Has Kosi played his last game?

[bergholt]

What can we gain from the 300k we'd save by cutting him?

a draft pick in a strong draft.

[clarky449]

Kosi is in the top half dozen [second talls] on performance this year.

..................He kicked fourteen goals in his first five (games).....................

Kosi kicked 3 in Rnd 4 against the Dockers, had a couple of brainfades along with a few others in the team and managed to get suspeneded, then came back rested up bagging 5 in Rnd 6 against the Hawks. The team was going OK with Kosi playing close to goal...He was on course to kick 30-40 goals, but Macca got injured and then Stanley went down. He had to ruck for the team because we had no-one else.

Hasn't got the physical or mental toughness to play more than 10 good games a season, but you can't ignore his start to the year. If he plays next year he should either be kept on ice until June or he should only play in clutch games. Not saying he's going to do a Clarke Keating and turn into a September specialist, but I reckon he will give us value when he's played fresh.

You taking the piss?

[Saintersss]

Kosi in the past 4-5 seasons generally starts the season well and will all think, finally this is the year. However, he then turns to absolute crap in the last half of the year. Maybe we should just start playing him in Round 13. But, seriously, his last game was an absolute disgrace and if he doesn't have a contract for next year I wouldn't re-sign him. Really was a Kosi fan, but that game last week against Geelong, when the Saints so desperately needed a win, was enough for me to completely give up hope on him.

[skeptic]

he's contracted...

it seems to me that what we've established is he is no longer a lock in the starting 22

what's wrong with the idea of dropping him until he finds form at Sandy and earns his way back (if he can) and then you try him again... that way kosi essentially answers the question himself.

[saintspremiers]

If we are stuck with him due to contracts next year, can he play a Stephen King ruck mentoring role?

By that, he may only play about 5 games for the year, with most of his time spent in a mentoring/assistant coaching type role. Not sure if he could do it, but it might be the go for one season.

[CURLY]

Kosi is 29 and has had some terrible injuries along the way. Hes playing a very physical role and this year has been asked to play more in the ruck than what is ideal. Jolly is of a similar age and he to has massive form fluctuations and gets rested throughout the year. Kosi due to injuries couldnt this year. I think he should play on but play in blocks of 7 or so games avoiding trips to Perth and Brisbane.

[Thinline]

Love him. Great guy. Gone as gone can be.

Surely his future must be the subject of some discussion.

[saintspremiers]

Love him. Great guy. Gone as gone can be.

Surely his future must be the subject of some discussion.

Agree. Don't think anyone thinks badly of him as a person.

Even if he's contacted he can be paid out and delisted. Is that correct?

That's the other option.

How do other teams plan their game when Kosi plays?

I guess they assume he'll drop 80% of his contested marking opportunities and plan to run off him.

[plugger66]

Love him. Great guy. Gone as gone can be.

Surely his future must be the subject of some discussion.

Agree. Don't think anyone thinks badly of him as a person.

Even if he's contacted he can be paid out and delisted. Is that correct?

That's the other option.

How do other teams plan their game when Kosi plays?

I guess they assume he'll drop 80% of his contested marking opportunities and plan to run off him.

Yes he can be delisted and paid out but the money will go on the cap next year. We get a spot in the draft but may not have much money to use it well. The only other option is he retires through injury. I think we get some cap relief if that is the case. I still think he will be kept for next season though because of the contract.

[Chef attack]

Love him but don't want to remember him as a list clogger

[resaintlee]

I am really disappointed going to a game when Kosi is not playing as there is always that expectation that he will do something special and lift the crowd. Perhaps more regular small suspensions would enable him to recover from the bruising he also receives when he hands them out. He is still very important to our side>

[Chef attack]

His time with us is limited

[borderbarry]

Saintbob said, "Veterans list is his only hope, if he qualifies.

But I really reckon he'll retire, and we'll see him and Blake play against Carlton.

And so they should be given a farewell games!!!

If that is the case we also have to fit in Raph, Jonesy. Polo.Peake, and maybe some more.

