Great post, fully agree People bagged RL for saying that "kids take 4 years to be AFL ready", but if anything he was under stating it - you really can't judge a footballer until 23/24, which is 4-6 years in the system. Of course, they need opportunities in that time. Minchington is a good ...

Other nicknames include "Brent" (after Brent Harvey, similar player) or "The Novelist" (after John Grisham, similar sounding name)

What a gun this kid is

Gilbo also read the flight beautifully when he spoiled Bartel, at the same time as keeping Stanley out of the contest. It was a textbook example of playing in front as a defender. Hickey's tap in the last 3 second was also critical - could have been a Nick Davis moment if the Cats had won the hitout...

Webster has a fair bit of white line fever.

It's a pretty hard team.

Don't think we can. We haven't shown great consistency this year - it's unlikely to start now. We will drop one against Melbourne or Carlton - both likely to be fired up given previous defeats by the Saints, and both reasonable sides. Form also tells us that we're unlikely to beat GC. We may also ge...

Surely Gresham is in the top 5 players from last year's draft career to date?

Typical Gilbert game - hard as nails, did some excellent things offensively, turned it over and cost us a goal and then spoiled two Geelong players in the last 15 seconds to win us the match.

I reckon he's the first name on the team sheet every week.

Love watching him play.

Reckon he has only marginally improved at the Cats. Certainly not an A-grader which many at the Saints hoped he would be. However, the interchange cap has helped him, because he's mobile enough to be the second ruck/forward. Still lacks confidence - could have nailed goals a couple of times and didn...

I agree that his kicking is not great It looks good, smooth action, low trajectory, penetrating... But often it's a big miss, or a really poor option. Jimmy is not the smartest footballer going around. He is like a smaller version of Gilbert, in that he's hard at the footy, he runs with the footy a...

One thing I will say: there have been consistent rumours since late last year of the Saints targeting an A-grade player from another club in the 2016 trade period. These rumours have come from different sources and appeared on different forums - it is therefore more likely that there will be some tr...

Chris Fagan has said privately that the Hawks were happy to offer their first-rounder and trade Anderson to North. Carlisle told Clarko that he was happy to go to the Hawks, but wanted to give the Saints first chance to do a deal given we were his preferred option. All parties wanted to see the Bomb...

Billings has had a better first 35 games than Nick Dal Santo.

Nick Dal Santo was heavily criticised for many of the same things that Jack Billings is criticised for.

It didn't stop him from finishing top 3 in the Brownlow and earning multiple All-Australian selections.

I expect we will end up with 11 wins, with the future six wins being against Gold Coast, Essendon, Melbourne, Carlton, Richmond and Brisbane. If I am correct, 11 wins will place us where? 9th? 11 wins would likely put us 10th or 11th this year given the form of other middling sides. However, I doub...

Hopefully we eradicate the big losses in the second half of the year, even if we don't win as many.

Winning 12 is a bit of a stretch - we aren't consistent enough yet.

Many unknown factors too - e.g. injuries, form of opponents etc.

Can't trade them if they're not contracted!

Minchington did some wonderful things, particularly around the clearances. He has quick reflexes and pace, and he used both to advantage a few times. He faded in and out of the game a bit though - needs to work on his consistency. Acres played high HF and then played forward pocket at times. He almo...

Check his muscle definition too (arms and legs). Supremely fit.

10 marks was a good sign - provided the link-up at times.

Having a great year, and makes us less predictable going forward.

How hard is it to run a stadium? This was disgraceful - so many Saints fans standing around at a home game waiting to hear the song for a second time and it wasn't played. Our home game, and we don't even hear our own theme song. Seriously? The fans had to sing it themselves!! And the bozo with the ...

5. Hickey
4. Steven
3. Ross
2. Membrey
1. Gilbert

Watching them leave in droves before 3qtr time was a beautiful site

Ending their fantasies of September glory was even better

Gee he can accelerate from a contest can't he

Stepped up his offensive game today... Took it on himself to be the "man" and finish for us

First of all - if you didn't watch the game live, you won't fully appreciate this thread. Tom Hickey, take a bow. I've watched a lot of footy, and I thought Spider at his peak was the best ruckman I've seen in a Saints jumper (too young to properly remember Carl). Hickey played at Spider's level tod...

Billings and Murdoch 1 tackle between the last week.

If the side builds its game around pressure and you don't deliver pressure, your spot is in trouble.

Have a look at the Eagles forward line though: Kennedy - Gilbert Darling - Roberton Cripps - Geary LeCras - Dempster If Natinui/Lycett push forward, we could be exposed. And yes, it's a big ask for Gilbo. But if we play two ruckmen to match Natinui/Lycett, then we are probably better off with the ex...