Locks and openings round 1

[Joffa Burns]

Assuming fit and firing and a full list (which of course never happens) I'd think there are already close to 18 locks for a senior game.

As pointed out by many we have a glut of small mid sized backmen and small mid sized forwards, hopefully Clark moves into the midfield.

Lots of competition for these spots but really whoever plays the role of small forward for example it is not going to be a game changer be it Butler, Lonie, Long, Hind etc...

Hoping Ben Long steps up and is a starter, Lonie picks up his pre-injury form and Butler gets in round one as all bring something unique with a mix of skill, aggression, smarts, pace tackling and pressure.

Savage could argue he'd be a lock on his form over the last two seasons as would a fit Webster, would like to see a little more pace and skill off half back so perhaps Clark, Long, Jones & Coffield?

I wouldn't pick Ryder personally but the club didn't recruit him to play VFL.

B: Geary Howard _____(a)
HB: Roberton Carslile Clark
C: Hill Hannebery Jones
HF: Gresham Battle Billings
F: Membrey King _____(b)

R: Marshall Steele Ross
INT: Ryder Wilkie _____(c) _____ (d)

(a) Webster, Savage, Coffield, Long, Paton, Mc Kenzie
(b) Lonie, Butler, Long, Parker, Hind, Kent, Langlands
(c - d) Dunstan, Sinclair, Phillips, + all above

Injury depth - Abbott, Brown,
Developing: Clavarino, Bytel, new draftees

My pace team:

Long Howard Geary
Jones Carslile Savage
Hill Ross Billings
Lonie Battle Butler
Membrey King Parker

Marshall Steele Ross
Sinclair Hind Coffield Paton

(Howard back up ruck to Marshall, Battle goes back as cover)

[Beno88]

I'd say Marshall, Gresham, Hill, Membrey, Ross, Jones, Billings, Steele and Battle are our only locks at this stage.

If fully fit, you could add Geary, Roberton, Carlisle & Hannebery, but there's a long way to go.

I'd hope Howard would be a lock, but his last four games were at SANFL level.

[Life Long Saint]

Butler will play ahead of Lonie.
Both tackling forwards but Butler is a much better finisher in front of goal.

[mad saint guy]

Ross, Membrey, Marshall, Billings, Gresham, Steele, Clark and Hill are my only locks for the 22. Lots of quality competition in defence means that no one is guaranteed a spot, and the mediocrity of our small forward options mean that it just goes to whoever is in better touch at the time.

Roberton and Hannebery would be in there but history suggests injuries/health issues are a strong chance to keep them out.

[st.byron]

Hill Hannebery Jones

That centre line is looking much more interesting

[The Barometer]

Coffield has to start back for mine. Has talent and before injured started to get some confidence and open the game up with precision attacking kicks rather than the usual crap 20m sideways stuff.
Geary shouldn’t be a lock as back pocket anymore. How many AA or premiership backs can’t kick?

[Spinner]

Coffield has to start back for mine. Has talent and before injured started to get some confidence and open the game up with precision attacking kicks rather than the usual crap 20m sideways stuff.
Geary shouldn’t be a lock as back pocket anymore. How many AA or premiership backs can’t kick?

Geary is a lock.

It’s amazing how Coffield has barely played a good game at afl level but is an automatic selection and our captain who absolutely holds the best small forwards week in and out isn’t.

[The Barometer]

Coffield has to start back for mine. Has talent and before injured started to get some confidence and open the game up with precision attacking kicks rather than the usual crap 20m sideways stuff.
Geary shouldn’t be a lock as back pocket anymore. How many AA or premiership backs can’t kick?

Geary is a lock.

It’s amazing how Coffield has barely played a good game at afl level but is an automatic selection and our captain who absolutely holds the best small forwards week in and out isn’t.

Probably, don’t get me wrong I fully respect what Geary provides as a defender and leader of our club. I’m just impatient for improvement and hope that Coffield continues the improvement he showed late in the season. Would be nice for us to have some half backs who carve up the opposition like has happened to us on many occasions.
Maybe Coff takes Savages spot? At some point we need to respectfully move on from some of the solid soldiers we have had and take some risks on some kids who have potential.

[Kilda]

Selecting Ben Long in the back pocket of the ‘Pace Team’ certainly got my attention!

[samuraisaint]

Hill Hannebery Jones

That centre line is looking much more interesting

Hannebury has a broken foot.
No way will he be right for round 1.
Steele will be in the centre round 1.

[To the top]

Battle Howard Coffield
Roberton Carlisle Clark
Hill Ross Jones
Long Marshall Billings
Gresham King Membrey
Ryder Hannebery Steele
Bytel Wilkie Butler Dunstan

My concern is Ross, Steele and Dunstan in the same side because none are “dangerous” with ball in hand hence they just do not impact the scoreboard

Hopefully Ratten can challenge each on that score (excuse the pun)

[Wayne42]

Hill Hannebery Jones

That centre line is looking much more interesting

Hannebury has a broken foot.
No way will he be right for round 1.
Steele will be in the centre round 1.

