Team v Cats

[kosifantutti]

Out Armo, Hickey

In
Steven, Stevens, Longer, Savage Minchington

[st.byron]

So Longer and Steven for Armo and Hickey.

Lonie is lucky.

[WellardSaint]

was just gonna ask what time the team gets named.
Extended bench for Sunday game?

[saintsRrising]

I would guess that dunstan lonie and savage will miss from that 25.

Minch and Stevens to play as will Longer and Steven.

[saintspremiers]

was just gonna ask what time the team gets named.
Extended bench for Sunday game?

Same as last year.

Channel 7 imposed embargo on teams being realesed at 6.25pm on Thursday's.

For games on Sunday the final 22 are named 5pm Friday.

I assume for the Monday game it's 5pm Saturday. And the Tuesday game 5pm Sunday.

[WellardSaint]

So Longer and Steven for Armo and Hickey.

Lonie is lucky.

Lonie's luck will last until Friday arvo when the extended bench is trimmed by 3.
He may yet miss.
My tip for bench:
Gilbo, Dunstan (both auto picks by coaches), Acres, Koby Stevens.

My preference would be :
Dunstan, Acres, Stevens, Minchington.

Because Stevens and Meatball will help the midfield, and may just close our clearance gap,
a gap that Hannibal could drive a herd of elephants through...
(edited to correct fake news)

[saintspremiers]

So Longer and Steven for Armo and Hickey.

Lonie is lucky.

Lonie's luck will last until Saturday when the extended bench is trimmed by 3.
He may yet miss.
My tip for bench:
Gilbo, Dunstan (both auto picks by coaches), Acres, Koby Stevens.

My preference would be :
Dunstan, Acres, Stevens, Minchington.

Because Stevens and Meatball will help the midfield, and may just close our clearance gap,
a gap that Hannibal could drive a herd of elephants through

Since when is the extended bench cut on Saturday for a Sunday game?

Is Hickey injured??

[desertsaint]

So Longer and Steven for Armo and Hickey.

Lonie is lucky.

Lonie's luck will last until Saturday when the extended bench is trimmed by 3.
He may yet miss.
My tip for bench:
Gilbo, Dunstan (both auto picks by coaches), Acres, Koby Stevens.

My preference would be :
Dunstan, Acres, Stevens, Minchington.

Because Stevens and Meatball will help the midfield, and may just close our clearance gap,
a gap that Hannibal could drive a herd of elephants through

prefer your tip to your preference. long or lonie to miss. but think we'll just see the two changes - longer for hickey, steven for armo.

[MC Gusto]

Understand hickey hasn't performed at last years level but what has longer done to get the call up?

[saintsRrising]

I think that even Hickey fans like myself would have to concede that Tom has not been in his form of last year even after allowing for the ruck rule change.


It does appear though that he will not be playing anywhere this week.

Both rucjs would love the gig the following week against Big Ben of the Hawks.

[carn_sainter]

I really hope Minchington plays. He has a future in this comp.

I am nervous about Longer. I really rate Hickey, even though he has been quiet, perhaps. Don't underestimate his input at ground level, as a tackler, and as a runner. Longer would need to be about 3 times better than I rate him at the moment, a possibility I am willing to concede.

Dunstan will play. Richo loves him and will feel he needs as much inside toughness as possible against Dangerfield and Selwood. This makes Stevens a likely inclusion, especially without Armitage. Ross to go to Dangerfield as the first choice, of course.


Whatever the 22 is, what we really need this week is foot skills. I hope they turn up with some decent boots on for once this year.

[MC Gusto]

I see hick is being 'managed'

Hate management speak bs in footy. Call a spade a spade

[WellardSaint]

Understand hickey hasn't performed at last years level but what has longer done to get the call up?

who else do we have? Pierce hasn't been spoken of in the VFL, and Holmes is not noted either.

[saintsRrising]

Understand hickey hasn't performed at last years level but what has longer done to get the call up?

who else do we have? Pierce hasn't been spoken of in the VFL, and Holmes is not noted either.

Unfortunately with Holmes from what I have seen this year he has lost that huge vertical leap. With the ruck rule change it could have given him an edge.

Is he carrying something?

[Impatient Sainter]

A big test for Richo and their selection integrity this week. Dunstan needs a spell with Sandi but he seems to be the golden child - interesting to see what happens.

[bigcarl]

I think that even Hickey fans like myself would have to concede that Tom has not been in his form of last year even after allowing for the ruck rule change.


It does appear though that he will not be playing anywhere this week.

Both rucjs would love the gig the following week against Big Ben of the Hawks.

I hope they are just giving him a rest. He runs rings around Longer

[Bluthy]

Billy boy is in da house! Congrats to Billy - he's fought back from a shoulder reco and concussion to get back to the big show. Might have cleaned up some of his habits too from what I heard. People writing him off at 22 was insane.

Gotta give props to Tony. He called it that the club was worried with how Hicks would cope with no third man protection and that we would look at a rotation model. I like it. Lets see how Billy's more physical style goes with the new rules. Its tough for Hicks too rucking close to 90% of the game. This gives him a break to regroup.

My guess is:

Longer for Hicks - ps could Rooey do some relief rucking - maybe he can't do much of a standing jump with his dodgy knees.
Koby Stevens for Armo - we lose our biggest inside beast and desperately need another genuine inside ball winner to compete with Dangerwood
Jack Steven for Long or Lonie - maybe Lonie goes out.

