In the mix from afl.com.au

[saynta]

Dougal Howard could return to combat Geelong's key forward stars Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins on Saturday night, after missing the past month due to knee surgery. Sandringham has a bye on the weekend, but Zak Jones, Ryan Byrnes and Darragh Joyce were included in the 26-man squad against Hawthorn. Tom Campbell was named in the side before making way at the last minute for Mitch Owens, before Rowan Marshall produced his best performance of the season. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera might also be considered.

R20 medical substitute: Ryan Byrnes (unused)

Verdict: Howard to come in for Cooper Sharman. – Josh Gabelich

[Beno88]

Josh Gabelich obviously didn't watch our game, there's no way Sharman is getting dropped.

Leinert for Howard seems for more likely.

[meher baba]

Josh Gabelich obviously didn't watch our game, there's no way Sharman is getting dropped.

Leinert for Howard seems for more likely.

Lienert didn’t play in the backline much last week. And he is the second ruckman.

I think Sharman will make way for Howard, if Howard is actually fit.

[Vortex]

Josh Gabelich obviously didn't watch our game, there's no way Sharman is getting dropped.

Leinert for Howard seems for more likely.

Sharman would be fed to the Sharks if they play him this week. It's one thing to get your fist onto a a few balls against bottom feeding teams but it's another thing entirely to come up against the double headed dragon.

[longtimesaint]

Howard trained fully today and looks ready to return.
DMac also joined main training and may be in Sandy team this week

[saynta]

Me? I will wait and see as the selectors know more than us 'umble peasants.

[Beno88]

Josh Gabelich obviously didn't watch our game, there's no way Sharman is getting dropped.

Leinert for Howard seems for more likely.

Sharman would be fed to the Sharks if they play him this week. It's one thing to get your fist onto a a few balls against bottom feeding teams but it's another thing entirely to come up against the double headed dragon.

His previous two matches vs Geelong were pretty good, albeit as a forward.

[Vortex]

Josh Gabelich obviously didn't watch our game, there's no way Sharman is getting dropped.

Leinert for Howard seems for more likely.

Sharman would be fed to the Sharks if they play him this week. It's one thing to get your fist onto a a few balls against bottom feeding teams but it's another thing entirely to come up against the double headed dragon.

His previous two matches vs Geelong were pretty good, albeit as a forward.

Maybe the experiment will continue this week then. Maybe he'll be a forward this week. I won't be surprised because Ratts has shown he's not afraid to experiment and try different things when the options are limited.

[longtimesaint]

In the presser Ratts indicated that Jones will be very close to a recall and Howard will come in.
Interesting who makes way.

[older saint]

Big bodies needed against Geelong.
Howard for Sharman (if fit)
Jones and interesting one Lienert?

[Sanctorum]

I'm more inclined to think that Sharman as a 3rd tall either forward or back will retain his place in the team and give either Ben Paton or Jimmy Webster a rest - at half back the Saints already have Bradley Hill and Hunter Clark, with Dan Hannebery having free rein to play where required.

Combination of Howard, Wilkie, Battle and Sharman would be a strong counter against the tall Geelong forwards. If Geelong gain midfield ascendency and send the ball into attack Sharman's leap and punching the ball away could well work to the Saints advantage.

[meher baba]

Gee Sharman gets a high rating from posters on this forum!

Sorry, but I can’t see him being selected ahead of Webster or Paton. Nor can I see him going up front.

If Howard and Jones are both coming back, I’m not even sure that Sharman would make it to medi sub.

But perhaps the selectors will think differently to me.

[spert]

Here we go again- we're going change a winning team. Howard will be rusty and may not be effective for four quarters, Jones is not setting the world on fire. The player who didn't bust a gut last week was Hill and he should be first to go.

[Banger9798]

I'd be happier retaining Leinert.
We seem to go better with him in the side.
Good height and mobility, could match up with Kolijasni?
Jones' just not mentally switched on, what signal does it send to the list if he gets the nod.

[saynta]

In the mix from saints.com.au

https://www.saints.com.au/news/1188400/ ... cats-clash

[Vortex]

Gee Sharman gets a high rating from posters on this forum!

Sorry, but I can’t see him being selected ahead of Webster or Paton. Nor can I see him going up front.

If Howard and Jones are both coming back, I’m not even sure that Sharman would make it to medi sub.

But perhaps the selectors will think differently to me.

It's a fascinating phenomenon and not deeply rooted in realism or objectivity most definitely anchored to stubborn hype.

Having said that I think Ratts needs to be praised for being willing to experiment with his development because it was clear very early on this season that he was way off the pace, and he still is but at least Ratts is showing he knows a thing or two about player development.

[WellardSaint]

Heard a rumour that Jones is in, replacing Windy, who is out due to H & S protocols.


Geez i hope its not true

[Devilhead]

If so .... hopefully Jones responds from his omission

We all know he can play great pressure footy when switched on

[Beno88]

Heard a rumour that Jones is in, replacing Windy, who is out due to H & S protocols.


Geez i hope its not true

Windhager missed through H&S protocols only three weeks ago. Sounds like a dud rumour to me.