Round 1 team

[Bart Wilson]

what is gardiners deal???


yeah it doesnt look good.

i just dont like kosi's attack ... he has to realise he can be the difference and capable of dominating surely he knows this

 

[StFly]

With the conclusion of the pre season we come to the season proper against Sydney in some manner of makeshift rivalry the AFl want to set up between itself and the supporter bases by consistently delivering a substandard game for both sides.

Backline
Blake, Gilbert, Dawson, Baker, Fisher will ultimately pick themselves, after last years GF Baker will remain in the squad with Miles as his heir apparent on the small-medium forwards. It amazes me that individuals wish to drop to cougar and rotate the FB possie, back the kid to do his job more often than not and he will bounce back. The latter position will largely be a rotated one previously occupied by Raph, Goddard, Gram and during the pre season Gwilt.

B: Blake | Dawson | Baker
HB: S. Fisher | Gilbert | Gram

Midfield
Ultimately where the core strength is and given every opportunity Hayes, Joey, BJ, Armo, Jones and Nicky Dal also pick themselves with the rotations through being divided between Ray, Steven, Peake, Geary and Eddy when picked. You would assume all bar Hayes would play most games and Hayes would instead be managed due to the probability for him to "pull a Maxie" and get a twitchy calf. I can see him filling balls role actually at least initially in half games as Armo is the future of that position while Hayes is the present. As far as the rucks go, we are largely writing off Gardiner based on a lack of pre season but it is King I am worried about, Gardiner is a class above tap ruckman whereas King is far more the staple, ultimately I'm not as convinced that his shoulder is 100%.

C: Montagna | Hayes | Goddard
Foll: Gardiner | Jones | Dal Santo

Forward line
For mine, the problem area. we have no choice but to persist with Kosi at full forward despite the lack of presence and his lack of effort when he is on an off game, the solution is not to simply stick a ruckman in there and say job done, but to actually get or make a full forward. The third lead up position or third HFF position is the rotation area and while you could ultimately like someone like Goddard lining up there through presence, Gwilt ultimately deserves first crack, for he is a confidence player and with confidence demands presence through his attack on the ball. Of note is that I actually expect Schneider to have this role at times with the rotation spot to play deeper forward.

HF: McQualter | Riewoldt | Gwilt
F: Milne | Koschitzke | Schneider

Interchange
Of course you then have the rotations of the ruckmen upon which King would still get first crack and Armitage would also find a spot leaving two, Geary impressed last year and looks to have improved after a slow start to warrant a spot, Peake is still coming to grips with the situation, Ray was a handy acquisition last year and Steven needs to stop rolling his goddamn ankles while Dempster has rather faded off the map with Raph injured and the usual individuals around the mark or who impressed in Eddy, Miles, Alistair and Jesse Smith if he can ever get going.

Int: King | Armitage | Geary | Ray
Emg: Peake | Dempster | Raph

Of course round 1 the position most likely to change is Gardiners for McEvoy.

 

[ULTIMATE_WARRIOR]

Sam Fisher to miss round 1

 

[Kildonan]

B: Steven Baker, Zac Dawson, Jim Gwilt
HB: Farren Ray, Jason Blake, Sam Gilbert
C: Jason Gram, Leigh Montagna, David Armitage
HF: Brendon Goddard, Nick Riewoldt, Nick Dal Santo
F: Adam Schneider, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne
Foll: Ben McEvoy, Lenny Hayes, Clint Jones
I/C: Brett Peake, Andrew McQualter, Steven King, Jarryn Geary

I am assuming Sam Fisher will not be available for a few weeks. I'm also assuming Michael Gardiner is another week or two away despite gathering some touch with the Zebras.
An I/C spot should probably go to: Jarryn Geary (as earned via several excellent performances this preseason), Andrew McQualter, Steven King and maybe Brett Peake but others to consider are Rhys Stanley, Jack Steven and Sean Dempster.

