Who will do a Roberton?

[Goose is king]

Who of our new players are you predicting to be most pleasantly surprised by next year? (Do a Roberton).
For me I think Shane Savage will be massive for us this season.

[The Redeemer]

Who of our new players are you predicting to be most pleasantly surprised by next year? (Do a Roberton).
For me I think Shane Savage will be massive for us this season.

Roberton played 37 games in 3 years at Freo and this year played his 50th before the age of 22.

He has not and did not surprise anyone. The boy has talent.

It is expected that Savage kicks on and displays what he did at the Hawks.

[Goose is king]

People didn't even have Roberton in our best 22 this time last year so I think everyone would of been pleasantly surprised by his performance.

[BigMart]

Delaney... Will do a Zac....

And go from VFL.... To Ok AFL... Just through opportunity IMO

Savage will be decent... Perhaps at the Peake level or better...

[St Ick]

I underrated Roberton, will absolutely put my hand up for that.

I really rate Savage, so it won't surprise me if he kills it from day one.

The ones I think we may all underrate are our two tall backs, my guess is Delaney will kill it, because none of us expect him to.

[Sainternist]

To "do a Roberton" would mean being an outstanding new inclusion to our backline. Would be nice to think Delaney is the man to take that accoalde.

[Beekay]

Josh Bruce. Perhaps even up forward...

[PADDLEPOP1001]

Longer,Delaney and Savage!

[Wrote for Luck]

to do a Roberton means he is new and he is in every week; I'll go Siposs. Ok not new but I think he will surprise and become a must every week in our forward line. I think he is off most Saints fans radar.

[HitTheBoundary]

I think it will be Luke Dunstan. Only a first year player, but already a strong build.
I hope he has a big preseason and is included in Round One.

The other possibility is Mav Weller, although he will have to get off the rookie list.
He's already played 32 games, so should be ripe to improve.

[WellardSaint]

Siposs...there's a good chance Richo will have a one-on-one with this young lad.
I have no contacts at the club at all, just guessing that Richo will believe an honest appraisal and discussion will clear the air and give Siposs some much needed direction...
e.g. "Arryn, look, nothing leaves this room unless you want it to...etc"
that will give young Arryn a level of trust in the father figure. Lets Arryn voice any concerns he may have, any obstacles to his continued improvement, etc.
At least, I am hopeful this is what could happen.

[samuraisaint]

I actually think Dylan may one day captain the club.

[mr six o'clock]

To "do a Roberton" would mean being an outstanding new inclusion to our backline.

that gets soundly beaten each week ?

[maverick]

Savage will be far better than peake

[Sainternist]

Savage will be far better than peake

Would be happy if he did. Peake had a fairly decent season in 2011. Had a fair year in 2010 as well. Not expecting a lot from Savage at this stage.

[saintsRrising]

[ Not expecting a lot from Savage at this stage.

Will be 23 by the time the season starts, and has already played 56 games.

He needs to arrive in 2013.

He may well get better in later years, but in 2013 he needs to become a first 22 player.

[ROLS-LEE]

I think Mav Weller will be our surprise this year if given opportunity, but with more games, game time and being no#1 ruck I also think that Hickey will show why we traded a Big Mac.

I also want at least one of Stanley or Lee to dominate and take much needed pressure off Roo.

[falka]

Josh Bruce. Perhaps even up forward...

I agree, that is why we should have got a Tippett type for down back

[bergholt]

"Do a Roberton" - I interpret this as "take the next step to become a true AFL quality player".

Usually this happens after four or five preseasons - age 21 or 22 - and after 30 to 50 games. Maybe a bit older for big guys. So in that category we have:

Savage: 23 years old, 56 games - ripe for the next step
Stanley: 23 years old, 39 games - ready as he'll ever be
Weller: 22 years old, 32 games - but can't play straight away as a rookie

That's it, not many others strictly there yet. So I wouldn't hope for too much from 2014.

The next group includes Dennis-Lane, Delaney, Simpkin, Milera, Newnes, Hickey. A couple of them might step up as well, if we're lucky. A couple of others will probably be gone this time next year, the rest are make or break in 2015. But it's not exactly the highest quality group.

Then below that - not much immediately. Realistically, Bruce, Ross, Webster, Lee, Saunders, Dunell, Longer, Murdoch, Wright, Curren are two full seasons from having the experience to take the next step. This is why 2015 is going to be a hard year as well.

[Beno88]

Milera. The guy has talent.

[saintspremiers]

[ Not expecting a lot from Savage at this stage.

Will be 23 by the time the season starts, and has already played 56 games.

He needs to arrive in 2013.

He may well get better in later years, but in 2013 he needs to become a first 22 player.

Correct. And once Lenny and Monty are both gone he, Billings and Steven need to be our core midfielders (along with Armo perhaps)

[Megamaguire]

Siposs...there's a good chance Richo will have a one-on-one with this young lad.
I have no contacts at the club at all, just guessing that Richo will believe an honest appraisal and discussion will clear the air and give Siposs some much needed direction...
e.g. "Arryn, look, nothing leaves this room unless you want it to...etc"
that will give young Arryn a level of trust in the father figure. Lets Arryn voice any concerns he may have, any obstacles to his continued improvement, etc.
At least, I am hopeful this is what could happen.

Definately hope Richo can 'connect' successfully with Siposs and get him playing more regularly and exuding confidence when on the field of play. Could be simply a case of simplifyinf things for Aaryn 0 who knows.

I do know that it would be a real loss not seeing that beautiful kicking style esp. when firing at goal.
Saints I think really need Siposs to be on top of his game and be chalking up regularly decent scoreboard totals. There are other players I believe will adjust successfully and perhaps sooner (eg) Newness, Simpkin, Ross but if Siposs can get it to happen for himself and thrive under Richo I think it could give the Saints an invaluable ingredient towards propelling us forward. You just feel the skill level across all lines will genuinely improve and I hope Siposs is ready to be a part of this improvement.

STILL FULL OF HOPE!

G O S A I N T S !

[maverick]

[ Not expecting a lot from Savage at this stage.

Will be 23 by the time the season starts, and has already played 56 games.

He needs to arrive in 2013.

He may well get better in later years, but in 2013 he needs to become a first 22 player.

Quietly confident on savage, he will relish a permanent midfield role, hopefully ends up a poor mans Joey....

[Con Gorozidis]

Savage Delaney Bruce

I think Lee is also ready to make his mark at AFL level.

[Moorabbin Man]

Tommy Lee