Here are my 2 cents, like them or not, I must get this out. I'm not writing off the season, but we must also have an eye on 2008 and beyond.
Here is what we need to do for the future. Forget Thomas, forget the poor recruiting / list management etc, thats done.
Give Luke Ball the rest of the year off, giving him some chance to shake off OP stuff, no pace, no penetration. If he will never get this back via operation etc, then we are screwed as our midfield is one of the worst. If he never gets back to his 2004/05 form then its the biggest tragedy ever. I'd rather him retire then see this shadow of a young man stagger around. Great heart, but that won't cut it.
Time to restructure forward line. Milne GONE, can't tackle, so not interested in seeing him in a saints jumper. His form in big games is so bad, great front runner, but unless we get the best 17 players in AFL around him, then bye bye.
Play Sweeney for rest of the year, find out if he can play, regardless of form. The same with Watts, big investment, lets see some return.
Play X in forward line as he can tackle, don't play Raph for a month as he was so underdone it was sad.
If Gardener gets right, play him, so we can find out if he is ready for 2008, same with Hamill. If bothor either fall over, show door.
Leave Kosi in ruck, best suited there and then push forward on crap opponents, but too cumbersome for permanant forward.
Keep playing the kids (what we have anyway)
Gilbert could be a player on the wing, but will need experience to learn the game, have liked what i've seen, though kicking is awkward, can tackle.
Armitage, shocker of a game, but is a top ten pick, so expectations is that he is a 10 year player, give him a block of 5 games, see how he goes without fear of getting dropped. Should play in front of Thompson from a future perspective.
Now you can't turn over half a list in a year, and i'm not saying we need to, but there are players who have to go, or will retire, these retirements will impact on who gets the lemon and sars. Who is potentially a premiership layer? Well I'll tell you who aint and may be out at the end of 2007
Now bare in mind that players drafted in national drafts are to be given 2 years in the system as a minimum contract, so Birss, Ferguson to be retained.
Hamill (from an injury perspective only)
Thompson (most likely retirement)
Gehrig (Has a role, but does he want to play next year?Hope so)
Voss (Game passed him buy? or just out of favour and therefore delisting?)
Gardener (injuries and rumours suggest we may not see him ever.)
Brooks (Big Talent, Zero Heart, bye, bye. He shows no interest in AFL)
Blake (Liked some of his performances as a 30th on the list, but decision making and skills off AFL level)
M.Clarke (Retired)
Rix (May be needed if Gardener Brooks get chop, great 5th string ruckman)
McQualter (Was impressed by his first year, reckon he needs to be given the rest of the year and told to back himself, no run with roles, can he play yes or no. I say his kicking is not up to AFL)
Raymond (A late pick in a poor draft and has done nada, zero potential)
Harvey (Well he can't go on forever, lets pray he does)
Milne (Bye)
That is 13, far too many to turn over. If all the injured ones get up for 2008 and Harvey, Gehrig go on, keep Blake Rix, thats still about the 6 you would get rid of in a bad year.
Now Gwilt needs another year, but on a flank, not full back (appreciate injuries have forced him there, but would doubt he has a future.Birss will be gone as he is slow and those who don't retire will also be out at end of 2008, so some big changes to come.
If it looks like the 8 is gone out of the equation (which could happen), we must think 2008. Big Pre-season.
Now, i'm sick of game plan this and that. To play good footy you must enjoy yourself and play for each other, back yourself, this comes through winning and having your best team on the park. If Lyon had no injuries and we had everyone super fit, the game style wouldn't be noticed. We would just see great pressure and run and support, which looks attacking and spectacular.
STop over analysing, it aint the game plan, its our attitude, skill and fitness.
On saintsational whinge (still living in the past all those freaks) they are asking is this like 1999 or 2003? Its neither, its 2007. Has the window closed? There is no window, no clock, just opportunity. Yeah it would be romantic for Harves to win a Norm Smith at 36, but thats a dream, not reality.