[Chef attack]

Saintbob said, "Veterans list is his only hope, if he qualifies.

But I really reckon he'll retire, and we'll see him and Blake play against Carlton.

And so they should be given a farewell games!!!

If that is the case we also have to fit in Raph, Jonesy. Polo.Peake, and maybe some more.

Smashing Carlton, a fitting end

[saintsRrising]

With our lack of talls...you would imagine that they would keep Kosi one more year. However is role will be "back-up" rather than starting 22.

Roo and Stanley to be the No 1 and 2 forwards.

Wilkes to the third banana in front of Kosi Wilkes is no world beater and does not look capable of beating a good teams best backs, but he does a lot of team things and can also apply more forward pressure than Kosi.

Siposs will be a chance to be the third tall as well if he has a solid pre-season. Though if BJ goes then the understudy role as the backfielder that he filled in for BJ yesterday mat be his lot in 2013. Siposs may be a little like in Gehrig (not saying that he is the same style at all) in stating his career as a flanker, but finishing it as a key forward once he beefs up over several seasons.

So has Kosi played his last game? I think not, but he will only play a handful from mow on.

The caveat here will be the trade period. If Pelchen can pick up some mature rucks or ruck forwards then Kosi may be gone. But his contract will probably see him kept as back up for one last year.

[Chef attack]

Wilkes will come good

[saintsRrising]

Wilkes will come good

I think he can....but as a third forward and not as the main focus.
He is 26 yr, 5months with 32 games, and so one would not expect a lot of upside.

[Chef attack]

Jpod anyone?

[saintsRrising]

Jpod anyone?

Has never been the No 1 banana at the Cats and is not good enough to be so. Good backs can control him...and in our games against them we have always done so.

Has been a very good support big forward, who was dominating in the VFL.

[Chef attack]

True, but a vital cog

[gringo]

Wilkes will come good

I think he can....but as a third forward and not as the main focus.
He is 26 yr, 5months with 32 games, and so one would not expect a lot of upside.

excepting the fact that he played all his west coast career as a backman and only played half a WAFL season forward where he dominated. Sometimes goals don't tell the full story. He chases and gets on searching leads, he is drawing players out to allow the mids in. He is getting better in my book and has plenty of development left. Some don't get going young, he looks like he wants to be there and is offering more than Cloke and Dawes put together at the moment.

[saintsRrising]

Wilkes will come good

I think he can....but as a third forward and not as the main focus.
He is 26 yr, 5months with 32 games, and so one would not expect a lot of upside.

excepting the fact that he played all his west coast career as a backman and only played half a WAFL season forward where he dominated. Sometimes goals don't tell the full story. He chases and gets on searching leads, he is drawing players out to allow the mids in. He is getting better in my book and has plenty of development left. Some don't get going young, he looks like he wants to be there and is offering more than Cloke and Dawes put together at the moment.

I agree with that....which is why I stated; "but he does a lot of team things and can also apply more forward pressure than Kosi."


Being the third banana is no insult by the way. Not everyone can be a star.

Having a third banana also lessens te load on Roo and Stanley. They will ot be double teaming Roo when Wilkes can make and goal. Wilkes has shown that he is smart enough to make his own space and to not clog up where the other big forwards are.

[Ralphy]

Not a nice person by far cant wait till he's played his last game.

[bergholt]

Yes he can be delisted and paid out but the money will go on the cap next year. We get a spot in the draft but may not have much money to use it well.

it would be a third or fourth round draft pick, the wages for a kid taken late are approximately zero in the scheme of things.

[mad saint guy]

There's no point in offloading Kosi when we're so deficient in rucks and tall forwards. Roo is going on 30 with a degenerative knee condition, Stanley is 21 with chronic hamstring problems and Wilkes has kicked 11 of his 13 goals this year against Melbourne and GWS.

Kosi has some major flaws as well but he's still an experienced player who can take a grab and is our best shot for goal. He isn't an automatic selection anymore, but he still has value to us. I believe he's already on the vets list as well so he wouldn't be taking up too much cap space.