What about Hannebury being right for round 1 2021 ?

[samuraisaint]

Hill Hannebery Jones

That centre line is looking much more interesting

Hannebury has a broken foot.
No way will he be right for round 1.
Steele will be in the centre round 1.

What about Hannebury being right for round 1 2021 ?

Well, the answer my friend is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind.

[samuraisaint]

Battle Howard Coffield
Roberton Carlisle Clark
Hill Ross Jones
Long Marshall Billings
Gresham King Membrey
Ryder Hannebery Steele
Bytel Wilkie Butler Dunstan

My concern is Ross, Steele and Dunstan in the same side because none are “dangerous” with ball in hand hence they just do not impact the scoreboard

Hopefully Ratten can challenge each on that score (excuse the pun)

I think Steele has the capacity to be very dangerous. Comes down to how he is developed and how his role is seen by the coach.

[Sanctorum]

Hill Hannebery Jones

That centre line is looking much more interesting

Hannebury has a broken foot.
No way will he be right for round 1.
Steele will be in the centre round 1.

My understanding is that Hannebery broke "a" bone in his foot which by now should be well on the way to mend - it has been reported that he is back jogging already so I would think he should be back to full training by late January and play in the pre-season matches.

Hannebery is a key player for the "new look" Saints in 2020 and fundamental to the team's climb up the ladder, both he and Hill together with Zak Jones will give a massive boost to the engine room to deliver the ball into the forward line. We have not seen the like of this for many years!

[St Greco]

There are so many factors to consider when picking a side. Getting the right balance, and having the right people in the right place.
All the players in our team are all talented and good players. But what role do they play in the overall team.
I would still have Savage in my side to kick the ball in. You need the option to kick it long or short. It needs to be accurate. To me Savage does it best in our team.

[DJ Higgins]

Steele is not there to score goals although it's nice when he does. He stops the ball thru the midfield , adds pressure and sticks tackles. He similar to parker in that regard in that he makes the opposition spill the ball so we can capitalise on the loose ball

[To the top]

Steele brings a skill set to the side, the question being Steele, Ross and Dunstan in the same side

We have lost both Steven and Armitage from our mid field and I would invite the analysis of goals to games for Steven and Armitage versus Steele, Ross and Dunstan because there is the problem

I would suggest both Steven and Armitage were around or above 100 goals from 160/180 games so they could get forward and hit the scoreboard

As the premier mids in the competition do these days including playing as a forward at times

[Shaggy]

Steele brings a skill set to the side, the question being Steele, Ross and Dunstan in the same side

We have lost both Steven and Armitage from our mid field and I would invite the analysis of goals to games for Steven and Armitage versus Steele, Ross and Dunstan because there is the problem

I would suggest both Steven and Armitage were around or above 100 goals from 160/180 games so they could get forward and hit the scoreboard

As the premier mids in the competition do these days including playing as a forward at times

Clark & Gresham kick goals

[shanegrambeau]

Pls tell me about Coffield. My U/15 C's experience aside, I want to know why he's got people excited.

[barneyboyz]

Pls tell me about Coffield. My U/15 C's experience aside, I want to know why he's got people excited.

To me, I expect that Nick will have already had the 'ah ha' moment as he seemed to switch-on late last season. He could also be another Acres in being a late bloomer (hope that doesn't bite us) or a bust

Nick Coffield can play, don't worry about that, but nobody ever got a gig at an AFL club who couldn't. I honestly believe that we'll be too busy watching the fantastic five to notice when Nick starts his breakout. Clark and Coff...the new Starsky and Hutch!

[B.M]

He can’t dance!

I’m sure he can play, but at the moment I think he has doubts over his ability to perform at the level.

Even at VFL level, he looks a confidence player.

He played HB with Brandon White on the other HBF
White looked twice the player.

He is young though, and might develop into a fine player.

[Secret Kiel]

Steele is in that threatening phase of his career, threatening to go to dreamy levels, like other midfielders in the team from the past few years, he has had a tough apprenticeship, now is his time to get off the chain.

[Hunter2King]

Battle Howard Paton
Webster Carlisle Coffield
Hill Steele Jones
Gresham, Membrey Billings
Butler King Marshall

Ryder Ross Clark

I: Wilkie, Hannebery, Bytel, Long
E: Mayo, Parker, Roberton

[Gershwin]

Surely Wilkie is a lock.
Will likely improve further with another preseason under his belt. Can play on talls and mediums and has a good football brain. Nice disposal.