I want to see Dunnel in

[Con Gorozidis]

I think Lee will get another year after this - I think he is already contracted for 2015?
Weller obviously a lock.
Id like to think Simpkin will get another year - hasn't got games - but has been solid enough and you cant fault the bloke. With Dempster getting older there may be a spot for Simpkin in the side in the future.
Come to think of it all of our Sandy guys are going so well its hard to de-list any of them.
I think Siposs, White and Maister are probably the three most in danger as it stands at the moment. But no clear cuts at all at this stage.
Even TDL is playing decent footy.

[FQF]

I think Lee will get another year after this - I think he is already contracted for 2015?
Weller obviously a lock.
Id like to think Simpkin will get another year - hasn't got games - but has been solid enough and you cant fault the bloke. With Dempster getting older there may be a spot for Simpkin in the side in the future.
Come to think of it all of our Sandy guys are going so well its hard to de-list any of them.
I think Siposs, White and Maister are probably the three most in danger as it stands at the moment. But no clear cuts at all at this stage.
Even TDL is playing decent footy.

White was never expected be pushing for senior selection yet. What are his internal benchmarks that he is failing to meet?

[spert]

I don't get the fascination with Dunnel. He doesn't have the body for an AFL footballer, we've seen it before. You need to be toying with them at VFL level to make it at AFL level when you are his build. He's a good VFL player, but will not make it

I'm not particularly fascinated with Dunnel, I'm more interested in the kind of player to fill a role, and at the moment we are crying out for a half forward flanker who can take a strong contested mark, and Dunnel is good for his size compared to TDL and Milera who are more receivers and crumbers. I've seen lots of players at VFL level who looked a million bucks with hulk bodies, but never took the next step.

[skeptic]

that and I think that Sam has actually played a few decent games in the seniors in that role

game vs Sydney last year for example

the guy deserves a shot

[stinger]

I think Lee will get another year after this - I think he is already contracted for 2015?
Weller obviously a lock.
Id like to think Simpkin will get another year - hasn't got games - but has been solid enough and you cant fault the bloke. With Dempster getting older there may be a spot for Simpkin in the side in the future.
Come to think of it all of our Sandy guys are going so well its hard to de-list any of them.
I think Siposs, White and Maister are probably the three most in danger as it stands at the moment. But no clear cuts at all at this stage.
Even TDL is playing decent footy.

White was never expected be pushing for senior selection yet. What are his internal benchmarks that he is failing to meet?

according to dermie white is one of only two young players we have with star potential......billings the other...give the kid a break.....

[Con Gorozidis]

I think Lee will get another year after this - I think he is already contracted for 2015?
Weller obviously a lock.
Id like to think Simpkin will get another year - hasn't got games - but has been solid enough and you cant fault the bloke. With Dempster getting older there may be a spot for Simpkin in the side in the future.
Come to think of it all of our Sandy guys are going so well its hard to de-list any of them.
I think Siposs, White and Maister are probably the three most in danger as it stands at the moment. But no clear cuts at all at this stage.
Even TDL is playing decent footy.

White was never expected be pushing for senior selection yet. What are his internal benchmarks that he is failing to meet?

Getting a game for Sandy Seniors would a be a nice place to start.
White has star potential - but potential is an ugly word sometimes.

[Con Gorozidis]

according to dermie white is one of only two young players we have with star potential......billings the other...give the kid a break.....

Clearly dermie knows his footy more than me (5 day and 5 night premierships) - hes a legend of the game.

But if i had to choose only one player with 'star potential' id put my money on Acres.

[Enrico_Misso]

I don't get the fascination with Dunnel. He doesn't have the body for an AFL footballer, we've seen it before. You need to be toying with them at VFL level to make it at AFL level when you are his build. He's a good VFL player, but will not make it

I'm not particularly fascinated with Dunnel, I'm more interested in the kind of player to fill a role, and at the moment we are crying out for a half forward flanker who can take a strong contested mark, and Dunnel is good for his size compared to TDL and Milera who are more receivers and crumbers. I've seen lots of players at VFL level who looked a million bucks with hulk bodies, but never took the next step.

TB didn't have the "body for an AFL footballer" but he had an OK career?

Re Dunell (By the way it is DUNELL - one "N", two "L"'s)
As mentioned he does play tall.
But he also has a good tank.
Runs hard at Sandy up and down the ground always making space and giving an option.
He's basically a hard worker, prepared to gut-run and thinks all the time about positioning himself in optimal positions.
He can score the odd goal as well.

I agree this is his make or break year.
We should get 10 games in to him this year so we can make an informed hold/trade/delist decision come October.

[supersaints]

Dunell should be given a shot, I think he will make a handy AFL player one day.
Give him five weeks in the forward line.
This year we need to get e real handle on which players are keepers
The only real way is to give hem a chance.

[GoSaintersGo]

At the Junction oval training I was really impressed with Dunnell. He is very highly skilled and clean and knows how to intuitively position himself. Worth giving him a go. He must be gone if they don't play him this year so why not let him have a go.

Sam Dunnell played VAFA at the Junction Oval with Old Melburnians so he is familiar with the ground.
I also understand that he was referred to the Saints (highly recommended) by Ameet Bains, the Saint's list Manager, so his creds are very well regarded.

[HitTheBoundary]

Dunell should be given a shot, I think he will make a handy AFL player one day.
Give him five weeks in the forward line.
This year we need to get e real handle on which players are keepers
The only real way is to give hem a chance.

Who will he replace?

Presumably Schneids will come in for Eli.
So would he replace Saunders/Billings/Savage?

[supersaints]

Probably Savage at this stage , tho I'm not even suggesting that Dunny has to be given a go in the next few weeks , but we shouldn't be thinking of delisting players at the end of the year , at least till we find out if they can cut the mustard, and be AFL players.
It's obvious that Bilings will in all probability be a star, and while it is important to get games into players, it may be just as important that we manage their workload by resting young players now and then.

So realistically he could replace all you mentioned and more over a succession of weeks.
It does not necessarily mean that you have to drop one particular player for four or five weeks, injury niggles, resting a player etc can work best for both those awaiting a game, And those getting game time.

This is a year of building the list, wouldn't surprise me to see quite a few players get a chance.
Because we are not going to be a serious finals threat there us an opportunity to give players a decent shot then give hem a tick or a cross for going forward, not like we did with Tom Lynch.

Personally I think he can make it in the AFL, if he is given enough opportunity