 

[goodie23]

Just a couple of injury updates for everyone to factor in, learned today at family day:

Dempster's in a moon boot, achilles problem apparently, don't see him lining up round one
Big Fish's injury is worse than originally thought, probably a month away

 

[SaintsSeptember]

B: Steven Baker, Zac Dawson, Jim Gwilt
HB: Farren Ray, Jason Blake, Sam Gilbert
C: Jason Gram, Leigh Montagna, David Armitage
HF: Brendon Goddard, Nick Riewoldt, Nick Dal Santo
F: Adam Schneider, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne
Foll: Ben McEvoy, Lenny Hayes, Clint Jones
I/C: Brett Peake, Andrew McQualter, Steven King, Jarryn Geary

I am assuming Sam Fisher will not be available for a few weeks. I'm also assuming Michael Gardiner is another week or two away despite gathering some touch with the Zebras.
An I/C spot should probably go to: Jarryn Geary (as earned via several excellent performances this preseason), Andrew McQualter, Steven King and maybe Brett Peake but others to consider are Rhys Stanley, Jack Steven and Sean Dempster.

Looks pretty close to me.
Not whether we should have both Peake and Geary on the Bench.
I think I'd prefer Miles and Geary.

 

[dan0z]

i have a feeling ross lyon will persist with peake early in the year to see if he can hit some form..

 

[the emergency]

Without a full pre-season, i cant see R. Clarke breaking into the round 1 squad
Also cant see Rhys Stanley getting more than a few games
Gardi is a week or 2 away, and i think the official diagnosis for Sammy Fish is 4-6 weeks unfortunately

Kosi and Dawson arent going anywhere, Kosi has had a bad pre season but will play.

22nd spot is a toss-up between Peake and Dempster

 

[DarrenR]

<Ouch!> Where did our depth go? Peake and Dempster? Peake may prove to understand our game plan and settle into the team, but I'm not convinced about Dempster. Bit of an Attard type to me.
I think we would hope to have McEvoy get a lot of game time. King is slidng into retirement so fast, he'll be running on in slippers soon and although he had some high spots during the season, Gardiner can't be too far behind.
i have high hopes for the current crop of youngsters coming through, but i hope injuries this year dont force us to use them prematurely to paper over some cracks that may appear with injury, eg. tall backmen.
Still, i cant fathom Collingwoods confidence, seems likely to be saints, dogs, cats, hawks then a chasm to collingwood.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

<Ouch!> Where did our depth go? Peake and Dempster? Peake may prove to understand our game plan and settle into the team, but I'm not convinced about Dempster. Bit of an Attard type to me.
I think we would hope to have McEvoy get a lot of game time. King is slidng into retirement so fast, he'll be running on in slippers soon and although he had some high spots during the season, Gardiner can't be too far behind.
i have high hopes for the current crop of youngsters coming through, but i hope injuries this year dont force us to use them prematurely to paper over some cracks that may appear with injury, eg. tall backmen.
Still, i cant fathom Collingwoods confidence, seems likely to be saints, dogs, cats, hawks then a chasm to collingwood.

After 19 games in 2008 and 9 in 2009, I can't see why you are asking what happened to our depth with the possible selection of Dempster, while Sam Fisher and Raph are out of action, and we have Brett Peake as well ( and Luke Miles ) .
Compared to last year we have lost Hudghton, but we have Johnson supposedly ready to play, and playing Gaetner obviously wouldn't be the end of the world.
Who would we have played last year if Sam Fisher went down?

Not sure if the Hawks can do it they way they are falling over, but I think I rate the Lions above Collingwood, with a possible surprises from Sydney, Port or Kangaroo's. Not saying it will happen, but nice if it does.

 

[Rough_Edges]

I hate when people put Goddard on the HFF.

 

[mezaire]

Hey guys,

I know someone else just got blasted for posting here and not being a Saints man but hopefully I'll try not to insult anyone and make fair comments and ask reasonable questions!!

Why am I here? Well because as WC won't do that well this year I hope the Saints win the flag as I enjoy watching them play a very skillfull brand of footy and it's better than bloody Collingwood or Geelong winning!!

First comment/question. Watching McEvoy through the NAB and last season I think he is well ahead of King and pretty close to Gardiner as your #1. He rucks pretty well but it's his decision making that stands out to me which fits in with your game plan. So do you think he's in Lyons plan to play 22 if fit?

