Opinion Re-drafting Ahmed Saad

[Manimal_Dunstan]

The Pelch;

"St Kilda Football Club is pleased that Ahmed will have the opportunity to play football again in 2015,” Pelchen said.

“We are open-minded to the possibility of him returning to the Saints but like all players available in the draft, we will make the appropriate assessment later in the year. Until that time, we will continue to support his welfare, as permitted."

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2014-05-28/st-kilda-statement-on-ahmed-saad

 

[Manimal_Dunstan]

Don't really see how we owe him anything, to be honest.

Do you think he owes us though, freak? we gave him a 2-3 year deal before he got banned.

Say we commit to drafting him, does he tell every other clubs he wants to repay St Kilda the faith and only wants to play for us?

 

[Persevering Saint]

I reckon he'll be back training with the club by August.

 

[Manimal_Dunstan]

I reckon he'll be back training with the club by August.

Not aloud to near the club until Feb 20th, 2015 i think.

 

[saintsrfreak]

Do you think he owes us though, freak? we gave him a 2-3 year deal before he got banned.

Say we commit to drafting him, does he tell every other clubs he wants to repay St Kilda the faith and only wants to play for us?

Well yeah I'd say we get first dibs on him, but I don't think we should draft him just because it'd make a good story.

If he's the best option available at the appropriate pick then sure, but don't gift a spot on the list.

 

[L_W_P]

I have no doubts that his physical fitness will be fine. It's just match practice and an understanding of the new coaches systems that will take time.

He's in a better spot, body wise, than guys who miss a season having done a knee.

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Saints have issued a statement:
http://www.saints.com.au/news/2014-05-28/st-kilda-statement-on-ahmed-saad

 

[Nutsngum]

Not aloud to near the club until Feb 20th, 2015 i think.

Actually he can begin training 3 months before his ban ends from what I remember. No playing (not that there are any games) but I believe theres is a stipulation that training can begin before the ban is over.

Also we would be nuts for not taking him in at least the rookie draft. Yes 2013 was crap but his 2012 performance was fantastic and worth another shot without a doubt.

 

[hayes]

Don't really see how we owe him anything, to be honest.

Agree he only has himself to blame for this. Still can't get over the stupidity involved, but I'd be happy to have him back if that's what the club thinks is best. I guess it isn't really all that different to someone who's done a knee.

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

I guess if we do draft him we can just about guarantee he would work his backside off to get back into the starting 22.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Not aloud to near the club until Feb 20th, 2015 i think.

From my recollection it was September when he stood down, so that makes it March for an 18 month suspension.
It would include ALL other clubs ( VFL and AFL ) as well.
I'm guessing that clubs could get permission from the AFL to conduct interviews or fitness tests.
There would be no training with a team until his return. ( His best bet would be to pitch in with the Essendon players and hire a private coach ).

At least these conditions would be expected to prevent a bidding war for him. I'm not even sure the Saints will be after him.

 

[CALL ME SNAKE]

Seems like a great bloke
But to be honest I thought he only played a handful of decent games for us. Was in and out of the team during his last yr and didn't cement a spot.
At his best he was pretty bloody handy But I don't think he was consistent enough to re-draft.
But hey! If he gets picked up by us again and proves me wrong then good on him .

 

[aussierulesrules]

Awesome news for Ahmed. Had a serious case of the 2nd year blues last year, but showed a hell of a lot the year before, so I hope a team (particularly us) takes a chance on him at the end of the year. Will be rookie list if anything though, I think it's fair to say.

Hopefully this will be the end of it as far as the ban goes. Do ASADA have any other means to appeal it?

 

[BrianSpeaking]

I'd draft him, sentiment has gone out of this game, if he is there with pick 95 draft him.

