Two mids and a forward.

[nostalgicsaint]

Rats last night spoke about brining in more midfield support and a foward.

Saints have been rumoured to be into Caldwell, Higgins and Ben Brown. First and last one gettable Higgins will probably go to the Geelong retirement factory.

Let's assume for a second we land all three what does the saints best 22 look like for 2021?

Best 22 Round 1 2021:

Paton Howard Wilkie
Coffield Carlisle Long
Hill Steele Jones
Higgins Brown Billings
Butler King Membrey
Marshall Gresham Clark
Hannebery Ryder Caldwell Sinclair

Midfield rotations
Steele, Jones, Hill, Gresham, Clark, Hannerbury, Higgins, Billings, Calswell and Sinclair.

No longer room for multiple specialist small forwards, only one of butler, Lonie, Kent or hind in the side as the extra midfield depth pushes forward.

Ben Brown being a leading forward gives King less two on one marking contests to deal with and allows Membrlery more space to lead into.

Depth/Tradable
Lonie Battle Ross Geary Dunstan Byrnes Bytel Webster, Austin, Kent Savage Hind Phillips Roberton Parker Marsh

Looks a good side to me. If we don't get Higgins then we should still push hard for a b+ midfielder elsewhere as that midfield depth is the key change. Other wish would be for another key defender as depth.

[Josh Battle]

What do Freo want for Blake Acres? Will they take Hill?

[nostalgicsaint]

What do Freo want for Blake Acres? Will they take Hill?

Hahaha.

Hill will get better. Disappointing overall this year but back in the decision in the long run.

Think his recruitment negatively impacted billings too who will also improve next year. Easy to forget billings is only 25 and hasn't hit his peak yet.

The shell is there of a great side. Higgins whilst older would help sheppard some of that development through for the likes of billings ala ryder with Marshall.

Brown takes the reliance off a kid in the forward line and caldwell is another young gun to add to our medium to long term core.

[Leo.J]

Can’t have B.Brown don’t want him. That stupid run up.

[Teflon]

Brown is a lead up forward who kicked 60 goals 3 previous years - you don’t do that unless you can play. This year he’s been injured and playing in a deplorable side with a spud coach they haven’t realised yet...it’s interesting though ...do you go him in the theory he drags a defender away from King? Or do you accept Marshall’s a forward and bring in another tap ruck to help Ryder? Not sure tbh
What is known is Nankervis is no starvtap ruck but when you have gun mids who can read the play and win the ball you don’t always need a gun tap ruck
We need 2x midfielders who improve that area urgently
Kent needs to be pushed out
IF Billings kept (I’m not against trade) he plays more forward with Gresham as the other small forward alongside Butler. Lonie is traded along with Savage
Ratts presser left me feeling he don’t love Carlisle do they better be thinking some help for Howard....

[Josh Battle]

Adam Treloar, Tim Taranto and Jack Riewoldt thanks

If I can’t have that, I’ll have Ollie Wines, Isaac Heeney and grab his team mate Allir Allir.

Both Allir and Josh Battle are good swingmen

If Austin or Clavarino can break into the team and if Carlisle stays our tall backs are covered so we already have a ready made forward in Battle. We just need a gun inside mid and another classy ball user who can play inside from time to time

[Laurie]

Seriously think Billings will be part of a trade
Just does not do enough in games such a big rap by some however so disappointing as well.
Was it the injectors that were interested in him in the past.

[Teflon]

Seriously think Billings will be part of a trade
Just does not do enough in games such a big rap by some however so disappointing as well.
Was it the injectors that were interested in him in the past.

I’d want Merret or McGrath

[skeptic]

Brown is a lead up forward who kicked 60 goals 3 previous years - you don’t do that unless you can play. This year he’s been injured and playing in a deplorable side with a spud coach they haven’t realised yet...it’s interesting though ...do you go him in the theory he drags a defender away from King? Or do you accept Marshall’s a forward and bring in another tap ruck to help Ryder? Not sure tbh
What is known is Nankervis is no starvtap ruck but when you have gun mids who can read the play and win the ball you don’t always need a gun tap ruck
We need 2x midfielders who improve that area urgently
Kent needs to be pushed out
IF Billings kept (I’m not against trade) he plays more forward with Gresham as the other small forward alongside Butler. Lonie is traded along with Savage
Ratts presser left me feeling he don’t love Carlisle do they better be thinking some help for Howard....

Really good post

Reckon you’ve summed up our list, needs/options perfectly

[Impatient Sainter]

Totally agree re Lonie & Kent. If Lonie has clubs chasing him get what we can and trade him. He is simply not a top 4 standard forward he has too many weaknesses. Kent is an over weight slug and simply not AFL standard in his current shape.

I wouldnt be against trading Billings I think we have seen the best of him and he is another who goes missing when the heat is on.

I think they have another tall forward in Battle but obviously the coaches think otherwise.

[Josh Battle]

Both Billings and Hill are exquisite users of the football when they have space and time. That’s why they have secured their large salaries.

There were times in the game last night where some of our players were reluctant to use Billings when he was free. This has to stop. We had the same situation with Hill earlier in the year up until Ratts drilled into the players that they had to pass it to Hill.

I don’t know whether there are cliques forming or if some players are envious of the money that these 2 are on, but these are your team mates guys. Jealousy has no place in a team sport. We won’t win finals kicking it to your mates because you like them better than Hill and Billings.