Round 2 v Kangaroos

[Squizz]

However I was going more on the fact that he couldn't get a game in a horrible team last season.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/saints-punt-on-smith-pattison-20091130-k14k.html

Pattison, who was a second-round draft pick for Richmond, needed hip and ankle surgery at the end of the season having laboured during the year trying to play with injury. "I just know in myself that that wasn't me last year," Pattison said. "Now I am as fit and strong as I ever have been and at 23 I think my best footy is ahead of me.

I guess a fair bit depends on whether you believe his comments.

Whilst he won't be much of a goalkicker or tap ruckman, his intensity in marking contests and in tackling during the VFL game didn't reflect a dud from a poorly performing club.

 

[sainter]

Surely Richmond were aware of his injury situation though?

Have a look at their current ruckman.

They have Simmonds who is surely on his last legs and in reserve youngsters like Vickery, Graham and Browne.

It just seems bizarre that they would get rid of him unless they were convinced he was a dud.

Maybe I'm just overlooking the fact that this is Richmond we are talking about.

If Squizzy and Blues2010 who watch the Zebras each week are convinced that he's worth a shot then who am I to doubt him (at least until I see him play ).

Good luck Patto.

 

[bob down]

Patto will be good value, he moves well for a big boy and is just a baby at 23.

 

[duffman324]

Came from Richmond, I smell the next Fiora!

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

Well, the inclusion of Pattison tells me three things :

1. Squizzy knows his footy

2. Lyon got him for a reason

3. Lyon will not risk the kids

I still believe that to get King at the time was great and he has helped us a lot. But while he is still more than competitive for ruck contests and can never be doubted as to effort and commitment, he is probably not as mobile as expected from ruckmen nowadays.

McEvoy on the other hand is (relatively) mobile, but will more often than not be beaten in the ruck (Koschitzke was probably more effective against the Swans than he was).

If ruckmen like Seaby (and to a lesser extent Mumford) are able to seriously hurt us around the ground, something needs to be done before facing one of the premium ruckmen in McIntosh (even without Petrie).

Lyon has obviously seen something in Pattison, possibly for the very reason of covering a very mobile opposition ruckman. Now it's his turn to show he was worth a #64 pick (originally went at #16). Good luck to him !

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

Harv's has made a comeback?

And it looks like Troy Schwarze is carrying Koschitzke's guernsey around...

(get a haircut, Kazak !)

 

[Squizz]

They have Simmonds who is surely on his last legs and in reserve youngsters like Vickery, Graham and Browne.

Richmond had 6 ruckmen on their list last year (with Pattison and Putt who were delisted). Too many - and they still have 6 players currently on the list who are taller than Pattison. With Pattison having end-of-season surgery, they may have considered he was not worth retaining.

Like Peake (noting Plugger35 was an exception), there were very few who backed the recruitment of Pattison. Always seemed like reasonable insurance to me - and we are now calling on the policy!!!

 

[Rough_Edges]

As I think most of us Feel Squizzy, I really want Pattison to excel. But I, probably like the others, am skeptical that Adam can step up from not getting a game in the 15th placed team last year, to coming into our side and playing a good role.

I'd love to get proved wrong, and I trust Ross...but yeh...just skeptical thats all.

 

[SammyFish25]

Just remember King said prior to season starting that he wouldnt be playing every game, probably around 10-15 for the year, as he was taking on the role of ruck coach. He did play all NAB cup games, so probably just standard for him this year.

Agree that he wasnt great last week though. No surprise Patto is playing after Squizzy's report last week

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

We will really miss Greenwood IMO. Was key in shutting down Dal Santo last time.

 

[the emergency]

As hard as it is for me to say this...
(Barring catastrophe) If Rhys Stanley cant get a game this week, it seems that he wont play in the firsts this year

 

[Zagg]

As hard as it is for me to say this...
(Barring catastrophe) If Rhys Stanley cant get a game this week, it seems that he wont play in the firsts this year

He's supposed to be carrying an injury, and we're only two weeks into the season - quite early to make that call.

Hopefully Stanley has a good run in the VFL and shows what he can do there - then he'll be demanding to be picked.

 

[sainter]

As hard as it is for me to say this...
(Barring catastrophe) If Rhys Stanley cant get a game this week, it seems that he wont play in the firsts this year

Why would we bring in a player who only played 30 minutes last week?

