Xavier Richards - Any interest?

[White Winmar]

I have to admit to a bit of personal bias here as Xavier is a good friend of my son and they played their junior and school footy together. He's always been a great athlete. We used to call him Forrest Gump, because he would just run all day and nobody could catch him. His skills were never that great, but through hard work, persistent and having Ted in his corner, he was given a belated opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. Earlier this year he was drifting in the NEAFL as a defender. It seemed the swans had a plan to develop him into the next Ted. He was struggling and there was talk of him being axed. He was then switched to the forward line in a bit of a 'Hail Mary' move and viola! He started kicking goals, made the senior team, acquitted himself well and played in a Grand Final.

He's a tall, quick forward who will go into the midfield when he gets a tank. He's the modern prototype of the versatile mid. He can play a tall forward role as well. A great size at 195 cm and 91 kg, his body is well developed, just 23 years of age and with 12 games under his belt. I know our list plans are close to finalised so there may not be a senior spot left, but he'd be ideal as a rookie selection as a backup. He's a terrific young man, so his character is not an issue. He's being offered considerably less than he's worth because of the tight cap at the Swines and somebody has to pay for Buddy and Tippet. Could be a steal as a late bloomer. Thoughts, anyone?

[SaintPav]

Why not!

It's these types they usually end up being very useful players and he sounds like a steal.

[stonecold]

No thanks, have enough talls now, all the best to him though!!!!!

[Rocket]

Worth a look. Prefer over Lee or Fisher.

[White Winmar]

Worth a look. Prefer over Lee or Fisher.

I was thinking the same, Rocket. As much as I admire Chips, I think he's done. We need to move on.

[santazzi]

WW I am sold. Best referee report I have read for some time. He is a lucky young man to have your son, you and your family as a friend.

[Zed]

Seems like found his niche in the forward line which is one area that we seem to be ok in. I like the fact he could be a swingman , but realistically he is going to be a fringe player. If he comes cheap, I'd take him.

[saintspremiers]

A quarter of his 12 games have been Grand Finals.

We need players with Grand Final experience. Will be handy in 2020

[mad saint guy]

Nope. Wouldn't be the worst player to have on your list as emergency backup in case of mass injuries but not someone to target.

[ace]

I have to admit to a bit of personal bias here as Xavier is a good friend of my son and they played their junior and school footy together. He's always been a great athlete. We used to call him Forrest Gump, because he would just run all day and nobody could catch him. His skills were never that great, but through hard work, persistent and having Ted in his corner, he was given a belated opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. Earlier this year he was drifting in the NEAFL as a defender. It seemed the swans had a plan to develop him into the next Ted. He was struggling and there was talk of him being axed. He was then switched to the forward line in a bit of a 'Hail Mary' move and viola! He started kicking goals, made the senior team, acquitted himself well and played in a Grand Final.

He's a tall, quick forward who will go into the midfield when he gets a tank. He's the modern prototype of the versatile mid. He can play a tall forward role as well. A great size at 195 cm and 91 kg, his body is well developed, just 23 years of age and with 12 games under his belt. I know our list plans are close to finalised so there may not be a senior spot left, but he'd be ideal as a rookie selection as a backup. He's a terrific young man, so his character is not an issue. He's being offered considerably less than he's worth because of the tight cap at the Swines and somebody has to pay for Buddy and Tippet. Could be a steal as a late bloomer. Thoughts, anyone?

First thing is he has to nominate a club he wants to go to.
You and your son need to tell him "ST KILDA"

[Con Gorozidis]

It is nice hearing people's personal stories on here and I do appreciate it from WW who is a great poster.

BUT

We don't want to become a private school mate's club. We aren't the ARU.

A no from me on merit. Not sure how he gets a game ahead of Carlisle, Roberton, Goddard, Bruce, McCartin.
Nathan Brown is only 27-28.

[White Winmar]

It is nice hearing people's personal stories on here and I do appreciate it from WW who is a great poster.

BUT

We don't want to become a private school mate's club. We aren't the ARU.

A no from me on merit. Not sure how he gets a game ahead of Carlisle, Roberton, Goddard, Bruce, McCartin.
Nathan Brown is only 27-28.

You may be right, Con. Attracted little interest from other clubs. He probably left his run too late. Someone will rookie him, I'm sure.

[saintsRrising]

He could also go as DFA. Pies certainly seem to need a tall defender.

[saintsRrising]

Actually with no worthwhile draft picks this year it would not surprise me if the Hawks took him if he goes DFA. Gibo was starting to show his age this year.

[Con Gorozidis]

He could also go as DFA. Pies certainly seem to need a tall defender.

Has Pies written all over him.

Goddard, Carlisle, Brown & Coughlan.
Not sure we need him.

[longtimesaint]

Fisher and Lee are likely to be delisted to make room for what we already have and I can't see who else could make way.

[saintsRrising]

He could also go as DFA. Pies certainly seem to need a tall defender.

Has Pies written all over him.

Goddard, Carlisle, Brown & Coughlan.
Not sure we need him.

I agree, we don't.

From here on in I would recruit mids, mids and mids. Keep churning through them till be get some very good to elites.

[White Winmar]

Seems the swines are prepared to push him back to the rookie list. He may find another home towards the end of the draft. Seems Ted leaving for overseas, homesickness and the cost of living up there have conspired to make him consider a move. Wants to come home. Too bad we have no interest. It'll be interesting to see if he does get picked up, or he ends up worse off with a rookie contract.

[Con Gorozidis]

Seems the swines are prepared to push him back to the rookie list. He may find another home towards the end of the draft. Seems Ted leaving for overseas, homesickness and the cost of living up there have conspired to make him consider a move. Wants to come home. Too bad we have no interest. It'll be interesting to see if he does get picked up, or he ends up worse off with a rookie contract.

Eddie McGuire will be all over Xavier from Xavier.

[citywest]

If he is a Delisted Free Agent we should grab him. With Fisher and Lee gone he would be a great fit for us going forward. He is only 22 and has had the experience of playing in a GF.

[sunsaint]

does Shentons delisting open a spot for him?
As SaintsPremiers pointed out his games were mostly in finals
and I like the fact he didnt crack under pressure for an inexperienced player

[longtimesaint]

does Shentons delisting open a spot for him?
As SaintsPremiers pointed out his games were mostly in finals
and I like the fact he didnt crack under pressure for an inexperienced player

It doesn't really open a spot as we have to delist 4 or 5 players anyway just to accommodate the players we got in the trade period.
The only spot would be as a rookie unless we delist a contracted player which is very unlikely.

[Impatient Sainter]

I think if we didnt have so many similiar players that play Xaviers position on our list he would be ok - but think not.

[White Winmar]

Seems the swines are prepared to push him back to the rookie list. He may find another home towards the end of the draft. Seems Ted leaving for overseas, homesickness and the cost of living up there have conspired to make him consider a move. Wants to come home. Too bad we have no interest. It'll be interesting to see if he does get picked up, or he ends up worse off with a rookie contract.

Eddie McGuire will be all over Xavier from Xavier.

You're right,Con. Having been to Xavier isn't exactly an endorsement of character. Elitist in the extreme. Thank goodness my little bloke had a scholarship. I'd have hated to pay 200k to turn him into a snot nosed little snob. "Men for men" is their motto. Sounds more like the title of a gay porn movie than a school motto. My bloke got expelled in the end. Didn't harm him. He's an IT engineer now with a much better attitude than they tried to force on him.

[magnifisaint]

Swans have delisted him