The next generation

[Kildonan]

Every year there are list changes that bring about an evolution of playing list. Experienced players retire, a few who didn't quite make it are shed, new hopefuls are added and everybody in between gains another preseason under their belt.

The players who have left us at the end of this year

  Harvey, Robert (V+)   383 37 21 Aug 1971 181cm  84kg Seaford             Midfield  
  Gehrig, Fraser        260 32 03 Mar 1976 195cm 104kg Murray Bushrangers  Forward  
  Michael Rix            29 27 08 Jan 1981 200cm 100kg Coburg              Ruck
  Fiora, Aaron          140 27 19 Apr 1981 186cm  80kg Port Adelaide       Wing/Flank  
  Gardiner, Charlie      63 25 01 Mar 1983 190cm  91kg Geelong Grammar     Forward
  Birss, Shane           71 25 11 Mar 1983 183cm  80kg Sale                Midfield 
  Ferguson, Matthew      12 24 01 Oct 1984 187cm  87kg Heyfield            Utility  
  Attard, Jayden (R)     25 22 27 Feb 1986 187cm  83kg Dandenong Stingrays Defence 
  Howard, Brad            2 20 21 Dec 1987 180.5cm 72.0kg Redlands           Midfield    
  Van Rheenan, Luke (R)   0 20 07 Mar 1988 201.0cm 90.0kg Scoresby           Ruck
  Chivers, Glenn (R)      0 19 09 Apr 1989 188.4cm 87.5kg Oakleigh Chargers  Defence

The new 2008/9 list in age order:

   Name              Games Age Birth Date Height Weight Origin          Position  
  Hudghton, Max (V+)    227 32 02 Sep 1976 191cm  92kg Northern Knights    Defence 
  King, Steven          215 30 11 Nov 1978 201cm 105kg Shepparton HS       Ruck
  Gardiner, Michael     138 29 05 Jul 1979 199cm  99kg Claremont           Ruck 
  Hayes, Lenny          192 28 14 Jan 1980 186cm  85kg Pennant Hills       Midfield  
  Milne, Stephen        165 28 08 Mar 1980 176cm  80kg Dandenong Stingrays Forward  
  Baker, Steven         154 28 22 May 1980 179cm  83kg Geelong Falcons     Midfield  
  Blake, Jason          136 27 15 Mar 1981 189cm  87kg Beaumaris           Utility  
  Fisher, Sam            96 26 10 Jul 1982 192cm  88kg West Adelaide       Defender  
  Koschitzke, Justin    119 26 20 Sep 1982 197cm  96kg Murray Bushrangers  Ruck KPP  
  Riewoldt, Nick        158 26 17 Oct 1982 193cm  95kg Southport           Forward    
  Clarke, Xavier        105 25 28 Sep 1983 181cm  80kg St Marys            Forward  
  Montagna, Leigh        98 25 02 Nov 1983 178cm  76kg Northern Knights    Midfield  
  Dempster, Sean         73 24 20 Jan 1984 192cm  87kg Gippsland U18       Key Defence
  Jones, Clinton         26 24 02 Feb 1984 183cm  83kg South Fremantle     Midfield
  Dal Santo, Nick       144 24 22 Feb 1984 185cm  83kg Bendigo Pioneers    Midfield  
  Fisher, Leigh          56 24 19 Apr 1984 184cm  90kg Mentone Grammar     Midfield  
  Gram, Jason            77 24 27 Apr 1984 186cm  84kg Gippsland Power     Defence  
  Schneider, Adam       117 24 12 May 1984 179cm  79kg Osbourne            Forward
  Ball, Luke            122 24 25 May 1984 183cm  84kg Sandringham Dragons Midfield  
  Maguire, Matthew       99 24 30 May 1984 190cm  96kg Geelong Falcons     Defence  
  Goddard, Brendon      113 23 20 May 1985 191cm  96kg Traralgon           Utility 
  Clarke, Raphael        41 23 24 Sep 1985 188cm  82kg St Mary's           Defence  
  Ray, Farren            75 22 29 Mar 1986 187cm  84kg Peel Thunder        Midfield 
  McQualter, Andrew      35 22 09 Jun 1986 179cm  79kg Gippsland Power     Midfield  
  Gwilt, James           26 22 11 Aug 1986 188cm  88kg Noble Park          Utility  
  Gilbert, Sam           39 22 19 Aug 1986 194cm  82kg Southport           Defence
  Begley, Colm           29 22 31 Aug 1986 188cm  83kg Ireland/Bris Lions  Defender 
  Miles, Luke (R)         0 22 30 Oct 1986 185.8cm 78.8kg Swan Districts     Defence
  Eddy, Robert           13 20 07 Jan 1988 181.7cm 85.0kg Gippsland Power    Midfield
  Allen, Jarryd           4 20 14 Jan 1988 193.2cm 88.0kg Calder Cannons     Forward
  Armitage, David        16 20 16 Jun 1988 183.5cm 80.0kg Morningside        Midfield
  Geary, Jarryn          10 20 23 Jun 1988 182.1cm 77.0kg Bendigo Pioneers   Midfield
  McEvoy, Ben             1 19 11 Jul 1989 200.2cm 94.6kg Murray Bushrangers Ruck
  Haretuku, Khan (R)      0 19 19 Oct 1989 198.0cm 98.0kg NSW Scholarship  
  Connors, Eljay          0 18 01 Jan 1990 181.0cm 65.0kg Bendigo Pioneers   Midfield
  Stephen, Jack           0 18 28 Mar 1990 180.0cm 76.4kg Geelong Falcons    Midfield  
  McGrath, Blake (R)      0 18 24 Apr 1990 208.0cm 85.0kg Pennant Hill       Ruck
  Heyne, Nicholas         0 18 22 Jul 1990 188.2cm 79.1kg Orbost             Forward
  Smith, Alistair         0 18 08 Aug 1990 183.5cm 79.0kg Perth              Midfield
  Cahill, Paul            0 18 18 Aug 1990 193.1cm 80.7kg Sturt              Forward
  Lynch, Tom              0 18 15 Sep 1990 191.7cm 85.2kg Sandringham        Forward
  Stanley, Rhys           0 18 01 Dec 1990 200.4cm 88.5kg West Adelaide      Ruck

