Preview St Kilda v Adelaide at AO, Sunday Mar 16 at 12:30 (Melb time)

[Diehard Saint]

I think a bit of team balance comes into it. Jones adds a lick of speed we miss without Henry and Butler. Boxshall is effectively competing with Garcia, Windy, and Clark.

Also experience.
We’re pretty young, both in years and experience - Garcia. Hastie, Ari, Hall, Wilson, Irish, Boyd.
Need the balance.

 

[StFly]

We're clearly a little concerned with Adelaide's height with Arie playing. Also expecting Marshall to heavily play forward.

I'm pretty disappointed Jones has been picked over Boxshall. Jones didn't get a game in preseason but somehow gets up for round 1?

Agree with others to say if Keeler doesn't get a gig with King, Sharman and Owens out, plus Marshall under an injury cloud, as well as missing Howard (plus Membrey and Battle gone), I'm not sure the coaching group rate him that highly. This was the prime time to play him if ever.

Little light on I'd say, Arie also brings clearance things and we primarily brought in running & multi position types.

So Ro under an cloud is still core ruck, sometime forward as ruck is competent floating back.
Cordy is sometime KPD, sometime KPF.
Hammer is sometime KPF, some time KPD sometime ruck.
Boyd is bigger body ruck.
Keeler is a general light frame and would primarily stay forward really.

As others have also noted, we're light on forward of centre for exp, largely it's really only Higgins for nuance things. That to me means Hammer is #1, as man can fill gaps, has mongrel loves a scrap. Cordy is #2, as you need a KPD since no Howard and he's at least break glass, so break that glass. If as you and others expect Ro plays primarily forward, you then prefer Boyd as the bigger body ruck to withstand that punishment, if Wood is primarily forward and not in mid, you can get away a little with playing Keeler, but for me you then sacrifice the around the ground that Wood would provide so it's not my preference and I'd also be Boyding.

So no way would this be prime time really.

I'd consider that as someone like King at CHF as can kick 50+, is a beautiful field kick also, is also a known quantity for the short and long hit ups to work with flankers, mids, smalls. You then stick a Keeler in square and go "30m to line is yours, ruck a bit plz" to grow into unison with.

Adelaide in Adelaide in round 1 is probably not the best time.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

B. Sch'maker Cordy Webster

H.B. Hastie Wilkie NWM

C. O'Connell Sinclair Hill

H.F. Wilson Caminiti  Hall

F. Wood Marshall Higgins

Foll. Boyd Macrae Steele

I/C. Byrnes, Clark, Garcia, Jones, Windhager-sub

 

[Fehring]

Of the six fit Top 10 picks from the draft, TT the only one not selected

Kinda about three quarters fit really, right? Missed a fair chunk of preseason IIRC. I think he'd be in if he'd done a full Summer, and I think he'll find his way in pretty soon (and I don't reckon Tauru will play a lot of footy at Sandy).

 

[SG34]

Lovin’ these Nick names for Box

The Box!
Box Boy!
Match Box!
Big Boy Box!
Wheat Box!


And when he hand passes to Hill it will be …

Boxhill!

The editors at the papers will have a field day!

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Lovin’ these Nick names for Box

The Box!
Box Boy!
Match Box!
Big Boy Box!
Wheat Box!


And when he hand passes to Hill it will be …

Boxhill!

The editors at the papers will have a field day!

Weetbox, Smallbox, Boxtrot, Box Shall We.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Is Wood our best ever DFA? Has been good on a wing but off field has been absolutely invaluable with the recruits.
Couldn't be happier with the way he has performed since coming over from North.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Yes. His footy has been excellent. Sounds like he’s an A+ grade human.

So eff off Cornes. We do have A graders

 

[_Maximus_12]

He is certainly not carrying any weight, looked slim today and was blasting 60 metre kicks up the line.
Those creepy brown bagger supporters go 'woof' every time Saad kicks it 30 metres, Ari kicks it miles further than that fraud.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

He could be built like Stewie Dew and I’d give zero ****s. He’s a player

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

edit, maybe runners vs sandels?

Wearing sandals should be a sackable offence

 

[Premium]

150th game for Jones too. Great achievement given it looked like his career was over with 6 weeks left last season

Just hope he can be injury free this season - has never for-filled his potential due to injury.
Interesting Byrne is in the starting lineup named at halfback , is this where he has been playing in the preseason.

 

[SG34]

Yes. His footy has been excellent. Sounds like he’s an A+ grade human.

So eff off Cornes. We do have A graders

Wood’s been OK. He definitely played with an injury last year, but prior to that injury he had a fantastic month. I can’t honestly say that he’s been another Wilkie but he’s had a couple of standout games and he’s also fine some serious pinch-hitting when we’ve needed him. As for the off-field, yep, sounds brilliant.

 

[stfan]

I'm pretty worried about this week. A very young team.

