Skrobalak Scandal 'The man who saved Billings!'

[The Recruit]

On FClassified Damian Barrett brought up the fact that Frankston's coach is Adam Skrobalak is one of our development coaches and that our big win over them in the twos was manipulated to run some saints boys into form.

Firstly I have no doubt Skrobalak would have a massive influence on and with Jack Billings at the saints and this is move to 'develop' Jack is genius by our club.

The fact that our club has waited to the Frankston game to drop Billings and give him the chance to run around by himself to gain confidence and form is bloody brilliant. I do not believe this was a coincidence.

In a pretty Dark week/year for the club, this news has restored a little faith for me in the fact that they are doing SOME thinking down there are Moorabbin. Due to this, my avatar will be Skrobalak, 'the man who saved Billings.'

[kosifantutti]

We helped develop a few Swans players on Saturday night.

[The Recruit]

We helped develop a few Swans players on Saturday night.

Our development of Callum Sinclair has been phenomenal.

[Con Gorozidis]

We've always been very generous with our development of AFL players throughout the comp.
Sydney, Geelong and Crows players especially.

[fugazi]

We seem to develop a player or two each round

[chico2001]

hahaha....gold....

[Spinner]

He ran around without a man the whole game. Good finding the media are picking this up!

[saynta]

What a load of s***. Was Barrett at the Game?

Does Barratt have a clue?

Did Barratt ever have a clue?

The clown has picked that up from a tweet by Skinny Lappin.

Doesn't make it true ffs.

[degruch]

But...but...surely this involves planning and strategy? Doesn't sound like our club.

[CURLY]

Barret making out our ruck coach is involved in team meetings. Seriously this bloke is a bellend.

[degruch]

Barret making out our ruck coach is involved in team meetings. Seriously this bloke is a bellend.

I read his 10 ideas on how to improve AFL for the fans as well...I'm not sure he isn't looking at a career in comedy.

[takeaway]

What a load of rubbish. Billings did have a man, just like the other players. Not a hard tag, but he was just too good - very quick and skilful. Miles above that level.

Nothing to see here.

[bigred]

Wait..
What?

[freely]

It stinks a bit IMO but worse, unfortunately, the publicity it's got will have undone whatever confidence it gave billings to be able to run about picking up all those possessions.

[CURLY]

It stinks a bit IMO but worse, unfortunately, the publicity it's got will have undone whatever confidence it gave billings to be able to run about picking up all those possessions.

I would doubt Billings would even know who our coach is the bloke would be there maybe once a week twice tops.

[saynta]

Barrett is a clown.

Don't know if too many people in this town would believe a word he says.

The club should sue the arsehole for denigrating one of our coaches.

[The_Dud]

Barrett is a clown.

Don't know if too many people in this town would believe a word he says.

The club should sue the arsehole for denigrating one of our coaches.

Wait a minute, so you think this conspiracy theory is ridiculous???

[CURLY]

Barrett is a clown.

Don't know if too many people in this town would believe a word he says.

The club should sue the arsehole for denigrating one of our coaches.

Wait a minute, so you think this conspiracy theory is ridiculous???

Tell us all what you think.

[Scollop]

I was a little surprised when I heard JB had over 50 possessions but I thought that it made sense that his Zeb team mates would look for him at every opportunity as he'd distribute better than anyone else on the field. My concern isn't that Skrobalak was the coach of the opposition, but more so that Frankston are struggling as a team in general and perhaps it gives him a false sense of confidence. It's like when a top 4 team plays a bottom 4 team, has a comfortable win under minimal pressure, and they then come up against a potential finalist and lose miserably. Conversely when a team has a tough win against a good team in a lead up to a final, it puts them in good stead to play their best footy

I would have preferred to see Billings up against Richmond's VFL team or perhaps Port Melbourne, the Collingwood VFL team or even in the match against North's VFL side. Does JB even get that many possessions in an intra club match or any match play at training?

