Musings

[To the top]

The name of the game over here is to evade a Pom!

So, I thought I might catch up on happenings at St Kilda.

I note there is a new board, but no announcements of the sponsors who were coming on board as soon as the previous Board was ousted.

Similarly, there is no information on the St Kilda Greats putting their shoulders to the wheel.

And Kenny is gone, with no announcement of a successor.

As Roo said, the time for action is at hand.

I would have expected the Board to have hit the ground running, particularly given their manifesto.

The list management (by concensus here) has added up-side and risk.

We are of the view that improvement, and marked improvement, will come from the likes of Ball, Goddard, R.Clarke, Hudgden and Maguire.

Plus Kosi lifting to the premier player in the competition now that he has the confidence gained from surviving 2007, and a full pre-season.

And he will not play full-forward.

Just to damn good.

The risk versus reward is with the rucks, and King and Gardiner giving more that Bingham and Flanagan gave in the early 1990's.

King has the size required by the centre circle introduction, and Gardiner the back up. But we need BOTH fit and in form.

We can not again go with Kosi and Rix - both just too short. Rix could make it if he was 202cm, but he is not.

Brooks the same, 198cm too short under the new rules which restrict your run.

King is 201cm and has the build. Gardiner at 199cm has not played under the revised rules.

Schnieder will compete with Milne, and put the mustard right on Milne's wheels.

The others are flankers, who may assist.

We note the continuing flak on Brooks. Well, his CV is that he continued to perform at Casey, and now Gehrig is gone. Plus competing with Kosi is gone, because Kosi will step up to a super star utility, along with Roo.

3 talls in the forward 50, isolating one in the goalsquare was seen in the GF, with Mooney, Ablett and Ottens. All in dangerous attacking positions, but one to the square depending on the match ups they attract.

Brooks will play his part in this.

St Kilda have the core to win a premiership now.

But, these core players have to contribute and contribute consistently, peaking at season's end.

They will take the list players with them - and make the positions of the list players more tenable because the pressure will be off in terms of needing to be result influencing players. They will have a job to do.

Baker is interesting because he is giving someone a 7 week stand up start - and if someone grabs it with both hands (as we hope they do) - well, you never give a sucker an even break.

Interesting times ahead!

But that is always footy, and life!

[Oh When the Saints]

Barry Brooks has been delisted, along with Fergus Watts and Andrew McQualter (in case you haven't heard!)

Ken Sheldon was sacked yesterday, and several on here (with a track record of "in the know") say that someone is lined up.


I have heard we can expect as sponsorship announcement in the next 3-4 weeks.

Unless you want Ross Levin (who?) unveiling our new sponsors, you will have to wait until Westaway is granted his gaming license, and then until he is co-opted onto the board.

Not allowed to make official announcements until then.

[claystreet]

Barry Brooks has been delisted, along with Fergus Watts and Andrew McQualter

Has this been confirmed or is it still speculation

[mad saint guy]

Barry Brooks has been delisted, along with Fergus Watts and Andrew McQualter

Has this been confirmed or is it still speculation

Nothing is official yet.

[cwrcyn]

Huge scope for improvement in 2008.

Let's look at who played bugger-all football in 2007

Hudghton
Goddard
R.Clarke
Maguire
Gardiner

Then there were others who played injured or underdone for most of the season

Hayes
Ball
Gram

Add two new draftees who were injured, or were given insufficient game time in the VFL to improve themselves

Armitage
Allen


Now, throw in

King
Schneider


To add to that

A superior fitness program and injury management


And it'll be like getting a dozen new, quality players on your list over one pre-season



.

[saintly]

Huge scope for improvement in 2008.

Let's look at who played bugger-all football in 2007

Hudghton
Goddard
R.Clarke
Maguire
Gardiner

Then there were others who played injured or underdone for most of the season

Hayes
Ball
Gram

Add two new draftees who were injured, or were given insufficient game time in the VFL to improve themselves

Armitage
Allen


Now, throw in

King
Schneider


To add to that

A superior fitness program and injury management


And it'll be like getting a dozen new, quality players on your list over one pre-season



.

bugger all football in 2007 includes hammill, voss, clarke, thompson

[Armoooo]

bugger all football in 2007 includes hammill, voss, clarke, thompson

But they wont exactly be like new recruits next year, unless they get a coaching staff gig....