There is not a lot of difference between us and the Crows.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Just hope he can be injury free this season - has never for-filled his potential due to injury.
Interesting Byrne is in the starting lineup named at halfback , is this where he has been playing in the preseason.

He was named there against Port too I think? Don't know that he played there.
The Saints are not giving too much away with their team line-ups. Did it last year too, naming Hill at C.H.F. on a number of occasions.

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Glad to see all of the debutants named on the field so none have to worry about being sub (I don't think we'll bring Boyd on for his run and carry in the third). Also glad to see Arie is in since we'd be absolutely nuts going in with only 2 defenders over 190cm. Dunno why we didn't see him in the practice matches though - would have been good for him to build some chemistry with the rest of the defence.

This is probably the deepest our midfield has looked for a while. 2 actual rucks with Steele, Mörcrae, Clark, Jones, Garcia and Windy sounds a lot more solid than what we were fielding for most of last year.

I'm allowing myself to see a little glimmer of hope. If Richmond can do it.....

 

[SG34]

Although some may doubt Cordy and Cam at our key bookends, I don't, and the proof is in the singing

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Lovin’ these Nick names for Box

The Box!
Box Boy!
Match Box!
Big Boy Box!
Wheat Box!


And when he hand passes to Hill it will be …

Boxhill!

The editors at the papers will have a field day!

Vadge

 

[Remboy]

Lovin’ these Nick names for Box

The Box!
Box Boy!
Match Box!
Big Boy Box!
Wheat Box!


And when he hand passes to Hill it will be …

Boxhill!

The editors at the papers will have a field day!

Box Rox Rux.

 

[TheJackal]

I honestly don't think there would ever have been a better time for Keels to debut. Against Crows, in SA, injuries galore, only selecting one recognised tall forward. Can go back at a pinch if, as expecting, Cordy is getting a towelling.

So it's one of Boyd or Marshall resting forward, Hammer, surrounded by Hugo, Wilson, Higgins, Hall and Windy?

I am at a bit of a loss with Keels to be honest.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

I think it might be Keeler and Hammer battling it out for the same spot and the Hammer gets it on past experience. If he doesn’t fire or ****s up too much I’d say Keels comes in next week.
Having said all that though it’s make or break for Keels and if he hasn’t been able to crack the side with King and Sharmy down and Members gone then I don’t think the coaches have much confidence in his ability to deliver at the top level and I think his days are numbered. Hope he gets at least to have a crack at it though. Don’t wanna die wondering.

 

[luca77]

Lovin’ these Nick names for Box

The Box!
Box Boy!
Match Box!
Big Boy Box!
Wheat Box!


And when he hand passes to Hill it will be …

Boxhill!

The editors at the papers will have a field day!

Juke->Duke

Boxy Music ->Bryan Ferry -> Fez

Hard to beat Titanic for obscurity.

 

[Hubnester]

Lovin’ these Nick names for Box

The Box!
Box Boy!
Match Box!
Big Boy Box!
Wheat Box!


And when he hand passes to Hill it will be …

Boxhill!

The editors at the papers will have a field day!

 

[gringo2011]

Yes. His footy has been excellent. Sounds like he’s an A+ grade human.

So eff off Cornes. We do have A graders

On A graders, we have Wilkie, Sinclair and Marshall who are all A graders. Probably not got absolute elite but all are top tier by position. Nas is going to be running close to elite soon by the look of his trajectory.

Sinclair was still top 20 for average possessions despite a slow start last season. Top 25 for totals.

Marshall had the most disposals by any ruck in the league, 11th in total hit outs.

Wilkie the 5th most marks by any player in the league, 8th in intercepts, 9th in 1 percenters, 32nd in contested marks etc.

 

[Rash]

Hey saints supporters, sorry to intrude.

What do you guys see Garcia's CBA's like, before teams got announced i thought he would be 3rd behind macrae and steele, but now sincalir,jones and clark make me think otherwise.

Cheers.

 

[TheJackal]

I think it might be Keeler and Hammer battling it out for the same spot and the Hammer gets it on past experience. If he doesn’t fire or ****s up too much I’d say Keels comes in next week.
Having said all that though it’s make or break for Keels and if he hasn’t been able to crack the side with King and Sharmy down and Members gone then I don’t think the coaches have much confidence in his ability to deliver at the top level and I think his days are numbered. Hope he gets at least to have a crack at it though. Don’t wanna die wondering.

If he can't get a game with Phillipou, Owens, King and Sharman out then he clearly has no place in a Ross Lyon led team and will have to slam down the door in the twos.

I agree that it was Keels and Hammer battling it out but I thought that's when we had an injury free forwardline to choose from.

Even from a defensive point of view, we've got Cordy, Wilkie and Arie as 'talls' to take on Fogarty, Walker, Thilthorpe and Curtin.

Disappointed for him, seems a really great guy, has all the tools to make it and has worked incredibly hard this summer.

 

[hangdog]

Box Rox Rux.

We need to draft a Cox.

What a pairing that would be...

Cox and Box...

Get it?

Too subtle?