[BringBackMadDog]

This is the biggest joke I have ever heard. Skrobolak should sue Barrett for defamation. Skrobolak is paid by Frankston as a senior full time coach he is a part time ruck coach at St Kilda. To even intimate that he would manipulate his team to run St Kilda players into form is outrageous. Can you imagine the Frankston players actually going along with a plan that involves letting the best credentialed player on the ground to completely unhindered whilst they get belted by over 100 points. Just hilarious

[saynta]

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2018-06-1 ... s-responds


Billings a class above

"Omitted Saint Jack Billings responded emphatically in the VFL after being left out of the senior side for the first time since 2014.

Billings had the ball on a string, amassing 54 disposals and booting three goals in a best-on-ground performance, ultimately leading the Zebras to a 121-point thumping of Frankston.

Returning star Josh Bruce was another standout Saint, kicking four goals in what was his first taste of competitive football in almost two months.

Ruckman Billy Longer dominated proceedings after missing last week through illness, and the big man partnered well with midfield bull David Armitage, who collected 41 disposals for the match.

READ: Billings a class above

Sandringham was dominant from the first bounce, exploding out of the blocks with a seven-goal first term before keeping the Dolphins goalless in the second and third quarters.

Nathan Freeman gathered 26 disposals in his return from a shoulder injury, while Irishman Ray Connellan looked dangerous, slotting three majors.

Sandringham coach Aaron Hamill spoke glowingly of his side’s ability to get back to playing the Zebras brand in what was the first ever VFL Pride Cup.

“It was really pleasing to get back to playing our best football; defensively, offensively, contested; and to restrict the opposition for four quarters,” Hamill told saints.com.au.

“We had 84 tackles and 460 disposals, so we hunted the ball and the opposition.”

READ: Battle the "shining light"

Hamill was full of praise for three high profile Saints – Jack Billings, Josh Bruce and veteran David Armitage – all of whom had strong performances for the Zebras.

“Jack Billings recorded really high numbers, but it was the way he approached the game and played his role for four quarters. It’s that consistency that puts him back into AFL contention,” Hamill said.

“Really rapt for Josh Bruce. He’s had to work really hard to get back from injury after nine weeks out, but his output and attitude was first-class. His dedication to the contest was really strong, and naturally, his talent took over from there.

“Armo (David Armitage) was really strong for us inside and reading Billy Longer’s ruckwork. He brings so much to the table at any level, so he’s another experienced body who shouldn’t be far from an AFL recall.”

Sandringham 7.2 10.10 17.13 22.18 (150)
Frankston 2.1 2.4 2.7 3.10 (28)

GOALS Bruce 4, Billings 3, Haidon 3, Seccull 3, Connellan 3, Wright 2, Answerth, Lamb, McLean, Longer
BEST Bruce, Billings, Armitage, Longer, Seccull, Connellan

[parkeysainter]

Maybe Billy, Connellan, Billings, Armitage and Freeman (maybe) are a chance to come in.

[saynta]

Maybe Billy, Connellan, Billings, Armitage and Freeman (maybe) are a chance to come in.

That would be too sensible.

[saintkev]

We've always been very generous with our development of AFL players throughout the comp.
Sydney, Geelong and Crows players especially.

...and it’s usually clubs above us that reap the rewards when disenchanted players leave or are traded. Russell Greene set the standard in Saints’ stupidity way back in the ‘70s. The list goes on and on...
Lessons have not been learned for the past 50 years.

[saynta]

We've always been very generous with our development of AFL players throughout the comp.
Sydney, Geelong and Crows players especially.

...and it’s usually clubs above us that reap the rewards when disenchanted players leave or are traded. Russell Greene set the standard in Saints’ stupidity way back in the ‘70s. The list goes on and on...
Lessons have not been learned for the past 50 years.

Nah, our stupidity goes back much further.

Stewart for Billy Barrot ffs.

And what did we get for Glen Elliott, Val Perovic, Stuart Trott, Boofhead and the great Tony Lockett? SFA that's what.