stkildathunda
DEMPSTERED
10k Posts
St Kilda Saints - Tom Ledger 2012 Player Sponsor
St Kilda Saints - Nicholas Heyne 2011 Player Sponsor
St Kilda Saints - Nicholas Heyne 2010 Player Sponsor
It’s been a long time coming but in Round 22 for the very first time St Kilda will face the AFL new comers, GWS at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
GWS have surprised quite a few this season and have pushed sides in most of their games. Most people expected them to be pushovers and that their recruiting of older players was bad idea, but it has had completely opposite effect. With Power, McDonald, Cornes and Brogan in the team it has really fast tracked the development of quite a few of the kids.
Toby Greene has been the standout this year, averaging an incredible 27.5 disposals a game. He will easily win Giants B&F and if it wasn’t for a week’s suspension he would win Rising Star Award by length of Flemington straight.
GWS are already looking at next season having put a host of their young stars in for surgery.
St Kilda’s season all but came to end last Friday night when they were defeated by Geelong. With only 2 games to go it will be interesting to see how the Saints manage their players, especially this week against Giants who teams normally rest their stars against.
In back of Saints minds will be that their VFL affiliate club, Sandringham will be playing in finals for first time in 4 years and face an elimination final in Round 23. They may decide that it will be more beneficial to kids that they play finals football, even if it is at lower level and pass on opportunity to give them taste of AFL.
Its hard to know what to expect from this game, the Saints should get the job done but they will need to make sure they are on their game and not thinking about post season otherwise Giants are team that could cause big upset.
KEY MATCHUPS
Lenny Hayes vs Toby Greene – From GWS perspective I would be looking at playing Greene on Hayes so he can learn how a champion goes about his business.
Tommy Bugg vs Stephen Milne – The Tommy Bugg will have his hands full against the game’s best small forward. Milne has kicked 50 goals in 2012 and is only 10 goals behind Coleman Medal leader, Mathew Pavlich.
Chad Cornes vs Sean Dempster – In past years at Port Adelaide Chad has gone to Fisher as defensive forward to try shut his run down, but given Dempster now plays that role and is All Australian form its only matter time until clubs start trying to tag him.
Other matchups might be: Devon Smith vs Leigh Montagna andTaylor Adams vs Nick Dal Santo
MEDICAL ROOM
Nick Riewoldt failed to be get up for last week and given Saints season is all but over would be surprised if we saw him again this year.
Rhys Stanley will need to pass fitness test after suffering nasty knock to ribs in a sickening collision with Geelong’s Tom Lonergon. He has been cleared of any structural injury but you have to wonder given how important he is to future of club if they’ll just put him on ice for remainder of season as he can’t seem to get through one game without injury.
SAINTS CHANGES
Sam Dunell (24 disposals, 10 marks, 3 tackles) was easily Saints best in Sandringham’s loss to Williamstown on Saturday. But given the state of the ground, I don’t think you can read into anyone’s performances. There was a staggering 116 stoppages in game, so that alone gives you idea of how game was played.
Jack Newnes (17 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 mark) was another one that stood out along with Raph Clarke (15 disposals, 4 marks) and Jason Blake (18 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 8 hitouts).
Arryn Siposs (21 disposals, 2 tackles, 4 marks) wasn’t too bad although he was named in the ‘best’. Once again he appeared to play limited game time, so not sure if he’s carrying an injury and they are just managing him through season as he is vital for Zebras finals campaign.
Terry Milera (8 disposals, 2 marks) and Seb Ross (14 disposals, 2 tackle, 2 marks) were both extremely disappointing. Thought they might enjoy the conditions.
Clint Jones (14 disposals, 13 tackles, 1 mark, 1 goal) was amongst it all day but his kicking was once again well below par.
I think it’s fair to say Justin Koschitzke will find it hard to keep his spot in team after a 1 disposal game and being subbed off just after half time. Kosi didn’t record a single stat for entire first half.
When James Gwilt is at full flight he is vital to Saints success, but ever since he has returned from injury he appears to have lost all confidence and is shadow of his former self. He might benefit from playing out season in VFL and regaining some confidence.
ON THE BLOCK: Justin Koschitzke, Jamie Cripps, Rhys Stanley (injury), James Gwilt
IN THE MIX: Sam Dunell, Jack Newnes, Jason Blake, Raph Clarke, Clint Jones
MILESTONE: Jack Steven 50 games
OPEN TRAINING: Friday August 24th from 10.45am at Linen House Centre.