Secondly, I don't agree that your defence is weak. A good gefence is not only based on 1 on 1's but also the better the effficiency when clearing the ball, the less the ball comes firing straight back in and less inside 50's means an easier time for a backline. With Fisher going down for a while do you think that Goddard might stay back and take over the 'quarterback/general' style role that Fisher has played so well?

Anyway, hope I haven't offended anyone, just interested in an other team rather than WC!

Mez

 

[the emergency]

Hey guys,

I know someone else just got blasted for posting here and not being a Saints man but hopefully I'll try not to insult anyone and make fair comments and ask reasonable questions!!

Why am I here? Well because as WC won't do that well this year I hope the Saints win the flag as I enjoy watching them play a very skillfull brand of footy and it's better than bloody Collingwood or Geelong winning!!

First comment/question. Watching McEvoy through the NAB and last season I think he is well ahead of King and pretty close to Gardiner as your #1. He rucks pretty well but it's his decision making that stands out to me which fits in with your game plan. So do you think he's in Lyons plan to play 22 if fit?

Secondly, I don't agree that your defence is weak. A good gefence is not only based on 1 on 1's but also the better the effficiency when clearing the ball, the less the ball comes firing straight back in and less inside 50's means an easier time for a backline. With Fisher going down for a while do you think that Goddard might stay back and take over the 'quarterback/general' style role that Fisher has played so well?

Anyway, hope I haven't offended anyone, just interested in an other team rather than WC!

Mez

At the beginning of the year, Lyon said that Goddard would be playing more as a third tall this year instead of his backline post.
As a result of Fisher's injury, it seems that Goddard will continue to play in the backline and it seems that if Ross is adamant to play a third tall, then Gardiner, King and McEvoy will play, as Gardiner and McEvoy are very effective tall targets in the forward line, although due to Gardiner's lack of preseason, he will probably have a short stint with the Zebras before coming back into the team, meaning we will have to play 2 talls for the time being, unless Stanley is played, which looks highly unlikely. There has also been much speculation that McEvoy will indeed take King's spot this year.

Goddard will take Fisher's post and possibly either Clarke, Dempster, Geary or Gwilt will take the last spot in the defence

Most of this not even we know, it's just up to the selectors on the day.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I'd be very surprised if Dempster or Clarke come straight in after their lack of pre-season games, and with both Geary and Gwilt showing good form.
In fact I'd expect Miles to be named ahead of them.

 

[StFly]

I'd be very surprised if Dempster or Clarke come straight in after their lack of pre-season games, and with both Geary and Gwilt showing good form.
In fact I'd expect Miles to be named ahead of them.

Yup, often last year Ross came out with that there were little suitable jobs for the tall backline on an individual basis, Miles effectively fills the void as Gilbert / Blake could take the key post the back up Fisher for miles to then take their position as a stopper. You'd lose a little run but the inherent play making wouldn't be impacted that much considering his effort at the ball.

Dempster and Raph would need some time to build fitness otherwise you're pretty much assured that Raph will re-injure the hammy/back and Dempster will emulate a man conscious of recurring injury (leg complaints on a reco knee return tend to be well done in terms of output) the alternative is of course Will if the match ups dictate 3 talls ahead of Miles.

First comment/question. Watching McEvoy through the NAB and last season I think he is well ahead of King and pretty close to Gardiner as your #1. He rucks pretty well but it's his decision making that stands out to me which fits in with your game plan. So do you think he's in Lyons plan to play 22 if fit?

His rucking has come along nicely but I wouldn't say it's to the point in terms of tap rucking of King or Gardiner just yet, he does have more a presence around ground though than King. I would think early days he'll get a gig and from then on it'd be dependent on injuries to either of the two in front of him, I'd expect him to make more of an impact in the best 22 scenario next year than this year, but if he takes his spot with both hands there's nothing to say he won't keep it.

