Discussion Thoughts on full back

[aussierulesrules]

I'd be very surprised if Gwilt started on him (wasn't that his first game for the year in the seniors?) and as I said, the first one I saw on him was Dempster and that was only about 5 mins into the first quarter, so it would have been strange to have made a change on him that early.

 

[Manimal_Dunstan]

I'd be very surprised if Gwilt started on him (wasn't that his first game for the year in the seniors?) and as I said, the first one I saw on him was Dempster and that was only about 5 mins into the first quarter, so it would have been strange to have made a change on him that early.

Second game i think. Gwilt was pretty much on Jack all night. If we had Fisher doubt Jack would have got anywhere near 8 goals.

 

[Manimal_Dunstan]

Just watched the start, Simpkin is who started on him.

 

[Persevering Saint]

If we're going in house, then the club will be physically preparing whoever they've picked for this role. They'll be getting them doing weights, etc, to get ready for the job.

 

[maanco]

Cant we just hope Simpkin grows a few cm or just give him some growth hormones.

 

[mysainters]

1- Dawson was always going to walk because of Lyon.

2- Who exactly was in the draft that would be a starting 22 full back next year?

I actually believe Zac walked because of Pelchen, and I think we're still waiting for him to fix it.

You're telling me no options have presented themselves in two years now?

The club continued to highlight last year and this, that we genuinely needed one, yet we still don't have one.

Hopefully something is done this week so that a pick can be used and someone rookied, otherwise I'm genuinely puzzled as to the why's and hows.

I'm kind of tired watching the talents of Gwilt and Fisher tied up in locking down on forwards when I'd prefer them using their skills elsewhere, sure Sam can do it, but it's not in the teams best interest surely.

 

[_Maximus_12]

From memory, JR didn't exactly monster our defenders that night.
Many of his goals came from cheap kicks out the back.
I feel that part of the reason we recruit Hickey is so that one ruckman can float back and fill that whole, while the other provides a tall target up the line.
I could be wrong

 

[Half Back Pocket]

A full pre-season as Coach will help Scotty develop his defensive game-plan further. I think we'd all agree they have the attacking game-plan down pat. I think Tommy, Fish & Gwilt can cover the big forwards if they get some help 3rd man up.

 

[Manimal_Dunstan]

Kill me if you want but i think with the amount of Forwards we have now We'll AGAIN try and develop Beau Wilkes in to the backline. He is WAY more prepared going into this Pre-season then he was last as he wasn't even expecting to be drafted. I think Wilkes could develop into the role with the help of Fish and those other guys. I think Wilkes would be a better bet then any KPD kid that got drafted last night. Personally i'd rather Wilkes back there then Kosi or Stanley (Stanley has probably never played that position).

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Blake played 1 good game at full back. he was otherwise embarrassed. I can't understand why they kept him on the list as "back-up". Surely it was worth risking a pick on a VFL/WAFL level bloke who might make it. At least as a rookie then look to promote him if he does well???

The best guy in the VFL has had his share of bags kicked against him. How would HE go against Jack Riewoldt?

Mind you it could still happen, but we'd have to delist a Rookie to do it.

 

[Rookie_Listed]

I think by necessity Wilkes will have to develop his defensive game. He must be nervous with the influx of attacking players, and may take it upon himself to attempt to improve his ability to play as a tall defender to ensure his longevity at the footy club before Lee, White, Hickey, Stanley and co overtake him in the pecking order. Whether or not it works out, it's at the very least worth a shot.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Cant we just hope Simpkin grows a few cm or just give him some growth hormones.

Is it against the rules for him to wear those springy things the paralympic runners use?

 

[saintsrfreak]

Is it against the rules for him to wear those springy things the paralympic runners use?

Nope, I saw Milney wearing them while he was chasing down Bryce Gibbs once

 

[Tongue In Cheek]

GT was all about GT in the end. So Lyon took an offer to good to refuse. Big deal.

Reality is this:

Lyon was head hunted because he is one of the best AFL coaches going around. GT was not.

Lyon coached us to 2 (3) GF's where we almost grabbed 2 flags. GT did not.

Lyon understands the importance of having the best staff (fitness) around you. GT says they are over rated.

GT might have had a better fitness department if RB had been better at revenue raising and not just slashing the budget to get the club back into the black. They both had their good points. It was their weaknesses that made for a terrible combination.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

GT might have had a better fitness department if RB had been better at revenue raising and not just slashing the budget to get the club back into the black. They both had their good points. It was their weaknesses that made for a terrible combination.

Obviously there were more run-ins between Thommo and Butthead than we all realised at the time.

In my mind a big part of the problem was that the corporate chart had Thomas in just about every box.
Whatever his flaws as a coach, I think he did a massive job of managing just about the entire football department and coaching at the same time.

