Leo Connolly

[groupie1]

Leo Connolly narrowly lost the B&F in the 2's to Campbell

SO HOW ABOUT EVERYONE START APOLOGIZING TO ME NOW ABOUT MY EVERGREEN DEMAND HE PLAYS IN THE 22?

[Yorkeys]

Leo Connolly narrowly lost the B&F in the 2's to Campbell

SO HOW ABOUT EVERYONE START APOLOGIZING TO ME NOW ABOUT MY EVERGREEN DEMAND HE PLAYS IN THE 22?

Big fan. Well done Leo. Hope selectors start appreciating.
Campbell seemed unfairly unloved as well. Deserved more games.

[skeptic]

I was really really disappointed that Connolly didn’t play at all this season

He started the season hot at Sandy and his plateaued a bit after that but he was mostly thereabouts IMO. It was frustrating because he was one that looked set to take the next step IMO.

With Paton’s form fluctuating
Sinclair needing to play more in the middle (IMO)
Clark out for large periods of time
Hill sitting at HBF for patches etc
I thought there was opportunity there to play him too.

Hope the kid isn’t delisted.

[stkfc1]

For a team that is crying out for class and kicking skills, the one player on the list, who's kicking is apparently elite, couldn't get a game. Doesn't make much sense too me.

[Saintmike65]

Watching Leo train, he is quick, feisty and good on both sides..just needs to believe in himself!

[Scollop]

I was really really disappointed that Connolly didn’t play at all this season

He started the season hot at Sandy and his plateaued a bit after that but he was mostly thereabouts IMO. It was frustrating because he was one that looked set to take the next step IMO.

With Paton’s form fluctuating
Sinclair needing to play more in the middle (IMO)
Clark out for large periods of time
Hill sitting at HBF for patches etc
I thought there was opportunity there to play him too.

Hope the kid isn’t delisted.

He’s safe….I think you have to win it to be cut from the seniors…

Just ask Brandon White

He was delisted from the Saints list at the conclusion of 2019 after winning the Best and Fairest for Sandringham that year

https://www.saints.com.au/news/238060/v ... st-fairest

[Beno88]

Leo Connolly narrowly lost the B&F in the 2's to Campbell

SO HOW ABOUT EVERYONE START APOLOGIZING TO ME NOW ABOUT MY EVERGREEN DEMAND HE PLAYS IN THE 22?

How does losing the reserves best and fairest to a 31 year old, twice-delisted player, who played less games, scream best 22?

[terry smith rules]

Leo Connolly narrowly lost the B&F in the 2's to Campbell

SO HOW ABOUT EVERYONE START APOLOGIZING TO ME NOW ABOUT MY EVERGREEN DEMAND HE PLAYS IN THE 22?

No, but I will if he gets to stay and then starts getting a game and performing

Going well at Sandy is no great indication of how good you are, they were ordinary side for most of the year

[bergsone]

Will be the replacement for Webster imo

[Vortex]

Sandy form hasn't meant much since the Pandemic hit, the VFL comp had the guts stripped out of it and only the financially strong clubs have the resources to develop players in their feeder team. Have a look at which 3 clubs are at the top of the ladder.

Sandy is a shambles.

[Sanctorum]

Will be the replacement for Webster imo

At only 181 cm Connolly is a bit on the small side (depending on opposition) and feel that Nick Coffield (191) is more likely to regain the half-back role.

Perhaps he could be tried up forward where there is probably going to be more opportunity to grab a spot if Higgins (178) or Butler (182) fail to improve.

By and large in 2022 St Kilda's defenders performed much better than the forwards which is going to need a major restructure if the team is going to improve in 2023.

[cwrcyn]

Caleb Daniel goes alright at half back

[Scollop]

Caleb Daniel goes alright at half back

Liam Baker at Richmond says hello (he’s listed at 173cm)

Plus they have a guy at 178cm ….called Jayden Short who goes alright

[Devilhead]

Noble & Quaynor at Pies both at 180cm

Both go OK

[Vortex]

How about then he's just at best a really good Sandy player. Just about everyone at Sandy is not much chop at AFL level. Crickey half the of our best 22 would be flat out looking good in the Sandy side.

[spert]

Leo played a couple of reasonable games in the seniors, I think in Richo's last season? showed a lot of promise, top foot skills then got dropped, and now we have wasted a few years of development of another young player.

[Impatient Sainter]

I get the feeling that Ratten has become a bit like Richo - looking at what players cant do rather than what they can. For me Connolly should have been be playing in front of Clark and Hill throughout year. He offers the defensive closing speed and kicking skills required, so I hope he gets more game time next season.

[cwrcyn]

Ratten values foot skills, so it was odd that Connolly didn't get a run. Jake Batchelor's input into selection was surely a factor.

I agree. If players have elite capabilities, in this case foot skills, then those qualities should be exploited rather than focussing on the negatives. The coach was happy to overlook Brad Hill's lack of tackling pressure, Paton's iffy disposal and decision making and King's poor goal kicking.

Playing at Sandy is not exactly beneficial to player development, nor does it allow players to show their value in a higher tempo, higher quality of game.

[Vortex]

Ratten values foot skills, so it was odd that Connolly didn't get a run. Jake Batchelor's input into selection was surely a factor.

I agree. If players have elite capabilities, in this case foot skills, then those qualities should be exploited rather than focussing on the negatives. The coach was happy to overlook Brad Hill's lack of tackling pressure, Paton's iffy disposal and decision making and King's poor goal kicking.

Playing at Sandy is not exactly beneficial to player development, nor does it allow players to show their value in a higher tempo, higher quality of game.

You have to have more than one trick, and sometimes a player is just not up to it and way off the pace at AFL like Connolly is. He has stunk it up with every opportunity he's had. Time to move on.

[B.M]

He has a one of the few that played all of the season in the VFL

I don’t rate him

Can’t defend

And if that’s an issue as a defender it’s a worry

[Sainternist]

Yeah, I wanted to see him get a game in 2022. He looked good in the few games he played in 2021.

[shanegrambeau]

Didn't he play a couple of times towards the end of '21? And was a bit underwhelming?

[skeptic]

Didn't he play a couple of times towards the end of '21? And was a bit underwhelming?

I had the opposite read… was no where near it all season and looked alright when he came in.

2nd in the B&F. Was in the best a bunch of times. How much more can he do just to get a shot

[Vortex]

He has a one of the few that played all of the season in the VFL

I don’t rate him

Can’t defend

And if that’s an issue as a defender it’s a worry

And a player who only played 12 games and also couldn't get a game at AFL level beat him. Not sure why anyone is rating Connolly. Needs to be cut to free up another spot.

[saintbob]

Will be the replacement for Webster imo

More likely to be Patons replacement