Time is right for Stanley

[sculls_6]

After last night, despite his obvious lack of strength and his apparent rawness, we have to give Rhys Stanley a solid month of AFL footy as the forward line is screaming out for another tall, athletic marking target. We need a hamill or gehrig-type player, who has the strength to hold off his opponent to create room for kosi to jump into packs and hopefully pull one down soon enough, but alas our options are limited. Admittedly since his name has been thrown up as a senior contender is form has dipped at Sandy, but this week against Essendon is the perfect time to hand the boy his debut. Essendon only know one way to play, and that is at break-neck speed without the need to drop numbers behind the ball. They are stretched for tall defenders, and we must exploit it if we are to get our season back on track after last night's dismal display!

 

[ChrisFooty]

Is he 100% fit? OP troubles? The time may not be right.

 

[sculls_6]

Seems every player who looks to be playing under duress has OP at the moment, but guess we will find out from the injury updates in the coming days. If it is only form issues, not fitness, he needs to be thrown in the deep end and given a shot. Really, after last night, can it get any worse?

 

[stkildathunda]

Seems every player who looks to be playing under duress has OP at the moment, but guess we will find out from the injury updates in the coming days. If it is only form issues, not fitness, he needs to be thrown in the deep end and given a shot. Really, after last night, can it get any worse?

Wouldnt hold your breath waiting for the Saints to give us any injury updates as you could be waiting for a fair while.

 

[sculls_6]

Wouldnt hold your breath waiting for the Saints to give us any injury updates as you could be waiting for a fair while.

Guess that's true, could write your own ticket for the likelihood of a 2 week injury actually meaning 2 weeks out.

 

[Plugger35]

Thread endorsed.

If he is fit then we should bring Stanley in next week. I'm not that bothered if his form isn't that great in the VFL, he showed what he could do in the NAB Cup and with our forward line desperately needing another tall marking target he is the obvious candidate.

Like you have said, our forward line couldn't be much worse than it is now so we don't have much to lose by playing him.

 

[LordJimmy]

Done nothing at Sandy STFU.

Honestly if I hear about him one more time.

Please refrain from telling fellow Sainters to STFU - K

 

[Plugger35]

Done nothing at Sandy STFU.

Honestly if I hear about him one more time.

You weren't impressed with his NAB Cup form?

Ideally it would be good if Stanley was tearing it up in the VFL and banging down the selectors door but desperate times call for desperate measures and I don't think we have the luxury of waiting for him to get BOG before we play him.

My only reservation is on his fitness. If he has groin/OP issues, which has been suggested, then we shouldn't play him and jeopardize his long term health.

 

[sainter]

Done nothing at Sandy STFU.

Honestly if I hear about him one more time.

What's the alternative?

Our forward line structure is non-existent at the moment. We don't look like scoring.

We have a run of 4 games against teams that won't make the 8. I can't see the harm in throwing him in.

I realise we'd be picking a player on potential rather than form and two weeks ago I would have agreed with you.

But now?

Rhys Stanley in.

 

[Kildonan]

We have a plethora of forwards and ruckmen developing in the Zebs. Stanley showed something in the preseason, but according to those posters who have actually attended our VFL matches, is still probably some time away from being able to perform at the AFL level.
A few weeks ago he was held to almost no touches for the first half and the coach was forced to put him in the ruck to get some value out of him.

If we are being reactive to the Carlton match, maybe we should be more concerned about negating the speed of the three indiginous forwards that ran riot over us (and Geelong). The backline is where we need work. Our medium-sized defenders were too slow.

Fast tracking Stanley wont address our real problem.

 

[sculls_6]

If you don't want to hear his name mentioned you'd best not listen to any of Ross' midweek pressers as his name always pops up. And VFL form can only count for so much, look at the best players for Sandy on the weekend and you'll see the big irishmen named second. Stanley has the closest thing any player yet to debut has to exposed form and that is those few quality performances in the NAB cup. Best to give him a go now before he loses all the confidence he gained from the pre season wallowing in the twos.

 

[Cro19]

The next three weeks are the perfect time for him to come in.

Essendon minus their best defenders
A very average WCE outfit, on a large ground where his pace would be a huge help.
Richmond - enough said.

If ever there was a time, this is it.

We can't continue to randomly throw someone up forward in matches, we have had zero success from this method, and we wont magically go back to how we used to play when Nick returns.

All the good teams play the same blokes up forward week in week out, we need to be doing the same, using forwards not defenders.