 

[Defacto]

rookie list for me

 

[From 45]

I say yes. Without sounding cliche, saad will come out of this situation a better person and player. To now know how quickly his opportunity was taken away from him, would instil a manic like determination to succeed and become the player he should be at afl level,and to ensure he repays the faith the club has shown him. He seems to be that kind of person.Let's hope so

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Seems like a great bloke
But to be honest I thought he only played a handful of decent games for us. Was in and out of the team during his last yr and didn't cement a spot.
At his best he was pretty bloody handy But I don't think he was consistent enough to re-draft.
But hey! If he gets picked up by us again and proves me wrong then good on him .

We dont have many players who will average a goal a game, and he still has potential for more.

 

[Mindtraveller]

I'll go yes, but only with a late rookie spot.

This is probably the best way to go. We should have at least 3 rookie spots (possibly 4).

 

[aussierulesrules]

Rookie list for mine, not our first pick there though, that will be for this year's version of Eli! Will likely take at least half the season to get back up to speed, so that will suit being on the rookie list perfectly. Doubt we'll have room on the senior list for him.

Looked to have a serious case of the "2nd year blues" last year, but showed more than enough the year before (when he kicked 28 goals in 16 games- in his first season in the AFL, and only about 5th season of footy anywhere) to suggest that he has what it takes to make it at senior AFL level. We could sure do with his deadly accuracy again!

 

[goodie23]

Definitely give him another go. Balance up the senior and rookie list and put him where there's a vacancy.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I reckon he'll be really really really fit though.

 

[Grav]

Deserves another go, haven't seen any other small forwards beating down the door, so reckon Saad would fit that bill.

 

[aussierulesrules]

But to be honest I thought he only played a handful of decent games for us.

28 goals from 16 games suggests that he was perfectly good in his first season with us and the thing about those "decent games" (ie. his best games) is that they were pretty much all in big games for us, against very good teams (at the time). His best bags of goals were 3, 3 times and 4 once and the threes came against Collingwood and Geelong, late in the year, in those crucial "must win" games (if we wanted to make the finals), with the other one being in that epic R10 night game against Richmond (when they were flying) at Etihad and the 4 came in our really good win against Brisbane, at the Gabba, so he seemed to be someone who thrived on the big stage, or in important games, which is something that is not necessarily easy to come by.

The 3 goals he kicked in that game against Collingwood at the MCG in particular were bloody outstanding, with all 3 from memory being from outside 50m, including one early in the first from 55m out, up against the boundary fence (on the "wrong side for a right footer"), which he slotted like it was nothing and the last being late in the game, from almost 60m out.

His blistering speed and strength means that he can play both a crumbing role and also a lead-up role, so he isn't one dimensional. Has plenty of ground to make up though. Plenty.

 

[CALL ME SNAKE]

28 goals from 16 games suggests that he was perfectly good in his first season with us and the thing about those "decent games" (ie. his best games) is that they were pretty much all in big games for us, against very good teams (at the time). His best bags of goals were 3, 3 times and 4 once and the threes came against Collingwood and Geelong, late in the year, in those crucial "must win" games (if we wanted to make the finals), with the other one being in that epic R10 night game against Richmond (when they were flying) at Etihad and the 4 came in our really good win against Brisbane, at the Gabba, so he seemed to be someone who thrived on the big stage, or in important games, which is something that is not necessarily easy to come by.

The 3 goals he kicked in that game against Collingwood at the MCG in particular were bloody outstanding, with all 3 from memory being from outside 50m, including one early in the first from 55m out, up against the boundary fence (on the "wrong side for a right footer"), which he slotted like it was nothing and the last being late in the game, from almost 60m out.

His blistering speed and strength means that he can play both a crumbing role and also a lead-up role, so he isn't one dimensional. Has plenty of ground to make up though. Plenty.

Yeah, that's why I don't know if hes worth the risk, his last season was just average. But im sure our recruiters & list management know a lot more about footy than me. So if we re draft him I will back them that they are pretty sure he has plenty more to offer.

 

[FlyingSledghamer]

saad = terry milera and tdl combined... and then some.

Peoples don't forget his first season, his last year was a write off, 2nd year blues / what ever.
He'll come back and want to prove something to every one. That he can make it.
He could be that small forward again that were crying out for.