Our coaching staff have shown a reluctance to throw kids on the park and just hope they make it. They are developing these players patiently and I see the new recruits making an influence in 2 years time and becoming the backbone of the squad in five or so.

I hear tell that Luke Stanton, Steven Gaertner and Haelan Kay are training with us ATM and just maybe they are in contention for a rookie spot (along with Howard)

 

[Persevering Saint]

I can't recall - can Attard be rookie listed again?

 

[BrianSpeaking]

We wont be re drafting Attard at all.

 

[okeydoke7]

Based on my calculations (Very good chance I am wrong) our avergae age on our 2009 list will be 22.9

 

[esaint66]

Based on my calculations (Very good chance I am wrong) our avergae age on our 2009 list will be 22.9

If that is the case we will have to start playing the younger generation and like other years i have looked into our draftees this year and i have been very impressed, i wouldn't mind a few of them starting earlier than later.

 

[okeydoke7]

If that is the case we will have to start playing the younger generation and like other years i have looked into our draftees this year and i have been very impressed, i wouldn't mind a few of them starting earlier than later.

I agree, as long as they can make a contribution to the team. I think it is time for Armitage, Geary, Eddy to be making their position permanant. I definitely think we should debut a fair amount of the new kids, but as I said this is as long as they can still make a contribution and do their bit to help us win games, not just for the sake of playing them.
I am expecting big things from Armitage this year.

 

[goodie23]

Interesting no position is marked for Haretuku. Those who have seen him, what's the book on him? Are we keeping him another year essentially because as a NSW rookie he doesn't take up a place on the list?

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Interesting no position is marked for Haretuku. Those who have seen him, what's the book on him? Are we keeping him another year essentially because as a NSW rookie he doesn't take up a place on the list?

Once I heard the news about Allen, my thoughts went straight to "Imran" Khan.

 

[Kildonan]

Our U21 yo list in age order:

  Name                Games Age Birth Date Height  Weight Origin             Position  
  Eddy, Robert           13 20 07 Jan 1988 181.7cm 85.0kg Gippsland Power    Midfield
  Allen, Jarryd           4 20 14 Jan 1988 193.2cm 88.0kg Calder Cannons     Forward
  Armitage, David        16 20 16 Jun 1988 183.5cm 80.0kg Morningside        Midfield
  Geary, Jarryn          10 20 23 Jun 1988 182.1cm 77.0kg Bendigo Pioneers   Midfield
  McEvoy, Ben             1 19 11 Jul 1989 200.2cm 94.6kg Murray Bushrangers Ruck
  Haretuku, Khan (R)      0 19 19 Oct 1989 198.0cm 98.0kg NSW Scholarship  
  Connors, Eljay          0 18 01 Jan 1990 181.0cm 65.0kg Bendigo Pioneers   Midfield
  Stephen, Jack           0 18 28 Mar 1990 180.0cm 76.4kg Geelong Falcons    Midfield  
  McGrath, Blake (R)      0 18 24 Apr 1990 208.0cm 85.0kg Pennant Hill       Ruck
  Heyne, Nicholas         0 18 22 Jul 1990 188.2cm 79.1kg Orbost             Forward
  Smith, Alistair         0 18 08 Aug 1990 183.5cm 79.0kg Perth              Midfield
  Cahill, Paul            0 18 18 Aug 1990 193.1cm 80.7kg Sturt              Forward
  Lynch, Tom              0 18 15 Sep 1990 191.7cm 85.2kg Sandringham        Forward
  Stanley, Rhys           0 18 01 Dec 1990 200.4cm 88.5kg West Adelaide      Ruck