Enter Lyon. I think he was a terriffic coach, and if the club had, had the structure it has now when he came in we'd all be singing a different song.
Instead ,a guy who was having his first effort at AFL coaching was expected to do just about everything.
I think Lyon concentrated on his core work, and paid lip service to the other stuff. Enter Pelchen.

I still think Thomas is probably a good operator and I wouldn't mind if someone suggested bringing him back to the club in a non-coaching role.

 

[saintsrfreak]

I think the comment about us struggling because of our midfield rather than our defence has some weight to it.

St Kilda 2010 - 2nd for DE%
St Kilda 2012 - 5th for DE%

St Kilda 2010 - 10th for Contested Possessions
St Kilda 2012 - 14th for Contested Possessions

St Kilda 2010 - 2nd for Possessions
St Kilda 2012 - 8th for Possessions

St Kilda 2010 - 10th for hitouts
St Kilda 2012 - 17th for hitouts

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I think the comment about us struggling because of our midfield rather than our defence has some weight to it.

St Kilda 2010 - 2nd for DE%
St Kilda 2012 - 5th for DE%

St Kilda 2010 - 10th for Contested Possessions
St Kilda 2012 - 14th for Contested Possessions

St Kilda 2010 - 2nd for Possessions
St Kilda 2012 - 8th for Possessions

St Kilda 2010 - 10th for hitouts
St Kilda 2012 - 17th for hitouts

Obviously with McEvoy and Stanley out for good stretches last year we struggled in hitouts ( with McEvoy already not the be all and end all ).
How much this affected our clearances and hence our contested disposal count is anyone's guess. But yes, it is imperative that we get better at winning contested ball, and someone other than Lenny, DalSanto, and Montagna needs to start getting in there. ( BJ was also a reasonable contested ball winner ).

I'm sort of hoping Steven or Armitage ( who are already OK ) can get to a better level, and that maybe Ledger can get some of it.

When we first got Wilkes I went into the old threads on the West Coast board and read what they said about him at the time. He was OK but "iffy" even then when he was playing defence as the main thing. I don't doubt that he can improve, but IMO its better for everyone involved if he sticks to what he's good at. If it means he does a reasonable job forward, but then we have better options, well at least he has a chance to go elsewhere. If he plays in defense he'll look like shit( ruining his career ) and we will bleed goals.

 

[VDS66]

I actually believe Zac walked because of Pelchen, and I think we're still waiting for him to fix it.

You're telling me no options have presented themselves in two years now?

The club continued to highlight last year and this, that we genuinely needed one, yet we still don't have one.

Hopefully something is done this week so that a pick can be used and someone rookied, otherwise I'm genuinely puzzled as to the why's and hows.

I'm kind of tired watching the talents of Gwilt and Fisher tied up in locking down on forwards when I'd prefer them using their skills elsewhere, sure Sam can do it, but it's not in the teams best interest surely.

I can assure that answer #1 is incorrect. And you did not answer question #2.

We got caught in 2912, and if i recall... we went heel for leather trying to get Brown. So to accuse the club of not trying to replace Zac is just tosh.

 

[WesternSaint84]

Been thinking about this last night that with all the new forwards coming to the club why not give nick a go at full back. His good in the air still has a bigger tank than most forwards and he reads the play well.

 

[saintsrfreak]

Been thinking about this last night that with all the new forwards coming to the club why not give nick a go at full back. His good in the air still has a bigger tank than most forwards and he reads the play well.

Because our forward line would probably be screwed

 

[VDS66]

Yeah but he'd be one out most times so he wouldn't get crowded... but it won't happen.

 

[mysainters]

I can assure that answer #1 is incorrect. And you did not answer question #2.

We got caught in 2912, and if i recall... we went heel for leather trying to get Brown. So to accuse the club of not trying to replace Zac is just tosh.

How can you assure me?

They had a lot of history.

Going for a contracted player who is next in line behind a veteran and was never going anywhere isn't my idea of trying very hard, said that all along.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

How can you assure me?

They had a lot of history.

Going for a contracted player who is next in line behind a veteran and was never going anywhere isn't my idea of trying very hard, said that all along.

So who should they have got.

 

[mysainters]

So who should they have got.

Who should they have kept first off...

As for who else, you're telling me no genuine option has presented itself in two years?

I find that hard to believe.

They need to quit using it as an excuse through the year as well.

 

[NarklesHelmet]

A full pre-season as Coach will help Scotty develop his defensive game-plan further. I think we'd all agree they have the attacking game-plan down pat. I think Tommy, Fish & Gwilt can cover the big forwards if they get some help 3rd man up.

This is spot-on. People are forgetting 2012 was the first year Watters had to work with the team and try and change the way we played. Attack went really well but we suffered in the way we didn't defend so well as the players were so used to the Lyon cage. I am really confident that a full pre-season tightening the defence will see us back to our best defensively as since Lyon left, we have added Dempster (in his current form) Geary and Simpkin and lost Dawson.