Good Luck Saints for the rest of 2007, Just enjoy yourselves.
Here is what we need to do for the future. Forget Thomas, forget the poor recruiting / list management etc, thats done.
Give Luke Ball the rest of the year off, giving him some chance to shake off OP stuff, no pace, no penetration. If he will never get this back via operation etc, then we are screwed as our midfield is one of the worst. If he never gets back to his 2004/05 form then its the biggest tragedy ever. I'd rather him retire then see this shadow of a young man stagger around. Great heart, but that won't cut it.
Time to restructure forward line. Milne GONE, can't tackle, so not interested in seeing him in a saints jumper. His form in big games is so bad, great front runner, but unless we get the best 17 players in AFL around him, then bye bye.
Play Sweeney for rest of the year, find out if he can play, regardless of form. The same with Watts, big investment, lets see some return.
Play X in forward line as he can tackle, don't play Raph for a month as he was so underdone it was sad.
If Gardener gets right, play him, so we can find out if he is ready for 2008, same with Hamill. If bothor either fall over, show door.
Leave Kosi in ruck, best suited there and then push forward on crap opponents, but too cumbersome for permanant forward.
Keep playing the kids (what we have anyway)
Gilbert could be a player on the wing, but will need experience to learn the game, have liked what i've seen, though kicking is awkward, can tackle.
Armitage, shocker of a game, but is a top ten pick, so expectations is that he is a 10 year player, give him a block of 5 games, see how he goes without fear of getting dropped. Should play in front of Thompson from a future perspective.
Now you can't turn over half a list in a year, and i'm not saying we need to, but there are players who have to go, or will retire, these retirements will impact on who gets the lemon and sars. Who is potentially a premiership layer? Well I'll tell you who aint and may be out at the end of 2007
Now bare in mind that players drafted in national drafts are to be given 2 years in the system as a minimum contract, so Birss, Ferguson to be retained.
Hamill (from an injury perspective only)
Thompson (most likely retirement)
Gehrig (Has a role, but does he want to play next year?Hope so)
Voss (Game passed him buy? or just out of favour and therefore delisting?)
Gardener (injuries and rumours suggest we may not see him ever.)
Brooks (Big Talent, Zero Heart, bye, bye. He shows no interest in AFL)
Blake (Liked some of his performances as a 30th on the list, but decision making and skills off AFL level)
M.Clarke (Retired)
Rix (May be needed if Gardener Brooks get chop, great 5th string ruckman)
McQualter (Was impressed by his first year, reckon he needs to be given the rest of the year and told to back himself, no run with roles, can he play yes or no. I say his kicking is not up to AFL)
Raymond (A late pick in a poor draft and has done nada, zero potential)
Harvey (Well he can't go on forever, lets pray he does)
Milne (Bye)
That is 13, far too many to turn over. If all the injured ones get up for 2008 and Harvey, Gehrig go on, keep Blake Rix, thats still about the 6 you would get rid of in a bad year.
Now Gwilt needs another year, but on a flank, not full back (appreciate injuries have forced him there, but would doubt he has a future.Birss will be gone as he is slow and those who don't retire will also be out at end of 2008, so some big changes to come.
If it looks like the 8 is gone out of the equation (which could happen), we must think 2008. Big Pre-season.
Now, i'm sick of game plan this and that. To play good footy you must enjoy yourself and play for each other, back yourself, this comes through winning and having your best team on the park. If Lyon had no injuries and we had everyone super fit, the game style wouldn't be noticed. We would just see great pressure and run and support, which looks attacking and spectacular.
STop over analysing, it aint the game plan, its our attitude, skill and fitness.
On saintsational whinge (still living in the past all those freaks) they are asking is this like 1999 or 2003? Its neither, its 2007. Has the window closed? There is no window, no clock, just opportunity. Yeah it would be romantic for Harves to win a Norm Smith at 36, but thats a dream, not reality.
Good Luck Saints for the rest of 2007, Just enjoy yourselves.