This list has been put together while we have been finishing near the top of the ladder over the last few years. It doesn't resemble the glut of stars that clubs like Carlton have been accumulating, but we have a lot of genuine quality there. Just watching this group of players develop and force their way into the first 22 will be entertaining.

We have frequently traded high picks for "mature" players so the total number of kids is still quite low, allowing us to have depth as well as youth coming through.

Not all these kids will make it, history shows that, and most of us recognise that logically too, but I believe we will do quite well out of this crop.

McEvoy and Stanley will be expected to develop their ruck skills and hopefully they will form a duo that fills that role for the better part of a decade. McGrath could be anything - and if he forces one of these guys out then - that's great .

Allen has been cut down by injury, but he will return and I hope he and Cahill will work towards holding a key position for us. I haven't seen Haretuku in action yet but he remains on our list so he must be showing something to the selectors and his size suggests he might hold down a key spot as well.

Tom Lynch is one I see taking on the role that Aaron Hamill played for us. He shows considerable mobility for his size and can play as a marking forward but he lacks the height of a true key forward so he will need to find other strings to his bow.

Heyne will probably play as a medium forward until he can develop the fitness to carry his game into the midfield. Jack might play forward too, but I see him getting midfield rotations sooner rather than down the track.

Connors, Smith and Howard are all likely to develop as outside players with a strong tackling game and taught to use their speed to disrupt the opposition defensive setups.

We've seen enough of Eddy, Geary and Armitage to know that they already add depth to our midfield and they will continue to develop as we need them.

I look forward to seeing who we pick up in the Rookie draft to complete this year's drafting.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I don't like the idea of putting fresh draftee's straight into the team unless they are clearly best 22 ( Ie Palmer or Rioli ), not full time anyway. You see it at the Bombers and Demons , because they need to. But does it really give them more experience to get 2 touches in an AFL game. Or are they better getting a good VFL game under their belt until they improve.
I think Khan played a couple with the Scorps last season, and he would need to show a bit more at this level before he is selected.

To me the following 18 players have a walk up start if they are fit.
Max, King, Lenny, Milne, Baker, Blake, Fisher , Kosi, Reiwoldt, Joey , Dempster (Injured) , Jones (?), DalSanto, Gram , Schneider, Ball, Goddard, Gilbert.

The players who I would hope could earn a spot this year will be among
midfield:
Eddy, Armitage, McQualter, X, Raph, Steven, Geary, Ray, Fish
Forward, Gwilt, Macca, Heynes, Lynch , Raph ,Armitage, Allen ( after injury ).
Backs , Maguire, Lynch, Raph, Geary, Miles(?) , Fish.
2nd Ruck Gardiner, Macca.

I would be hoping that X and Maguire can show some of their old form and cement a spot in the side. We don't need a full squad of young guys, we need a few of them to get it together, come in and be as good or better than Blake, Jones, DalSanto, Gram or Gilbert.

The NAB cup will be very important to the Saints this year so that we can sort out which of these guys will be the ones to choose.

 

[Bornsaint]

I don't like the idea of putting fresh draftee's straight into the team unless they are clearly best 22 ( Ie Palmer or Rioli ), not full time anyway. You see it at the Bombers and Demons , because they need to. But does it really give them more experience to get 2 touches in an AFL game. Or are they better getting a good VFL game under their belt until they improve.
I think Khan played a couple with the Scorps last season, and he would need to show a bit more at this level before he is selected.

To me the following 18 players have a walk up start if they are fit.
Max, King, Lenny, Milne, Baker, Blake, Fisher , Kosi, Reiwoldt, Joey , Dempster (Injured) , Jones (?), DalSanto, Gram , Schneider, Ball, Goddard, Gilbert.