Secondly, I don't agree that your defence is weak. A good gefence is not only based on 1 on 1's but also the better the effficiency when clearing the ball, the less the ball comes firing straight back in and less inside 50's means an easier time for a backline. With Fisher going down for a while do you think that Goddard might stay back and take over the 'quarterback/general' style role that Fisher has played so well?

Personally I think the spot will be rotated. Fishers keys are inherently he knows how to impact the situation and how to clear, which in a backline is gold due to turnover impact. On the one hand Gwilt is strong overhead and has the aerobic capacity and skills to play this role but he often loses his feet or misjudges, Goddard obviously is damaging and would benefit the team better in other positions most probably, Gram is more rebounding, Miles is untested in the big stage as is Will, Ray is also an option but is far more volatile while Dempster & Clarke have no preseason to speak of through injury.

The benefit of that half back line is the number of rotations so I don't think it'll simply be one person to take over Fishers job and will instead depend on the opposition each week through rotating several players through. Through the NAB Cup inherently Goddard and Gram were rotated through the middle as opposed to half back so I'd expect something like;

HB: Gwilt | Blake | Gilbert
FB: Miles/Johnson | Dawson | Baker

To start with at least, lest Gilbert take that contested spot and the open HB spot to start with Gram/Goddard/Ray/Geary as a midfield option.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Its a pity that Goddard, for whatever reasons, tends to give away free's in the backline.

 

[Persevering Saint]

Its a pity that Goddard, for whatever reasons, tends to give away free's in the backline.

Here's your reason:

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Yep, he has red hair.

I'd still have babies with him though, cos there's a good chance they'll have brown hair.

 

[Kildonan]

I hate when people put Goddard on the HFF.

I didn't want to give the impression I was expecting him to line up in defence. The HFF spot is simply the place left on the field when all the other players were given their positions to play. I expect him to play in the midfield and hope he does have a more significant role up forward. If he does line up there (HFF), it will force opposition coaches to play a stopping player on him or suffer the effects of his beautiful delivery to our forwards. I also expect Gram to play a more attacking role and when Sam Fisher returns, he might also play a more attacking role too. I think Peake was recruited to fill a role like Farren Ray from either HBF or Wing. There is still a place open for another defender in the Jason Blake or Max Hudghton mold. Miles, Johnson and Gaertner have all shown enough potential to warrant a run in the season proper. Gwilt has been great this preseason but he is a makeshift defender and I expect he is good enough to fill the required role while we wait for Clarke and Fisher to return.

 

[the emergency]

So, Goddard, Gilbert, Ray or Peake to play Fisher's position to provide run and carry off the half back line?

ps. cheers to whoever got rid of all the crap in this thread

 

[Cardio Carl]

So, Goddard, Gilbert, Ray or Peake to play Fisher's position to provide run and carry off the half back line?

ps. cheers to whoever got rid of all the crap in this thread

GILBERT - BLAKE - GWILT

BANG!

Although the big Fish will be a significant lose.

The General of our BL

 

[the emergency]

GILBERT - BLAKE - GWILT

BANG!

Although the big Fish will be a significant lose.

The General of our BL

I didnt think Gwilt would have the pace to run off half back and create opportunities

So you reckon Goddards gonna have a go in the forward line then?

 

[Persevering Saint]

Actually, I think Gwilt has added a little extra to his pace - I remember seeing him do a charge down the middle and out-pacing a tackler in one of the NAB games. He might be able to surprise us.

 

[Cardio Carl]

Actually, I think Gwilt has added a little extra to his pace - I remember seeing him do a charge down the middle and out-pacing a tackler in one of the NAB games. He might be able to surprise us.

I'm glad someone else saw his run-throughs in the NAB cup.

Runs like he needs to go to the toilet in a hurry with the short knee-ups, but can cover the grass when needs to

 

[the emergency]

Actually, I think Gwilt has added a little extra to his pace - I remember seeing him do a charge down the middle and out-pacing a tackler in one of the NAB games. He might be able to surprise us.

If he has added a bit to his pace, thats fantastic... he's a big boy and can shrug a tackle when he needs to, so maybe the pace is what he needs to break into the 22 and stay there all season.

Personally, I reckon he got it really tough being dropped last year, i didnt see him doing much wrong at all