 

[TommyJay]

He might not do much up forward, but hey, he can't do less than Kosi is doing. If he can kick one goal a game and provide an extra tall forward to a contest when we get the ball up forward, someone else to kick to, he's done enough. Can't see a viable reason not to give him a crack, unless that reason is that they've decided Tommy Walsh should for some reason play his first game of football in the forward line in the AFL. Otherwise, the only other option is Mac, and he's not mobile enough to provide forward line defensive pressure.

Stanley in for mine.

 

[sainter]

We have a plethora of forwards and ruckmen developing in the Zebs. Stanley showed something in the preseason, but according to those posters who have actually attended our VFL matches, is still probably some time away from being able to perform at the AFL level.
A few weeks ago he was held to almost no touches for the first half and the coach was forced to put him in the ruck to get some value out of him.

If we are being reactive to the Carlton match, maybe we should be more concerned about negating the speed of the three indiginous forwards that ran riot over us (and Geelong). The backline is where we need work. Our medium-sized defenders were too slow.

Fast tracking Stanley wont address our real problem.

It's not a matter of being reactive to the Carlton game, it's about addressing a major problem we've had for the previous 3 matches.

Scoring.

Surely you can see that?

Until last night we were continuing to restrict the opposition to very low scores. Carlton were terrific on the break and did expose our lack of speed but I'm not sure our entire defence needs a makeover on account of one poor performance.

Even our midfield was poor last night. Hayes was forced to play a lone hand. However I'm confident we won't see Dal and Joey won't both play such poor games at the same time again.

It's the other end of the ground that we've got worries.

I'm not saying Rhys is going to star from day one. What we need to do is restructure our forward line. Let's throw Kosi into the ruck and open up the forward line for him. With his height and pace he's going to be very hard to match up on.

What's the worst that can happen? He might struggle to get a kick? It wouldn't be any different to the other options we've tried since losing Roo. At least he'll be getting some valuable experience.

I'm sorry Kildonan but until we start finding a way to score we're going to lose plenty of games.

Essendon will score goals. They don't do defence well but they run and attack and will score. If we are restricted to 10 goals or less, as we've seen for the past 3 weeks, we'll lose. When things aren't working you need to try something new. Why hide behind the fact he's been quiet in recent VFL games? Let's take a bloody risk. As far as I'm concerned it's as simple as that.

 

[Defacto]

to be quite frank. its just how were using players. the more i think about it the more we just need to tell goddard to stop running all over the groun and actually function as a center half forward.

raph clarke needs to be what we'd use stanley as. a quick tall.

stop playing players all over the ground and out of position.

 

[sainter]

to be quite frank. its just how were using players. the more i think about it the more we just need to tell goddard to stop running all over the groun and actually function as a center half forward.

raph clarke needs to be what we'd use stanley as. a quick tall.

stop playing players all over the ground and out of position.

It's a good point.

I was pretty adamant a few weeks ago that we shouldn't play BJ as a permanent forward because I thought we'd be wasting a midfielder who can get 30+ possessions and was capable of delivering it with precision to our forwards but I'll admit defeat on that. We need him as a forward. It's just going to require our other midfielders to lift.

On my original point, I just think rather than taking players away from their usual positions, for example Fisher, Dawson and Clarke out of the backline, let them stay where they performed well last year and let's bring in a young tall out of the VFL.

 

[sculls_6]

Raph did look better as a forward, but it is certainly in Lyon's best interest to drop him this week. He wouldn't be sending a great message to keep a guy who shirked at his responsibility to attack the ball countless times in the first half in particular. Stanley must play, and ideally Melbourne will name Jack Watts for their game, which will take alot of perceived media pressure off Rhys.

 

[TheLastEmperor]

stop playing players all over the ground and out of position.

that's the problem for mine. add to that a top heavy lumbering backline. we can't afford to keep shuffling players out of position, it just ain't working. the last three weeks is evidence enough. bring in some offensive players such as heyne and stanley. i'd go for stanley but why not both? definitely worth a try considering. the other concern that i mentioned is our backline. too many talls. one needs to go, dawson for mine.

on topic: stanley has been struggling in the twos. fact. i still think he's worth a shot. as far as our forward structure goes, it's rock bottom. it doesn't get much worse when you kick 22 goals in three games. bring in the kid for a run, it can't hurt. i'd also like to see heyne get a run. kings out, kosi to ruck more and throw the young blokes (stanley & heyne) permanently up forward for a few games. do it!

