Teams The wrong selection decisions

[dg102]

I watched the pies game again last night just to confirm my thoughts on why we stopped thrashing against ess and bri. The pressure was there, that wasn’t the problem.
2 reasons. 1 was that we stopped hand passing and playing on off around halfback. On most occasions short pass, mark, go behind mark, no ones running past for hands, looking for a short kick instead.
The other reason was for most of the time they were just looking to boot it off to Roo or Kos, which caused a lot of marks for those guys on difficult angles which caused us to kick a lot of points against Brisbane. If we were playing like earlier form there would have been midfielders kicking goals running through 50.
What we saw was more like 08 form not 09 form.
Curiously enough our best defensive runner, Gram isn’t playing. Our other defensive runner, Gwilt is playing a mock up CHF. Rewoldt is now playing deep forward again. Another one of our best defensive runners in Gilbert is playing deep back, Fisher and Goddard have to drop deep back as well for a lot of the time instead of pushing in the centre. And all this time we have 2 very capable Full Backs in Hudgton, Maguire wasting away in the VFL. Whose making selection decisions?
If I was selecting, I would want my fastest best ball user/defenders in Gram, Goddard, Gilbert even Geary on CHB line running and dishing off by hand through the centre. I would have Hudgton, Maguire, and Blake on the full back line which would be more than capable.
I would have Rewoldt at true CHF where he won’t be begging for every play that enters 50. Kosi at true FF with Milne and Shnides. And our awesome midfield just doing what their doing.
Its not complicated. You want to free up your best defensive runners to compliment our midfield but there to busy playing mock up FB roles half the time, and we have 2 of our best FB's ready to go but not getting selected and then our best runner gets left out. I’m not happy with selections at all. And I tell you if I see us doing this crappy stop start short kicking business out of defence against Melbourne ill be really pissed, even if we win... Were better than that.
And no, just winning is not enough. I want them to make the right decisions.

 

[Fehring]

Fair post, but there's one problem with it. We've got basically the same team as we had at the beginning of the season when we were killing it off half back. The one exception you mention is Gram, but his departure didn't require any of the players you mention to go further into defence.

I think the real reason we're not playing as well as we were is that we're - well - not playing as well as we were. Every team has ups and downs. I reckon that if Max come in Dawson goes out. As for Maguire, I think the Maguire of 2006 would be a fantastic inclusion to that backline. But do we have the Maguire of 2006? I don't know, and I reckon the Saints don't know either. Bringing him in is a risk, and at the moment risky selections are not high on the selectors' minds. Nor should they be.

 

[Signd Sealed Saint]

Good thoughts. I back you totally there. I think right now it's if it ain't broke don't fix it for Ross Lyon. Surely Max and Goose will get a run at one stage.

 

[sauce_head]

My opinion on why we have not gone as well is that we are out of form, but still winning.

One thing i would like to see is when we are zoned up at the back 50, the player on the mark not necessarily reacting to a fake and allowing the opposition past him. There is a fine line between going for the steal and leaving a gaping hole in the zone. Every basketballer knows this but it seems some of the saints players have forgotten. Roo was particularly bad at this aspect last week. It just allows the offensive player a run up the middle.

I am sure RL will have noticed as well and told the team to keep its feet and win the ball back at the contest rather than "hollywood flybys" as another coach once called them.

Nothing to fear, just over zealous players.

 

[dg102]

We have got players playing out of position all over the ground. The coach himself said that he wanted BJ, Goddard, Fish and Gilbert up the ground, AND HE'D BE RIGHT IN DOING THIS. But he refuses to use Goose and Hudg in the team to set it up. These guys are fit! Gwilts playing CHF, Rewoldt plays too deep for my likeing and Gram our best defensive runner is left out. NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

Sure were going ok, and Im rapt with our performace so far, but this isnt about form, this is about structure and setting up our positions for the rest of the season and finals. We need our number 1 players playing in thier best positions for as long as possible coming into finals.

 

[dg102]

This is how the team should look. We would be unstopable. I dont even think the cats team look as good as this. Look at the power we have through every line.