The other option is to give Steele a rest for Minch. Steele seems to have struggled a bit with the pace of full AFL games without a full preseason under his belt. Steeles tackling and 1%ers has been good but hasn't torn it up like in the preseason games. A week off to recalibrate wouldn't hurt and gives Richo a look to see if Minch has progressed at an AFL level. Do it Richo - rotate and experiment!

No Paddy - so Richo is offically back to kick it to Rooey. Don't like the conservatism there. Paddy is the future. Play him.

[tony74]

I see hick is being 'managed'

Hate management speak bs in footy. Call a spade a spade

Two 6 day breaks after this. Hick will probably come back for one of them. As I said in a previous comment I doubt if any player will play all matches this year. They'll all be given a rest at some stage. Footy's changed with the inclusion of the weeks break before finals. No longer is top 4 imperative. You just need to get in and then more than ever it's a new competition. So a good coach will "manage" all players.

[WellardSaint]

A big test for Richo and their selection integrity this week. Dunstan needs a spell with Sandi but he seems to be the golden child - interesting to see what happens.

Con Goro said recently that Lukey has never played VFL, even after coming back from injury- he doesn't seem to get a run in Zebs colours to come back.
Along with Gilbo, one of the auto inclusions.

[WellardSaint]

I see hick is being 'managed'

Hate management speak bs in footy. Call a spade a spade

Two 6 day breaks after this. Hick will probably come back for one of them. As I said in a previous comment I doubt if any player will play all matches this year. They'll all be given a rest at some stage. Footy's changed with the inclusion of the weeks break before finals. No longer is top 4 imperative. You just need to get in and then more than ever it's a new competition. So a good coach will "manage" all players.

Gilbo seems to be the anointed one. Along with Luke D, these 2 are on the whiteboard with Permanent Marker, not a Sharpie.
Unless their accuracy in front of goal can improve massively, and unless they can address the disparity in clearance, "top 4" is just dreamin

[To the top]

Hickey not named for Sandringham

Freeman named on a half forward flank.

[Saint wagga]

I see hick is being 'managed'

Hate management speak bs in footy. Call a spade a spade

Two 6 day breaks after this. Hick will probably come back for one of them. As I said in a previous comment I doubt if any player will play all matches this year. They'll all be given a rest at some stage. Footy's changed with the inclusion of the weeks break before finals. No longer is top 4 imperative. You just need to get in and then more than ever it's a new competition. So a good coach will "manage" all players.

I see hick is being 'managed'

Hate management speak bs in footy. Call a spade a spade

Two 6 day breaks after this. Hick will probably come back for one of them. As I said in a previous comment I doubt if any player will play all matches this year. They'll all be given a rest at some stage. Footy's changed with the inclusion of the weeks break before finals. No longer is top 4 imperative. You just need to get in and then more than ever it's a new competition. So a good coach will "manage" all players.

So why risk Armo so early in the season when he was so clearly 'rushed' back in?? Didn't see much management there. Hickey has been dropped and the spot is Longers to hang onto if he is good enough! (I don't think he is and am very dissapointed to see hickey go out because I think he is a very good player for us but if billy proves me wrong, I won't be complaining!!)

[shrodes]

I would guess that dunstan lonie and savage will miss from that 25.

Minch and Stevens to play as will Longer and Steven.

Can't see Dunstan getting dropped. Hope Benny Long stays in the side too.

Will be interesting to see Longer vs. either Zac Smith or Stanley.

Hope we get to see Stevens and Steven in action together for some commentator tongue twisting.

[bigcarl]

Can't see Dunstan getting dropped.

Maybe he can be "managed" to give Stevens a run.

[desertsaint]

Billy boy is in da house! Congrats to Billy - he's fought back from a shoulder reco and concussion to get back to the big show. Might have cleaned up some of his habits too from what I heard. People writing him off at 22 was insane.

Gotta give props to Tony. He called it that the club was worried with how Hicks would cope with no third man protection and that we would look at a rotation model. I like it. Lets see how Billy's more physical style goes with the new rules. Its tough for Hicks too rucking close to 90% of the game. This gives him a break to regroup.

My guess is:

Longer for Hicks - ps could Rooey do some relief rucking - maybe he can't do much of a standing jump with his dodgy knees.
Koby Stevens for Armo - we lose our biggest inside beast and desperately need another genuine inside ball winner to compete with Dangerwood
Jack Steven for Long or Lonie - maybe Lonie goes out.

The other option is to give Steele a rest for Minch. Steele seems to have struggled a bit with the pace of full AFL games without a full preseason under his belt. Steeles tackling and 1%ers has been good but hasn't torn it up like in the preseason games. A week off to recalibrate wouldn't hurt and gives Richo a look to see if Minch has progressed at an AFL level. Do it Richo - rotate and experiment!

No Paddy - so Richo is offically back to kick it to Rooey. Don't like the conservatism there. Paddy is the future. Play him.

Richo isn't aiming for draft picks - he's looking at the eight, and with three clubs vacating spots this year, we should be stepping up. Steele laid 9 tackles last week, and is getting better week by week, finding his role and his form - terrible time to drop him. Paddy isn't up to it. Let him get some form, fitness and confidence in the VFL.