What's happened to Joey Montagna

[oldie60]

I know its been a tough season for all but from what i've seen he is nowhere near the player he was. He still gets the pill but does not appear to be as damaging as in the past. There have been a few posts regarding his fitness, maybe being let go or just being tagged. Is it just me or does he seem to going through the motions with very little interest. I'm not starting this post to bag him i'm just wondering what other posters are feeling given that we are heavily reliant on our experienced players he just does not seem the same.

[bigcarl]

He gets a better opponent with Dal Santo and Goddard gone. Plus he's getting on in years and may have lost a yard, which was one of his main attributes.

[Life Long Saint]

He looked panicky and scared yesterday.
The perception that he and Schneider are giving on the field indicates that their hearts aren't in it.

[Bluthy]

He gets a better opponent with Dal Santo and Goddard gone. Plus he's getting on in years and may have lost a yard, which was one of his main attributes.

This. After Rooey, Joey is the next player the oppo will sit down and work out how to negate because he is one of the few Saints that will hurt you with his run and long kicking. He's a small chappy so always struggles to get his own ball. I've noticed he stills gets a fair bit of outside ball but he's shut down almost straight away and doesn't have the players supporting him he used to give the hand off too. The trade rumours are floating around after he was shopped around last year but I don't believe that would effect his efforts -he's a pro.

[FQF]

Too many times he was hanging out the side of the pack for the easy give off. Playing with less intensity, or injury.

[dragit]

Is it just me or does he seem to going through the motions with very little interest.

It's not just you, heaps of people like to believe this. I don't think it's true though.

He's a had a pretty similar year to Jack, Armo & Lenny stats-wise.

The fact is we currently have no midfielders that you could consider elite.

Joey is 30+, probably past his best… playing in a rubbish side. Just like NDS & BJ, I think if he was surrounded by better players, he would look a lot better, probably have better numbers too.

Montagna is still in our best handful of players, which is a problem.

[bergholt]

He looked panicky and scared yesterday.

I didn't see the game but he had 21 possessions and only 1 was contested! That has to be some sort of record.

[spert]

His body language looks to me like he doesn't want to be there.

[gringo]

Is it just me or does he seem to going through the motions with very little interest.

It's not just you, heaps of people like to believe this. I don't think it's true though.

He's a had a pretty similar year to Jack, Armo & Lenny stats-wise.

The fact is we currently have no midfielders that you could consider elite.

Joey is 30+, probably past his best… playing in a rubbish side. Just like NDS & BJ, I think if he was surrounded by better players, he would look a lot better, probably have better numbers too.

Montagna is still in our best handful of players, which is a problem.

+1

[Royston]

To me it looks like he doesn't want to be out there and certainly his game is feeling the loss of a few better players that were once around him.

I have always felt he has been regarded higher than he should have been....just my opinion that he skated on the coat-tails of the A graders we
once had....now playing like a sheep dog getting the easy out the back or back 50mt possessions that make his contribution on the stats sheet look inflated.

His pace was his asset and made him important for a bit of run but to me he played well when the team (the stars) played well....

[longtimesaint]

To me it looks like he doesn't want to be out there and certainly his game is feeling the loss of a few better players that were once around him.

I have always felt he has been regarded higher than he should have been....just my opinion that he skated on the coat-tails of the A graders we
once had....now playing like a sheep dog getting the easy out the back or back 50mt possessions that make his contribution on the stats sheet look inflated.

His pace was his asset and made him important for a bit of run but to me he played well when the team (the stars) played well....

I think he has had a difficult year . He was very good last year and BJ was gone and NDS not at his best. Possibly it is an adjustment needed to play in a poor team. I think he will be better next year when we have Billings and Dunstan stronger and Jack free of injury

[Con Gorozidis]

Definite trade bait. But if he has actually lost a yard then noone will trade for him and we will be stuck with a small slow guy going through the motions looking for handball receive. His first two months this year were very good. Since then a dramatic drop off.Probably when he realised we wouldnt be competitive. Still gets his cheap kicks out the back but has stopped hurting with his offence.

