such a great vertical leap. He effectively spoiled Richmond forwards much taller than him several times and I loved his bump on Polak. I would be surprised and disappointed if he doesn't play 15 games this year.

Stephen Milne - He is still very good at finding space in the forward line, but still needs to lift his game around the ground. Even if Milney just cuts the stupid high tackles from his game I'll be happy.

Luke Miles - The biggest surprise packet for me. He defensive work was excellent and his confidence attacking and using the ball was amazing for a guy plucked from nowhere. He looks like a genuine full back prospect for the future.

 

[Rough_Edges]

Charlie Gardiner?!?! Lovely kick of the ball?!?!?

Certainly was on Friday night.

 

[35Harvs]

Leigh Montagna - Very good. He is probably our best midfielder now and he put in a strong performance.

did you mean for the game or best on the list?

 

[Monika72]

Jarryn Geary was the stand out, he could be in the best 22 this year.

 

[ChrisFooty]

Charlie Gardnier could be a real steal. Played a lot better than what most people were expecting.

I thought Jason Blake was really good. If he plays like that every week that would be excellent.

Lokking forward to see Geary play plenty of senior football this year.

 

[mick13]

I was really impressed with Miles as well. Looks like he could be a great pickup.

How old is he again? 22?

 

[St DAC]

Miles may be a bit small for KP backman, he looks a dasher perhaps best suited to HBF. We've got a few of these ...

 

[The Punter]

Steven King - solid if unspectacular. Will benefit from training and playing with this bunch of midfielders for a while, but will eventually start palming it to the right places. He was getting first hands on the ball, which is a great start.

Xavier Clarke - close to BOG. Good to see him being used in the midfield, as he will pinch-hit there as the season goes on.

Max Hudghton - good to see him running around in February

Fraser Gehrig - looked solid

Leigh Montagna - no drop-off from 2007, he played really well

Michael Gardiner - a little behind King, but he will get better as the season progresses

Raphael Clarke - liked him selling the candy in the last quarter, and looked good if used not in the best way

Aaron Fiora - quiet, but no need to prove himself in the NAB Cup

David Armitage - good without the ball, panicked a few times with the ball

Shane Birss - good outing

Justin Koschitzke - looked a little rusty, but to be expected

Sam Fisher - will be my Dream Team cornerstone again this season

Nick Dal Santo - I commented after his third touch he was probably already BOG. Looked to relish the leadership opportunity (did a lot of talking in the three quarter time huddle)

Jason Blake - Another solid performance from the most honest bloke at the club

Charlie Gardiner - the performance of the night. He well deserved his two goals and 10 marks

Michael Rix - clearly leaner to play in the backline, and that versatility can only help

Brad Howard - did one or two nice things

Jack Steven - Looks like Milne Mark 2. His pace is electrifying, and great to see him get a run

Robert Harvey - nothing needs to be said here

Jarryd Allen - showed potential and moved well

Clinton Jones - everyone wants him to improve his disposal, and his checkside that set up the goal in the third quarter was really clever. Liked very much what I saw

Robert Eddy - didn't do a lot but I liked what I saw

Glenn Chivers - no game time really. It is really difficult to get 26 blokes game time with no injuries

Jarryn Geary - He will play 10 games this year easily. Looked tough and ran hard

Stephen Milne - Still looks lively and will have another good year

Luke Miles - Looks a good long-term KP defender

 

[Squizz]

Thought Rix smashed Polak - I can't believe the Saints haven't used him more as a Presti-type defender. Much better in this role than a full time ruckman.

I was waiting with interest to see more of Geary after some big wraps on BigFooty. Did not disappoint.

Loved X's game - plenty of sticky tackles and pressure.

Chucky G needs to improve decision making with the ball, but he is fulfilling a role that we have desparately needed.

Blakey was pretty good, and Miles was better than I thought he'd be (albeit is definitely not a key position player). May help (with Dempster) release Gram to the wing.