The players who I would hope could earn a spot this year will be among
midfield:
Eddy, Armitage, McQualter, X, Raph, Steven, Geary, Ray, Fish
Forward, Gwilt, Macca, Heynes, Lynch , Raph ,Armitage, Allen ( after injury ).
Backs , Maguire, Lynch, Raph, Geary, Miles(?) , Fish.
2nd Ruck Gardiner, Macca.

I would be hoping that X and Maguire can show some of their old form and cement a spot in the side. We don't need a full squad of young guys, we need a few of them to get it together, come in and be as good or better than Blake, Jones, DalSanto, Gram or Gilbert.

The NAB cup will be very important to the Saints this year so that we can sort out which of these guys will be the ones to choose.

Love everything that has been said. Want young guys coming in ready to rumble instead of just getting burnt.What about Luke Miles on the rookie list at 22yrs. What is known of him. I heard at one stage he was supposed to be a gun and actually played a great NAB cup match for us from memory?!

 

[CHBench]

Wasn't Miles injured for a major part of last year? I cant remember.
And what's the age limit for the rookie list?

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Wasn't Miles injured for a major part of last year? I cant remember.
And what's the age limit for the rookie list?

He was good in the NAB cup and he was injured for most of last year. Still if has to be injured as a rookie it is better for him in his first year than his second. Hope he can show something enough to get promoted this year.

 

[Signd Sealed Saint]

Agreed, Nick Heyne looks to be a ripper and young Jack Steven, go get 'em son!

 

[Persevering Saint]

It freaks me out that there are players now on our list who weren't even born in the '80s... I am starting to feel very, very old...

 

[Danger Mouse]

I'm still cut we didn't grab Cousins! .... but this is the first time in a long time our future is starting to look really promising. We got so many promising players coming through and our older players are still relatively young! I could see a grand final berth within 4 years with an inch of luck.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Haha, yeah PS I'm starting to feel old too, this was the first draft where the kids are younger than me. Lynch is 2 days younger than me.

 

[Half Back Pocket]

Haha, yeah PS I'm starting to feel old too, this was the first draft where the kids are younger than me. Lynch is 2 days younger than me.

You old bastard, Armi!!!

 

[THEROO 09]

He was good in the NAB cup and he was injured for most of last year. Still if has to be injured as a rookie it is better for him in his first year than his second. Hope he can show something enough to get promoted this year.

Can anyone tell me if Milesy is back in full training and if so ,is he burning up the track

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I think he played in round 18. But I don't know why he didn't play since then.

 

[Persevering Saint]

Haha, yeah PS I'm starting to feel old too, this was the first draft where the kids are younger than me. Lynch is 2 days younger than me.

Oh boy, get the walking stick...

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Haha, yeah I was being a little sarcastic. Still scares me immensely.

But I always looked up to the 18 year olds getting drafted as strong/awesome...and essentially 'men'. It's funny once you get there that they are exactly the same as you pretty much. Cept they can play footy.

 

[Kildonan]

2008/9 List in age order:

