Review Round 7, 2025 - St.Kilda vs. Brisbane Lions

[KissKiss]

I'd say it might be a case of reaction time being more impactful than pure speed. Higgins isnt top line fast but I'd guess his reaction time would be top shelf at the moment.

Noah is a good shut down player but probably hasnt had the heap of game time at it until recently. The very best experienced forwards mostly are moving before him

 

[dlanod]

I'd say it might be a case of reaction time being more impactful than pure speed. Higgins isnt top line fast but I'd guess his reaction time would be top shelf at the moment.

Noah is a good shut down player but probably hasnt had the heap of game time at it until recently. The very best experienced forwards mostly are moving before him

Starcevich is a top line defender, and part of that is his anticipation.

Answerth is good defensively, but it's not a slight to say he is more reactive and not as anticipatory as Starcevich.

That matters when playing on players like Higgins or Bobby Hill who are either straight up quick or elusive - you won't beat them when they have the ball, so you need to be at the ball at the same time or before them.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I haven’t seen data for Wilmot, but Starcevich held all the top speeds for our current defenders.

Interesting. I never would of guessed that.

 

[Jim Stynes11]

I haven’t seen data for Wilmot, but Starcevich held all the top speeds for our current defenders.

Where is this data available? I was looking for this to see if Charlie's top speeds this year were noticeably lower.

 

[Denno]

Not sure Starc is any quicker than Noah TBH. Our defensive speed is clearly one of our weaknesses. We generally cop a hiding from the smaller forwards

A couple of seasons ago, I would have agreed. Now, not so much. I reckon since Answerth got back into the team, and Starc got back, our coverage and balance has been a lot better, and we were and are far less exposed against smaller forwards.

Maybe there's an element too, that when our KPD's get the job done, the smalls get the scraps (and stand out more as a consequence).

It'll be interesting to see how the mix plays out with Kiddy back.

 

[Lion_LegacyXL]

Yep embrace the traditional colours but dont be completely hamstrung by them. We can improve on our shorts usage to make a better look.

Also very happy for the club to keep paying homage to both origin clubs with heritage versions. Personally think you alternate each year - best way to keep people buying merch is to balance the availability like that

Not perfect but here's a quick edit of what red shorts would look like with our away jumper.

 

[briztoon]

Where is this data available? I was looking for this to see if Charlie's top speeds this year were noticeably lower.

Every now and then the AFL publish an article about each teams top runners, distance, speed, etc.

 

[martinson]

Every now and then the AFL publish an article about each teams top runners, distance, speed, etc.

To the eye he just doesn't have the electric breakaway pace that he had say 3 years ago.

Whether that's due to injury ,confidence or change of role I don't really know.

He's still adjusting to not being top banana in the forward line and if he focused on just being a dead eye in front of goal and converted most of them no one would care too much about the pace bit.