GIANTS CHANGES
ON THE BLOCK: Given Giants have about 7 changes a week, the entire team is on block!
IN THE MIX: Ward (if fit),Bruce, Ugle, Hombsch, Wilson, Whiley, Cooyou
GWS have surprised quite a few this season and have pushed sides in most of their games. Most people expected them to be pushovers and that their recruiting of older players was bad idea, but it has had completely opposite effect. With Power, McDonald, Cornes and Brogan in the team it has really fast tracked the development of quite a few of the kids.
Toby Greene has been the standout this year, averaging an incredible 27.5 disposals a game. He will easily win Giants B&F and if it wasn’t for a week’s suspension he would win Rising Star Award by length of Flemington straight.
GWS are already looking at next season having put a host of their young stars in for surgery.
St Kilda’s season all but came to end last Friday night when they were defeated by Geelong. With only 2 games to go it will be interesting to see how the Saints manage their players, especially this week against Giants who teams normally rest their stars against.
In back of Saints minds will be that their VFL affiliate club, Sandringham will be playing in finals for first time in 4 years and face an elimination final in Round 23. They may decide that it will be more beneficial to kids that they play finals football, even if it is at lower level and pass on opportunity to give them taste of AFL.
Its hard to know what to expect from this game, the Saints should get the job done but they will need to make sure they are on their game and not thinking about post season otherwise Giants are team that could cause big upset.
KEY MATCHUPS
Lenny Hayes vs Toby Greene – From GWS perspective I would be looking at playing Greene on Hayes so he can learn how a champion goes about his business.
Tommy Bugg vs Stephen Milne – The Tommy Bugg will have his hands full against the game’s best small forward. Milne has kicked 50 goals in 2012 and is only 10 goals behind Coleman Medal leader, Mathew Pavlich.
Chad Cornes vs Sean Dempster – In past years at Port Adelaide Chad has gone to Fisher as defensive forward to try shut his run down, but given Dempster now plays that role and is All Australian form its only matter time until clubs start trying to tag him.
Other matchups might be: Devon Smith vs Leigh Montagna andTaylor Adams vs Nick Dal Santo
MEDICAL ROOM
Nick Riewoldt failed to be get up for last week and given Saints season is all but over would be surprised if we saw him again this year.
Rhys Stanley will need to pass fitness test after suffering nasty knock to ribs in a sickening collision with Geelong’s Tom Lonergon. He has been cleared of any structural injury but you have to wonder given how important he is to future of club if they’ll just put him on ice for remainder of season as he can’t seem to get through one game without injury.
SAINTS CHANGES
Sam Dunell (24 disposals, 10 marks, 3 tackles) was easily Saints best in Sandringham’s loss to Williamstown on Saturday. But given the state of the ground, I don’t think you can read into anyone’s performances. There was a staggering 116 stoppages in game, so that alone gives you idea of how game was played.
Jack Newnes (17 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 mark) was another one that stood out along with Raph Clarke (15 disposals, 4 marks) and Jason Blake (18 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 8 hitouts).
Arryn Siposs (21 disposals, 2 tackles, 4 marks) wasn’t too bad although he was named in the ‘best’. Once again he appeared to play limited game time, so not sure if he’s carrying an injury and they are just managing him through season as he is vital for Zebras finals campaign.
Terry Milera (8 disposals, 2 marks) and Seb Ross (14 disposals, 2 tackle, 2 marks) were both extremely disappointing. Thought they might enjoy the conditions.
Clint Jones (14 disposals, 13 tackles, 1 mark, 1 goal) was amongst it all day but his kicking was once again well below par.
I think it’s fair to say Justin Koschitzke will find it hard to keep his spot in team after a 1 disposal game and being subbed off just after half time. Kosi didn’t record a single stat for entire first half.
When James Gwilt is at full flight he is vital to Saints success, but ever since he has returned from injury he appears to have lost all confidence and is shadow of his former self. He might benefit from playing out season in VFL and regaining some confidence.
ON THE BLOCK: Justin Koschitzke, Jamie Cripps, Rhys Stanley (injury), James Gwilt
IN THE MIX: Sam Dunell, Jack Newnes, Jason Blake, Raph Clarke, Clint Jones
MILESTONE: Jack Steven 50 games
OPEN TRAINING: Friday August 24th from 10.45am at Linen House Centre.
GIANTS CHANGES
ON THE BLOCK: Given Giants have about 7 changes a week, the entire team is on block!
IN THE MIX: Ward (if fit),Bruce, Ugle, Hombsch, Wilson, Whiley, Cooyou