   Name              Games Age Birth Date Height Weight Origin          Position  
  Hudghton, Max (V+)    227 32 02 Sep 1976 191cm  92kg Northern Knights    Defence 
  King, Steven          215 30 11 Nov 1978 201cm 105kg Shepparton HS       Ruck
  Gardiner, Michael     138 29 05 Jul 1979 199cm  99kg Claremont           Ruck 
  Hayes, Lenny          192 28 14 Jan 1980 186cm  85kg Pennant Hills       Midfield  
  Milne, Stephen        165 28 08 Mar 1980 176cm  80kg Dandenong Stingrays Forward  
  Baker, Steven         154 28 22 May 1980 179cm  83kg Geelong Falcons     Midfield  
  Blake, Jason          136 27 15 Mar 1981 189cm  87kg Beaumaris           Utility  
  Fisher, Sam            96 26 10 Jul 1982 192cm  88kg West Adelaide       Defender  
  Koschitzke, Justin    119 26 20 Sep 1982 197cm  96kg Murray Bushrangers  Ruck KPP  
  Riewoldt, Nick        158 26 17 Oct 1982 193cm  95kg Southport           Forward    
  Clarke, Xavier        105 25 28 Sep 1983 181cm  80kg St Marys            Forward  
  Montagna, Leigh        98 25 02 Nov 1983 178cm  76kg Northern Knights    Midfield  
  Dempster, Sean         73 24 20 Jan 1984 192cm  87kg Gippsland U18       Defence
  Jones, Clinton         26 24 02 Feb 1984 183cm  83kg South Fremantle     Midfield
  Dal Santo, Nick       144 24 22 Feb 1984 185cm  83kg Bendigo Pioneers    Midfield  
  Fisher, Leigh          56 24 19 Apr 1984 184cm  90kg Mentone Grammar     Midfield  
  Gram, Jason            77 24 27 Apr 1984 186cm  84kg Gippsland Power     Defence  
  Schneider, Adam       117 24 12 May 1984 179cm  79kg Osbourne            Forward
  Ball, Luke            122 24 25 May 1984 183cm  84kg Sandringham Dragons Midfield  
  Maguire, Matthew       99 24 30 May 1984 190cm  96kg Geelong Falcons     Defence  
  Goddard, Brendon      113 23 20 May 1985 191cm  96kg Traralgon           Utility 
  Clarke, Raphael        41 23 24 Sep 1985 188cm  82kg St Mary's           Defence  
  Dawson, Zac (R)        14 22 22 Feb 1986 195cm  95kg Doutta Stars        Defence
  Ray, Farren            75 22 29 Mar 1986 187cm  84kg Peel Thunder        Midfield 
  McQualter, Andrew      35 22 09 Jun 1986 179cm  79kg Gippsland Power     Midfield  
  Gwilt, James           26 22 11 Aug 1986 188cm  88kg Noble Park          Utility  
  Gilbert, Sam           39 22 19 Aug 1986 194cm  82kg Southport           Defence
  Begley, Colm           29 22 31 Aug 1986 188cm  83kg Ireland/Bris Lions  Defender 
  [COLOR="Red"]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/COLOR]
  Miles, Luke (R)         0 22 30 Oct 1986 185.8cm 78.8kg Swan Districts     Defence
  Howard, Brad (R)        2 20 21 Dec 1987 182.0cm 80.0kg Redlands           Midfield    
  Eddy, Robert           13 20 07 Jan 1988 181.7cm 85.0kg Gippsland Power    Midfield
  Allen, Jarryd           4 20 14 Jan 1988 193.2cm 88.0kg Calder Cannons     Forward
  Armitage, David        16 20 16 Jun 1988 183.5cm 80.0kg Morningside        Midfield
  Geary, Jarryn          10 20 23 Jun 1988 182.1cm 77.0kg Bendigo Pioneers   Midfield
  McEvoy, Ben             1 19 11 Jul 1989 200.2cm 94.6kg Murray Bushrangers Ruck
  Haretuku, Khan (R)      0 19 19 Oct 1989 198.0cm 98.0kg NSW Scholarship  
  Connors, Eljay          0 18 01 Jan 1990 181.0cm 65.0kg Bendigo Pioneers   Midfield
  Gaertner, Steven (R)    0 18 02 Jan 1990 199.0cm 87.0kg Dandenong Stingrays Defence
  Steven, Jack            0 18 28 Mar 1990 180.0cm 76.4kg Geelong Falcons    Midfield  
  McGarry,  Sam (R)       0 18 21 Apr 1990 186.0cm 77.0kg Sandringham Dragons Midfield
  McGrath, Blake (R)      0 18 24 Apr 1990 208.0cm 85.0kg Pennant Hill       Ruck
  Tungatulum, Ross (R)    0 18 05 Jun 1990 ???.?cm ??.?kg St Mary’s          Forward
  Heyne, Nicholas         0 18 22 Jul 1990 188.2cm 79.1kg Orbost             Forward
  Simpkin, Tom (R)        0 18 07 Aug 1990 191.0cm 83.0kg Geelong Falcons    Defence
  Smith, Alistair         0 18 08 Aug 1990 183.5cm 79.0kg Perth              Midfield
  Cahill, Paul            0 18 18 Aug 1990 193.1cm 80.7kg Sturt              Forward
  Lynch, Tom              0 18 15 Sep 1990 191.7cm 85.2kg Sandringham        Forward
  Stanley, Rhys           0 18 01 Dec 1990 200.4cm 88.5kg West Adelaide      Ruck

The players below the red line represent the next generation of players coming through (to me).
At this point in time these kids are just talented youngsters with a finite probability of success (a ten year+ career playing football at the highest level), I would also include Zac Dawson in that category.

The players above the line are our main list. We have two players over thirty, and Michael Gardiner will turn 30 halfway through the season.
The rest of these players are either approaching their peak playing years or already there.

The new kids have a task - to dislodge a player pretty much at the peak of his career, in order to get in to the first 22. Those that do can only enhance our squad.

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

Nice list Kildonian but can you please update Jack Steven's name?

Stephen, Jack?

 

[dg102]

Do you know how our average age of players compares with other clubs? Esspecially interested in knowing comparisons to players under 24?