Besides, irrespective of how he played last week he needs to string together a run of games and force his way into the team.

He's a second year tall, there's absolutely no rush.

 

[Axcellence]

I agree with giving Pattison a run... not expecting much from him other than some competition at marking contests and a few ruck taps when others are resting.

It's interesting to note - his best performances came against Adelaide and St Kilda. Perhaps his performances against St Kilda led to his selection.

http://www.finalsiren.com/PlayerStats.asp?PlayerID=1579

But yeah, just a space filler like Peake is atm.

Also, I think Stanley can make a debut around 15-18 at best - let him earn the spot rather than just giving him one in hope of potential. Given St Kilda's likely top 4 credentials - debuts for new players is to be encouraged, but not necessarily be all and end all.

 

[Squizz]

just skeptical thats all.

Hey, I'm all for a healthy dose of cynicism and scepticism. Notwithstanding the Bullants had a decent team, there is a not insignificant gap between a VFL praccy match and an AFL game for points.

But our team is full of "rejects" - Gram, King, Zac, Schneider, Gardi, Faz, Dempser, Peake, and Milne.

Even CJ was passed over for a couple of years despite being prominent in the WAFL.

Don't forget Mini too (oh, that's right - we rejected him!).

Fingers crossed Patto can stump up for the next 3 weeks and show why he was worth a punt.

 

[Defacto]

Cmon pattison you can do it!!!!

 

[Tom12]

I think we'll be fine for this game
The Roos won't just go down though, will take a good effort from our MIDS to ensure good delivery up forward.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Tough first 2 games up. Sydney and North. Both very much have a 'never say die' policy and gave us the most trouble arguably last year. Neither may have made the top 8 last year, or make it this year, but we shouldn't treat them that way. And I reckon finishing round 2 with 2 wins will be a very good start to our season.

Before we push over Collingwood next week

 

[Rough_Edges]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...et-over-st-kilda/story-e6frf9jf-1225848914292

Bit of a nothing article.

But Gee i'd love some Good Friday football.

Not sure why Football and Religion aren't kept separate.

 

[StFly]

To keep the religious zealots at bay the fixture could be St Kilda v Melbourne so that at leats in the forseeable future, Jesus wins.

But then, as soon as he loses, the church will asks for donations for a nuclear device to drop on the place, so it might not be worth it after all.

 

[duffman324]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...et-over-st-kilda/story-e6frf9jf-1225848914292

Bit of a nothing article.

But Gee i'd love some Good Friday football.

Not sure why Football and Religion aren't kept separate.

Last years upset was caused by the umpires and nothing else, yet everyone rants on about it. As Sam Newman said 'counts for nothing'

 

[Krakeour Magic]

I can't see us kicking enough goals against the Saints defence.

The Saints won't let this one slip.

StKilda by 21 points.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Cmon pattison you can do it!!!!

Maybe Lyon was impressed by last weeks debut by another Richmond reject, ( and similarly named ) Peterson.

From a page I found on the Richmond FC web site ( they really are a basket case of a club ) .

"Despite being undersized at 197cm, Pattison has given his all as a back-up ruckman. Managed 18 games last year, gathering 18 possessions and kicking two goals against Collingwood, and if others at the club can step up in the ruck, he could move to his preferred role as a key forward."

Maybe referrring to the 2008 season.

At his draft camp in 2004 he was 6th in the shuttle run (14.2 ).

Best and Fairest for the Knights 2004.

 

[Plugger35]

I think Pattison may be a better player than some of us are giving him credit for. His reputation has probably suffered from playing for Richmond and the fact he looks a bit goofy.

Kind of reminds me of that English comic Lee Evans from Something About Mary.

Yeah anyway, I'm hoping he will surprise a few people tomorrow. He was a first round draft pick after all so he must have some ability and he already looks better in a Saints jumper than a Richmond one.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I think Pattison may be a better player than some of us are giving him credit for. His reputation has probably suffered from playing for Richmond and the fact he looks a bit goofy.

Kind of reminds me of that English comic Lee Evans from Something About Mary.

Yeah anyway, I'm hoping he will surprise a few people tomorrow. He was a first round draft pick after all so he must have some ability and he already looks better in a Saints jumper than a Richmond one.

I did read somewhere that his club ( I think Richmond but maybe Knights) didn't like him cracking one liners during serious team talks.