B Blake, Hudgton, Maguire
HB Ray, Fisher, Gram
C Goddard, Ball, Dal Santo
HF Hayes, Roo, Gilbert
F Milne, Kos, Shnides
Foll Gardiner, Jones, Montagna
I/C Geary, Gwilt, McQualter, King

 

[SammyFish25]

B Blake, Hudgton, Maguire
HB Ray, Fisher, Gram
C Goddard, Ball, Dal Santo
HF Hayes, Roo, Gilbert
F Milne, Kos, Shnides
Foll Gardiner, Jones, Montagna
I/C Geary, Gwilt, McQualter, King

I would have Baker in this side before Mini, and Dempster before Gwilt...

B Blake, Hudgton, Maguire
HB Ray, Fisher, Gram
C Goddard, Ball, Dal Santo
HF Hayes, Roo, Gilbert
F Milne, Kosi, Shnides
Foll Gardiner, Jones, Montagna
I/C Geary, Dempster, Baker, King
EM Gwilt, Mini, X. Clarke, R. Clarke

 

[Bod Jah]

Can't agree with you on the inclusion of Maguire in the backline. Do yourself a favour and go down to Trevor Barker Oval tomorrow and have a look at him. He's trying his guts out but he's lost any pace he had and that's a killer at AFL level. He can't play on a quick leading forward or a small forward and there are only half a dozen old or dinosaur forwards left. There isn't any chance barring multiple injuries that he will come back in that role.

 

[Squizz]

Goose was never that quick to start with. I'd be more worried about him changing direction quickly.

Reads the play well, and hasn't lost that. Great hands and undoubted courage (still the same). Long kicker - suits the current game plan.

I guess if he's kicking well he can play forward if there is no match-up down back.

But agree an injury might be the only way we'll see him any time soon. The 22 playing at AFL level seem cohesive and are moving the ball well.

 

[Squizz]

I watched the pies game again last night just to confirm my thoughts on why we stopped thrashing against ess and bri. The pressure was there, that wasn’t the problem.
2 reasons. 1 was that we stopped hand passing and playing on off around halfback. On most occasions short pass, mark, go behind mark, no ones running past for hands, looking for a short kick instead.

I actually thought the intention to handball and run was there in both games, but we came up against a couple of hard running teams who were able to apply just that little bit more pressure. A number of handballs didn't stick which makes us look a little untidy.

Was interested to see the Lions beat North fairly comfortably away from home. Only watched 15 mins, but they appeared to be tackling pretty hard again.

We had a number of very gettable shots on goal against the Lions - whilst this is bad footy it can improve more quickly than a poor game plan.

 

[Big Carl]

This is how the team should look. We would be unstopable. I dont even think the cats team look as good as this. Look at the power we have through every line.

B Blake, Hudgton, Maguire
HB Ray, Fisher, Gram
C Goddard, Ball, Dal Santo
HF Hayes, Roo, Gilbert
F Milne, Kos, Shnides
Foll Gardiner, Jones, Montagna
I/C Geary, Gwilt, McQualter, King

Gee I wish we had you picking our sides and making all our decisions, we would be 10 - 0 an undefeated.........

 

[dg102]

lol if you think were fielding our best team in thier best positions, thats your opinion, its not mine. Again im saying this isnt about winning or loosing, Im very happy were winning. Players, Positioning, Structure isnt right at the moment, we could be alot better.
And you know, I wish I was picking our side, I would put them in the positions above, with the inclusion of Dempster, if he was fit.

 

[Persevering Saint]

Gee I wish we had you picking our sides and making all our decisions, we would be 10 - 0 an undefeated.........

Top class.

 

[tim_saints]

just wondering if tom lynch or ross tungtatulum have a chance of getting a game this year

i notice almost every week in the record on the team list ross tungtatulum has the # next to his name meaning he could be elevated from the rookie list to the senior list through out the year, i also noticed he kicked 4 goals today playing at sandy

and tommy lynch any chance of getting a game or will the likes of goosey, maxy and armo keep him out of contention??

 

[SammyFish25]

Rossie Tunga wont get a game, still on the rookie list, and he needs to bulk up.. Lynch needs a month of solid performances before senior selection..

 

[Darkhour]

Gee I wish we had you picking our sides and making all our decisions, we would be 10 - 0 an undefeated.........

lol.. nice one

 

[SaintsSeptember]

As far as selection goes I think Armitage was stiffed.

Gram was omitted for Clarke for political reasons. If they wanted Gram back in they should have listed him.
Armitage was the obvious replacement for Milne, but nah lets not play the guy that kicked 10 goals in 13 games for us last year with limited time on ground. Lets replace him with a backman.

