AFL.com's attempt to name our starting 22 for round one

[saynta]

From afl.com.au

"ST KILDA

A lot of changes for the Saints from their round 23 line-up due to the number of ready-made players recruited. All five make the cut, meaning Shane Savage and Jack Lonie are the unluckiest of the 2019 Saints and just miss out. Any injuries would mean the duo are into the side. If Dylan Roberton is match-fit by round one, he is straight into the side, but at the start of pre-season there are still too many unknowns over his heart condition. It's a very different line-up forward of centre, with a brand new full-forward line. – Sarah Black

B: Jarryn Geary, Dougal Howard, Callum Wilkie
HB: Josh Battle, Jake Carlisle, Hunter Clark
C: Jack Billings, Seb Ross, Bradley Hill
HF: Jade Gresham, Tim Membrey, Jack Sinclair
F: Max King, Paddy Ryder, Dan Butler
Foll: Rowan Marshall, Jack Steele, Dan Hannebery
I/C: Zak Jones, Jimmy Webster, Nick Hind, Luke Dunstan

DEPTH
Defenders: Logan Austin, Nathan Brown, Oscar Clavarino, Nick Coffield, Darragh Joyce, Jonathon Marsh, Daniel McKenzie, Ben Paton, Dylan Roberton, Shane Savage
Midfielders: Ryan Byrnes, Jack Bytel, Leo Connolly, Doulton Langlands, Ed Phillips
Forwards: Dean Kent, Ben Long, Jack Lonie, Jack Mayo, Matthew Parker
Rucks: Ryan Abbott, Sam Alabakis, Jack Bell

[Ghost Like]

Not a bad effort & likely enough but I still find it hard to see Ross, Steele, Hannebery and Dunstan in the same side.

If Roberton is fit he slides straight into the backline, meaning Battle has to play forward.

Coffield I think also plays, whether that is at the expense of Sinclair or Geary.

Two of Butler, Long, Lonie, Hind, Kent or Parker. Maybe 3 if we only play one ruck, leaving Battle, King & Membrey as targets.

I would also like to see Bytel, Paton & Langlands force their way in at some point. I mean genuinely claim a spot, not by injury. Only then will we be infinitely better and on the rise.

[Trev from the Bush]

Gotta respect the opinion of Sarah Black, one of the all time great players of the AFL.

Who is she?

[SaintPav]

Coffield Howard Roberton
Clark Carslile Wilke
Hill Haneberry Jones
Long Battle Billings
Gresham King Membrey
Marshall Ross Steele
Interchange: Lonie, Parker, Bytel, Ryder

[kosifantutti]

Gotta respect the opinion of Sarah Black, one of the all time great players of the AFL.

Who is she?

Heath’s mum. Knows her footy.

[freely]

Gotta respect the opinion of Sarah Black, one of the all time great players of the AFL.

Who is she?

Yeah, she asked the same about you!

[Trev from the Bush]

Gotta respect the opinion of Sarah Black, one of the all time great players of the AFL.

Who is she?

Yeah, she asked the same about you!

Reckon I've played more footy.

My point is this - the AFL has more accredited media passes in circulation than there is AFL footballers in any one year. They are expected to write a story or, in this case, a non-story.

And it is dopes like us that pounce on it and consume it like it was going to be our last meal. Unfortunately, it is media nobodies that drive the agenda in AFL. Like the recent rubbish to shorten the half time break,

Another symptom of manufacturing football stories outside of the football season.

[freely]

Trev, are you saying the issue was raised by the media? I think it was the AFL that raised the 'nonsense' about shortening the half time break. The media just reported it - and reactions to it. No?

[Spinner]

Gotta respect the opinion of Sarah Black, one of the all time great players of the AFL.

Who is she?

What’s wrong with the lineup?

No other journalists at afl.com.au have played AFL so you just look like a tossbag with that comment. Well done.

[skeptic]

It’s a bit unbalanced... to tall, not enough, run.

Geary, Howard, Wilkie
Roberton Carlisle Coff
Hill Ross Jones
Billings Battle Hind
Gresh Ryder Membrey
Marshall Steele Hannebery

Int - Clarke, Bytel, Webster, Long/Lonie,

[Spinner]

It’s a bit unbalanced... to tall, not enough, run.

Geary, Howard, Wilkie
Roberton Carlisle Coff
Hill Ross Jones
Billings Battle Hind
Gresh Ryder Membrey
Marshall Steele Hannebery

Int - Clarke, Bytel, Webster, Long/Lonie,

Coff’s done nothing to deserve a game and be considered best 22.

Bytel’s barely had a training session.

This is not a good effort.

[Ghost Like]

It’s a bit unbalanced... to tall, not enough, run.

Geary, Howard, Wilkie
Roberton Carlisle Coff
Hill Ross Jones
Billings Battle Hind
Gresh Ryder Membrey
Marshall Steele Hannebery

Int - Clarke, Bytel, Webster, Long/Lonie,

Coff’s done nothing to deserve a game and be considered best 22.

Bytel’s barely had a training session.

This is not a good effort.

I disagree Spinner, respectfully . I think Coff has shown poise and commitment each time he's played. He's a great size, excellent foot skills and decision making. I think, like Clark, the more exposure the better he becomes and will quickly cement himself in our best 22.

Bytel I don't know much about but I'm excited to see whether the hype matches reality, I hope so.

[skeptic]

It’s a bit unbalanced... to tall, not enough, run.

Geary, Howard, Wilkie
Roberton Carlisle Coff
Hill Ross Jones
Billings Battle Hind
Gresh Ryder Membrey
Marshall Steele Hannebery

Int - Clarke, Bytel, Webster, Long/Lonie,

Coff’s done nothing to deserve a game and be considered best 22.

Bytel’s barely had a training session.

This is not a good effort.

Like GW, I disagree on Coff but the broader debate isn’t just what’s the immediate best 22 but what it could be.

Guys like Savage, Dunstan, Sinclair may be better now but have failed to take their game up a level consistently despite sustained opportunity over years.
That’s where improvement should come... giving opportunity for someone else to overtake or force the seniors to demand their spot back

12 months ago I’d backed Marshall as a start in the top22 though he hadn’t ‘deserved’ it.

It’s vision

By your logic how is King in the top 22?