Maybe hes already gone and just cruising the year out like bj and nds.

But if he stays on with us I dont have high expectations of what contribution we will get in the next two years.
Was a good player for us but was a lot better when he could zip around all our gun players.
Those days are looooong gone.

[Saint wagga]

Long season, probably playing sore, shouldered a lot of responsibility this year...natural cycle of his career. Should still provide quality service to the team and easily in our first 18 going forward. Will enjoy a well earned holiday after next week!

[Bernard Shakey]

Some say he's signed with BJ for next year!

[dragit]

Still gets his cheap kicks out the back but has stopped hurting with his offence.

It always surprises me that people who seemingly follow the game closely don't seem to understand the different roles that players are asked to perform.

If all the mids are trying to get the hard ball then there is no-one to give the ball to, Montagna is clearly an outside player due to his pace and skills…

[dragit]

Some say he's signed with BJ for next year!

What pick did we end up with?

[ShanghaiSaint]

thought i read on the club he signed a new deal with the saints...

[SainterK]

Didn't the pres say at a recent function he is finding the rebuild tough?

No shame in changing his mind, would have more respect for him if he said "thought I could, but seems I can't" than to stick around and not be pumped for it.

Heard that as well bernie...

[dragit]

Heard that as well bernie...

It doesn't really stack up to logic though K… he is signed for 2015 & 2016…
The bombers have one pick inside the first 50, end of first round - around 20?
I'm sure we'd take it, but I highly doubt they are going to give us their only decent pick in 2 years for a 31 YO.

[plugger66]

Some say he's signed with BJ for next year!

2 contracts. Not a bad effort.

[SainterK]

Heard that as well bernie...

It doesn't really stack up to logic though K… he is signed for 2015 & 2016…
The bombers have one pick inside the first 50, end of first round - around 20?
I'm sure we'd take it, but I highly doubt they are going to give us their only decent pick in 2 years for a 31 YO.

Maybe it will be a deal for a couple of players?

Just saying I heard a few months back he was going there.

[plugger66]

Heard that as well bernie...

It doesn't really stack up to logic though K… he is signed for 2015 & 2016…
The bombers have one pick inside the first 50, end of first round - around 20?
I'm sure we'd take it, but I highly doubt they are going to give us their only decent pick in 2 years for a 31 YO.

Maybe it will be a deal for a couple of players?

Just saying I heard a few months back he was going there.

Im with Dragit. They cant get him at that pick. A couple of players? Who is the other. i have heard about 100 things about 100 different players this year alone I reckon. I expect maybe one to happen. And it makes no sense for the Saints to sign him to a 2 year contract if they want to trade him as we would probably get more under FA and certainly have many morre clubs interested because it costs them nothing.

[dragit]

Heard that as well bernie...

It doesn't really stack up to logic though K… he is signed for 2015 & 2016…
The bombers have one pick inside the first 50, end of first round - around 20?
I'm sure we'd take it, but I highly doubt they are going to give us their only decent pick in 2 years for a 31 YO.

Maybe it will be a deal for a couple of players?

Just saying I heard a few months back he was going there.

Maybe… but it would be a pretty brave (stupid) club to take Essendon players at the moment.

There was a thread on here a few months back saying that he had signed a deal on a golf trip with BJ, it doesn't make any more sense now IMO.

We are bottom 3 for disposals this year, struggling to get and keep the ball… Lenny & Joey are our top 2 ball winners, if we lose both things will get very ugly next year. Uglier than our current 60 %.

[SainterK]

I meant joey + a kid for their first pick.

Or even joey and one of later picks for their better pick.

Plugger66, I'm sure both we and he thought he was staying long term....

The rumour is he's had a change of heart.

[plugger66]

I meant joey + a kid for their first pick.

Or even joey and one of later picks for their better pick.

Plugger66, I'm sure both we and he thought he was staying long term....

The rumour is he's had a change of heart.

He must have changed early if it was a few months back. Well the club can just say bad luck if they want to and in a years time he will have no choice but to stay as no one else will want him. Its all up to the club though.