What I keep hoping for......

Dr Spaceman · Sat 17 Dec 2011 9:03am

What I keep hoping for is that player who simply comes from nowhere.

We can look at our list at any time and pick players who should hopefully improve with maturity and experience. And rated on what we know to date, make some assessment of where they might be next season. And that then colours our view on how the team itself will perform during the season.

What I would really like to see is the guy who totally leapfrogs natural improvement. The guy who totally surprises all of us. The one for who the penny has dropped; the stars have aligned. A player who to date has either not played, has played a few games or has simply been a part of the team. But who in 2012 not only demands to be selected each week, but who actually impacts games.

I'm not nominating anyoneÂ here as such a player may not exist. But other clubs have occasionally had someone come from the clouds and I'll really like to see the Saints benefit at some stage.

It could be someone who's been around for a while now without showing much, like a Stanley or Winmar.

It could be someone off the Rookie List such as a Ferguson or Andreoli

It could be any of the kids we picked up last year.

It could even be someone like an Armitage, who goes from a solid first 22 player to a really top midfielder.

It could be anyone. The key being the player produces in 2012 something far in excess of anything that could possibly have been predicted.

Maybe next year will be another year where this phenomenon doesn't appear but I'll keep crossing my fingers til it happens.

plugger66 · Post: # 1183587Post **plugger66** » Sat 17 Dec 2011 9:24am

Not sure about next year but I still think ferguson can be the one if he can get fully fit. As for next year I think Siposs shows the most class out of our youngsters but he does play in a very hard position.

We are due for someone to come out of no where. We havent had many if any for years.

jays · Post: # 1183589Post **jays** » Sat 17 Dec 2011 9:26am

me too and win the granny hehe

Wrote for Luck · Sat 17 Dec 2011 9:33am

maybe Wilkes out of left field as a monster forward utility - will see

gringo · Post: # 1183602Post **gringo** » Sat 17 Dec 2011 10:51am

Steven had a bit of hype but he kind of fits that bill. They are still fairly rare the Joel Selwoods, most need a few seasons to get going at full pace. At least we have a few from outside the system in the early 20s age group. They are still more likely to get going early. Saad will be ok if he can keep his pace advantage in a higher comp.

Cripps and Ledger could have been pretty close if injury and opportunity didn't get in the way.

Moccha · Post: # 1183611Post **Moccha** » Sat 17 Dec 2011 11:09am

plugger66 wrote:Not sure about next year but I still think ferguson can be the one if he can get fully fit. As for next year I think Siposs shows the most class out of our youngsters but he does play in a very hard position.

We are due for someone to come out of no where. We havent had many if any for years.

Steven came out of nowhere

bobmurray · Sat 17 Dec 2011 11:39am

It used to happen quite regularly.....that's how we keep getting champion Saints players....we must be due...

dcstkfc · Post: # 1183621Post **dcstkfc** » Sat 17 Dec 2011 12:26pm

2 or 3 would be handy.

OK I'm dreaming.

But of the crop of debutants last year I was particularly impressed by Siposs, Ledger and Simpkin.

st_Trav_ofWA · Sat 17 Dec 2011 1:10pm

Joey kinda fits that bill for years he was just an average in one week out the next player.. Then bang he's one of the better mids in the comp ... Dempster was just a plodder who came very good all of a sudden ... BJ had a slow start before becoming a great player ...

Of the new crop I hope Steven and armo make that next step up to be regarded as thebetter players in the comp ... But I also crave for a kid to just go bang like a selwood or Cyril or Barlow

Eastern · Post: # 1183645Post **Eastern** » Sat 17 Dec 2011 1:41pm

I'm greedy too. I'd like to think that Sippos, Stanley & Ledger can step up and have an impact in 2012 !!

gringo · Post: # 1183678Post **gringo** » Sat 17 Dec 2011 2:44pm

Mids are more likely to explode onto the scene. So for me Ledge and Cripps are most likely. Simpkin looked like he was ready from Sandy form but didn't look like he took to the AFL as well.

whiskers3614 · Sat 17 Dec 2011 2:51pm

A couple of Sipos' cameo performances whetted my appetite but suspect he might be 2013/2014 prospect.

MCG-Unit · Post: # 1183692Post **MCG-Unit** » Sat 17 Dec 2011 3:37pm

I'm hoping Curren will be the one to step up.....

Middo · Post: # 1183703Post **Middo** » Sat 17 Dec 2011 3:58pm

Daniel Markworth for me to bring something special to our team.
Reckon Ledger will have the most impact and become a regular with an outside chance to win the rising star .... !!!!

whiskers3614 · Sat 17 Dec 2011 4:03pm

If our best get back to their best the lesser players will get picked up in their slipstream.

Sainter93 · Post: # 1183715Post **Sainter93** » Sat 17 Dec 2011 5:14pm

I'm thinking that Cripps and Simpkin will step up immensely!

PJ · Post: # 1183721Post PJ » Sat 17 Dec 2011 6:11pm

I get what everyone is saying about Steven - gutsy in and under player that knows how to get the ball but gee his disposal is disappointing.

hungry for a premiership · Sat 17 Dec 2011 6:16pm

st_Trav_ofWA wrote:Joey kinda fits that bill for years he was just an average in one week out the next player.. Then bang he's one of the better mids in the comp ... Dempster was just a plodder who came very good all of a sudden ... BJ had a slow start before becoming a great player ...

Of the new crop I hope Steven and armo make that next step up to be regarded as thebetter players in the comp ... But I also crave for a kid to just go bang like a selwood or Cyril or Barlow

Thats because under Grant Thomas, Monty was nothing more than a role player. RL came in and gave him a solid go in the midfield and he showed what he was capable of.

For me, the player most likely to have the biggest improvement and go from a mid-tier player to a top-liner is Jack Steven.

gringo · Post: # 1183758Post **gringo** » Sat 17 Dec 2011 8:10pm

PJ wrote:I get what everyone is saying about Steven - gutsy in and under player that knows how to get the ball but gee his disposal is disappointing.

I think his disposal under pressure looks disappointing but he can snag a goal and get the ball. he was asked to pretty much take on Ball and Lennys in and under spot with Jones a lot of times. Both look worse at disposing of the footy because they were pressured more than they have been in the past.

Steven might settle down once he has a few more games under his belt, he was a forward pocket when they first played him now he's expected to do a heap more.

He had the ability to score a bag against Geelong early on he should be a beauty.