 

[TheLastEmperor]

don't agree with raph playing as a forward. he's a horrible contested ball winner (in the air and on the ground), the main attribute required to be a forward. sorry but raph needs a spell in the magoos as gwilt (and there respective form) is forcing him out. i'd like to see peake given another opportunity at raph's expense as he's a goal kicker. we need goals!

 

[tim_saints]

Enter Rhys Stanley!

I have been saying it since ROO went down I really do want to see Stanley get a run as a 2nd tall in our forward line.

 

[vicco]

If he is fit then yes but from what I have seen he has some sort of niggle and if thats the case he aint close to playing seniors. He has to get a couple of solid games for Sandy fitness and form wise to earn his spot.

 

[Kildonan]

He only played the first half on Saturday.

I've seen that done quite a lot with other players. Especially those on the fringe of being selected. Is it a fitness thing? Is it to keep them safe? or is there some other reason?

 

[Kildonan]

It's not a matter of being reactive to the Carlton game, it's about addressing a major problem we've had for the previous 3 matches.

Scoring.

Surely you can see that?

Until last night we were continuing to restrict the opposition to very low scores. Carlton were terrific on the break and did expose our lack of speed but I'm not sure our entire defence needs a makeover on account of one poor performance.

Even our midfield was poor last night. Hayes was forced to play a lone hand. However I'm confident we won't see Dal and Joey won't both play such poor games at the same time again.

It's the other end of the ground that we've got worries.

I'm not saying Rhys is going to star from day one. What we need to do is restructure our forward line. Let's throw Kosi into the ruck and open up the forward line for him. With his height and pace he's going to be very hard to match up on.

What's the worst that can happen? He might struggle to get a kick? It wouldn't be any different to the other options we've tried since losing Roo. At least he'll be getting some valuable experience.

I'm sorry Kildonan but until we start finding a way to score we're going to lose plenty of games.

Essendon will score goals. They don't do defence well but they run and attack and will score. If we are restricted to 10 goals or less, as we've seen for the past 3 weeks, we'll lose. When things aren't working you need to try something new. Why hide behind the fact he's been quiet in recent VFL games? Let's take a bloody risk. As far as I'm concerned it's as simple as that.

Obviously I can see that we have not been scoring enough. I just think the main reason for this has been the dilution of our backline (in an overcompensation to get our attack going) which then reduces the number of effective forward movements we are able to generate. I am not overly concerned about the personnel we have up forward. Without Riewoldt they lack the obvious target and have to be more discretionary in who they give it to and how they deliver it. It may take us some time but we will get that right. We will become a better team because of it.

My concern is that an opponent has, for the first time in 18 months, invented a way to get through our defence. This is the most vulnerable we have been - effectively with holes blown out of our attack and our defence. To complete the picture, Robert Harvey did a number on our midfield. I just have to admire the man. He is a champion at no matter what he does.

I don't want to make wholesale changes to our squad, but I would like to see a defender with pace developed to fill this gap. If we come up against a similar structure to that of Carlton's in attack, with our current personnel we may have to get Clint Jones to take the most dangerous quick so we can play Steven Baker (who struggled to hold Betts to 5 goals and 21 disposals) on the second quick. Carlton have three quicks in attack and we were forced to put Clarke on one (Yarran) and I'm not even sure who was on Garlett (4 goals) was it Gilbert? If we do rob the midfield of Jones to help out in defence then we will need another midfielder.

 

[the emergency]

Ruckman Steven King left the field in the third term with a minor hamstring injury. While the Saints are not sure yet how long he will be out for, Lyon said his replacement would likely come from one of two youngsters - Rhys Stanley or Ben McEvoy.

As much as i love Rhys, i gotta say i would probably feel safer having Macca in the ruck...

The thing is, that even if Stanley does play, it isn't as if he is going to pull down 11 contested marks and kick 7 in a Plugger-esque display (maybe in a few years time ), he will provide a target who may take a couple of marks and kick a goal or two, but for the time being, he's 19, and has about 5-7 years before he begins to peak as a KPF

 

[AFaiL]

Just throw him in, it can't hurt. He might thrive, he might stink. VFL form is hardly much to go by considering the jump is big. The delivery to him is probably crap.

Take a punt, at least we will know. He might find form against some lowly sides.

However, I have a funny feeling we will just see 1 change this week, and he wont be it.