It was hard to tell who played where on the radio, but if it was me I would have moved Schnieder into Milne's spot and Armitage into Shnieder. Instead we have and extra backman and wonder why we are having trouble scoring, with multiple players on Kosi and Nick.

 

[Squizz]

Instead we have and extra backman and wonder why we are having trouble scoring, with multiple players on Kosi and Nick.

But then I'd say we lack a genuine lead-up 3rd tall - as soon as BJ goes there he kicks goals and then Ross moves him away again. Whilst I assume Gwilt is doing a job, I don't really know what the job is. Surely jigging the team (with Max or Goose coming in) to ensure one of BJ, Sam F and Gilbo is up forward wouldn't be too hard and would produce more shots on goal.

 

[John Bonney]

As far as selection goes I think Armitage was stiffed.

Gram was omitted for Clarke for political reasons. If they wanted Gram back in they should have listed him.
Armitage was the obvious replacement for Milne, but nah lets not play the guy that kicked 10 goals in 13 games for us last year with limited time on ground. Lets replace him with a backman.

It was hard to tell who played where on the radio, but if it was me I would have moved Schnieder into Milne's spot and Armitage into Shnieder. Instead we have and extra backman and wonder why we are having trouble scoring, with multiple players on Kosi and Nick.

Could not agree more SS and then to add insult to injury Armitage was flown back to Melbourne on a late flight arriving in the early hours of the morning and then expected to beat fatigue as well as a
his tagger v Bendigo.
He clearly has many detractors on here and going by his treatment to date would be advised to seek a career elsewhere to prove his worth.
Picking Gram ahead of him shows all ouside the current playing group that reputation still is the major factor despite all the talk to the contrary.

 

[McCrann]

Could not agree more SS and then to add insult to injury Armitage was flown back to Melbourne on a late flight arriving in the early hours of the morning and then expected to beat fatigue as well as a
his tagger v Bendigo.
He clearly has many detractors on here and going by his treatment to date would be advised to seek a career elsewhere to prove his worth.
Picking Gram ahead of him shows all ouside the current playing group that reputation still is the major factor despite all the talk to the contrary.

Actually, I don't see many detractors on here - is he a chance to go to the Gold Coast next year? I'd have to say if he doesn't break in to the team soon he'd have to be high on Scotty Clayton's priority list.

 

[StFly]

Could not agree more SS and then to add insult to injury Armitage was flown back to Melbourne on a late flight arriving in the early hours of the morning and then expected to beat fatigue as well as a
his tagger v Bendigo.
He clearly has many detractors on here and going by his treatment to date would be advised to seek a career elsewhere to prove his worth.
Picking Gram ahead of him shows all ouside the current playing group that reputation still is the major factor despite all the talk to the contrary.

He has come out prior to this season and stated that he did not work hard enough to demand a position off the field, when you take into account that Gram was dropped for not meeting team goals that is rather poignant of where Armo wants to be and where the club wants him to be. While he has no doubt improved in this regard this year, I would think that unless he's breaking the door down it'd be a half season thing.

You get the team playing good footy early on, you stick with it for as long as they are playing good footy and only making as many changes as you need to as opposed to want to; rucks for rucks is about the only pick for player types, everything else is "do we need more run? Do we need more height? Do we need more goal scoring ability? Do we need..."

At the halfway point you can reassess. Milney has a bung knee, let's get him 100% by round 18 and have Armo fill in for him, either Armo keeps his spot or Milney comes back in at the expense of he, Schneider or Mini. Gwilts done his job but has sore hammies or something, lets get that right and see if Goose or Lynch can make that third tall / strong body option. Gilberts ankle doesn't come up 100%, either stick with Raph, try Miles, Begley or shuffle the defence to add Hudghton and Dawson.

While it's not good for Armo in that he's not getting the exposure at the highest level, it's not about him, it's about the club. If he plays one game this season, just one and it happens to be a prelim or quarter final, he does his job and he'd have contributed to the success. If he doesn't he still contibutes by keeping those in the team honest.

Think about it, he's 20 years old, Hayes, Baker and Milney are 29. By the time he's 22 if he only improves he'll become a staple somewhere in the senior team.

 

[John Bonney]

Very good post St Fly i accept your very eloquently put points.
I think i am just getting a bit anxious ,will sit back and enjoy the ride.